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What Price Victory? . Advantages and Disadvantages of High Altitude Mountain Climbing. Advantages/Victories. Fame & Fortune. Member of an elite club Few have actually reached the top. Personal Satisfaction. Achieve a goal Overcoming an obstacle
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What Price Victory? Advantages and Disadvantages of High Altitude Mountain Climbing
Fame & Fortune • Member of an elite club • Few have actually reached the top
Personal Satisfaction • Achieve a goal • Overcoming an obstacle • Pride in achieving a goal or just trying is enough • Pushing oneself to the outer limits of one’s abilities • Adrenaline rush or ego trip • Setting world’s records • Bragging Rights—accomplish something few have done • Thrill & excitement + fun • The view from the Top of the World above the clouds (29, 035 feet)
Gain Scientific Information • Predict earthquakes • Predict avalanches • Study the effects of altitude on the body • Geographic information, plate tectonics • How tall? Is the mountain growing? • Geological information, prehistoric rocks
Business Opportunities • Climbing business—costs $60,000 - $100,000 per person • Improve the life of the Sherpas • Film & books, public speaking
**Without risk society would not grow & develop. For example: • Westward expansion • Advances in medicine • Advances in technology
Death • Die on the mountain, become part of it • Currently over 200 bodies are entombed on Mount Everest
The Risk of Serious/Permanent Injuries • Frostbite = amputation (Beck Weathers, Makalu Gao, Maurice Herzog, Louis Lachenal) • Hypothermia • Snow Blindness • Acute Mountain Sickness • Often fatal • Swelling of the brain • Swelling of the lungs = fluid = drowning • Rib cracking cough • Congestive Heart Failure
Mental Anguish • Survivor’s Guilt • Depression • Lasting psychological problems • Stress on family • Divorce • Loss of a spouse or loved one • Jealousy & Resentment
Financial Risk • The price of $60,000 - $100,000& no refund if you don’t summit • Medical expenses (surgeries) • Loss of wages due to illness/injury, takes 2 - 4 months to climb
Environmental Hazards • Mountain is being trashed • Health hazards • Littered with dead bodies, approximately 200
Obsession • Irrational desire to climb at all costs • Deal with the devil