I'd say search and rescue is for the weekend hiker who does everything right but has something go wrong. One misstep can be all it takes to take a bad fall. The people who set out under prepared take advantage of a search and rescue that will go after anyone.

Unfortunately it's like the pornography/art debate; it's only possible to discriminate between doing everything right but having something go wrong and being underprepared when we see the situation. Experienced hikers die, and inexperienced ones return home without incident.

It's the rich mutherfuckers with their daring-do that drive me up the goddamn wall. Yeah, fine. Be an adventurer. Yeah, fine. Blow $100k summiting Everest for the umpteenth time. But don't for a minute try and convince me that you're noble, that you're doing something for humanity, that you're capturing the spirit of esprit or some shit. You're a selfish ass. Period.

I agree with this to the extent it's someone paying a guide. That was one thing in Into Thin Air that didn't appeal to me, the sherpas and guides are racing up and down the mountain to move gear and get things situated for clients. But that isn't what was going on on Nanga Parbat last week.

Were they glory-seekers? Sure. But is that so wrong?