by ButterflyEffect

Why this matters, beyond perhaps encouraging examination of our high-risk mountain pursuits, is that how we treat mountain death depends on our perspective on all of the above. I don’t think many of us are truly honest about our relationship with, or closeness to, death in the mountains. Me, I’m with Reinhold Messner, who doesn’t get the credit he deserves for saying: “Mountains are not fair or unfair, they are just dangerous.”

There's no shortage of days of the year where I could die because shit happens. Know of two people whom I've met, not particularly close with but could put a face and voice with the obituary, die last year. Friend lost a close friend in a freak climbing accident (see...) a few years back.