08-12-2009, 04:05 AM
(vikm) wrote:
I'd imagine climbs to Everest, etc. are in fact beautiful if you could see past ones nose half the time during the climb
I suppose it's more of a law of diminishing returns for me. I'm more than happy to see the beauty in far less complex things and am fortunate to escape to places here on the coast that are void of "noise" if need be.
Climbing a mountain with or without snow as some sort of an accomplishment or means of pushing oneself seems a bit cliched to me these days. I guess those people that sell those "inspirational" posters need something as a subject.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying people shouldn't do it. Their choice. I just don't I'd get the same sort of sense of accomplishment or feel better about myself having done it. Now if I could learn to hit a curveball over 400ft consistently, that's a different story!!
I agree with your sentiments.
For the record, I believe a great deal of these people (those who get a "thrill" out of being in harm's way) are wired to be like that. Me, I like to ride a motorcycle to get my thrills, something that others may find disturbing.
Also, I do believe it is something particularly human about wanting to "conquer" nature; the sentiment about accomplishment is subtext for superiority.