Til death do they climb

Lately I've heard and read more stories about climbers going missing on mountains. What drives people to go up on peaks in the middle of winter, I wonder? Do they have a death wish or the extreme need to defy all common sense and go when conditions could be better? I don't know.

Is it to be able to come back after the trip and say that they've conquered the mountain under the worst possible conditions? To be where few have gone before? Is it to satisfy the adrenaline junkie within? Is it to sell their photos and stories to make money?

I feel for their families, especially for those who have a spouse/partner and children. Why would you endanger the future of those you love, on purpose? I know that many would say that they died doing something they love, but if your hobby is doing something that is so dangerous that every time you do it, you risk a pretty good chance of death, would you allow yourself to take on a husband or wife and have children?

That may be harsh, but I feel that way at the moment.

I know of a person who died on Everest, an experienced, avid climber, who from what I understand wanted to also bring attention to a noble cause, but to what end? Of course it raisied awareness of the cause (but for how long?) and probably raised more money for research in that area, but was it worth his life? If any of his loved ones read this, I welcome their reply.

The news I've heard lately just made me think of him and what his family and friends went through afterwards and still to this day.