I agree with your sentiment mostly but I think rock climbing and mountain expeditions are just different ballgames.
I think you can't just label mountain expeditions as deathwish, a big reason people are pulled towards mountaineering is the sheer thrill you get not just battling the knowns(technical climbs, routes) but also the unknowns(weather, AMS). Mountains can be unforgiving(8 climbers died in Nanda Devi a week back) but the accomplishment you get is also something worth savouring.
Once you start, you can hardly go back. I have only done six thousanders but even I want to do more.
I read it as GP saying that rushing Everest specifically is a death wish, but that mountaineering elsewhere responsibly is what a sane person ought to look for.
> I think you can't just label mountain expeditions as deathwish
I think the parent refers to high-risk mountaneering, particularly in the context of inexperienced climbers. Given the high-risk and the inexperience, I think it's fair to label it (derogatorily) as death wish.
I agree that rock climbing hasn't such impact, but certainly there are highly demanding+highly satisfying activities. I guess completing an Ironman or the Marathon Des Sables (the latter if one expects risk) give as much satisfaction as climbing the Everest, along with status, if one's looking for it (if I got to know somebody who's climbed the Everest, it would give me a bad impression, though).
I think you can't just label mountain expeditions as deathwish, a big reason people are pulled towards mountaineering is the sheer thrill you get not just battling the knowns(technical climbs, routes) but also the unknowns(weather, AMS). Mountains can be unforgiving(8 climbers died in Nanda Devi a week back) but the accomplishment you get is also something worth savouring.
Once you start, you can hardly go back. I have only done six thousanders but even I want to do more.