> 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 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).