An
excellent article in the
LA Times about Ed Viesturs and the climbers seeking to break records and bag peaks for notoriety. And money.
Calling the phenom “serial summit disorder”, the article really captures the climate of craziness in the world of
mountaineering, as well as some of the dangers of potential excess:
Adventurers now compete for the title of the youngest, oldest or the first of their nationality to climb the
Seven Summits, which comprise Everest, Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), El’brus (Europe),
Kilimanjaro (Africa), Kosciuszko (Australia) and Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Some veteran climbers say that the growing mania for records and serial peaks has elevated quantity over quality,
with the climbing lost in a stampede for payoffs beyond the summit. They deride the increasing number of woefully
inexperienced wannabes as trophy hunters.
The article quotes numerous titans in the sport including Viestures, Pete Athans, and David Breashears,
among them.