MT MCKINLEY

Adding a climb of Denali to your resume is quite the boon to seasoned climbers. Each year a few thousand people try to summit North America's topmost peak. Most years the success rate hovers just north of 50%. While the climb is not technically difficult, given the extreme northern location, it ranks as one of the most challenging summits around. Icy conditions, extreme cold, and the ever present winds make for an adventure most climbers long for.

Of course there is risk involved in tackling the Great One. Since 1932, 112 climbers have perished in the attempt to summit North America's highest peak. The most deadly year was 1993 when 13 climbers perished. With two more deaths yesterday, 2011 is fast approaching that record. Seven deaths so far with two climbers in critical condition from yesterday's mishap.

Is the risk worth the reward? Only the individual can answer such a querie. Was it worth it today when you narrowly passed another vehicle at 70 mph on a crowded highway, all the while rehashing the latest hollywood hijinks with your bff on your oh so cool iphone. The road seemed clear, right. And the reward? You got to where ever you were going so much quicker than the clods who obey traffic laws. Saved maybe ten minutes. I daresay the climbers memory of Denali will eclipse even the bestest confab on the cell. Of course, dead is dead. So maybe it matters not.

Such is life. Such is death.