"Adventure and risk-taking sports such as mountaineering, kayaking, rock climbing, downhill mountain biking and base jumping have increased in popularity in recent years. These activities court significant dangers and attract individuals who are prepared to gamble their personal safety, and at times their life in search of a rush of excitement or an unusual accomplishment. Public attention in these sports generally focuses on tragedies and as such are highly emotive and sensationalized. Dramatic accounts of accidents and hardships often lead to fierce debates on the merits and ethics of these sports."
Erik Monasterio is a Bolivian/New Zealand medical doctor and mountaineer. We came across the following article that he authored and thought it must be of interest to some of you. It’s based on mr Monasterio’s four year study of mountaineers and BASE jumpers. Erik Monasterio kindly gave us a permit to post it here.