Highest-Stakes Adventure

When an athlete -- and parent -- risks his life, does his calculation make him a hero or a zero?

A A A Comments By Eric Dexheimer Thursday, Jul 19 2001

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But what about everyone else, those who risk it all because, well, they want to? We have been conditioned to automatically give epic adulation to those who attempt epic feats. We accept as praiseworthy their explanations of obsessive drive: "I simply couldn't not do it," or "Because it's there."

Perhaps Erik Weihenmayer's achievement will inspire other disabled people to climb their own peaks, a wonderful accomplishment. And in a sense, a debate over the peril he exposed himself to is pointless. He succeeded and so walked off the mountain holding it all: a landmark ascent and a safe trip home to his family.

Mark Poutenis

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But he also left his wife and infant daughter in a Denver suburb to join an expedition on one of the world's most dangerous mountains. "When there was no news -- and on a few occasions there wasn't any for several days -- I felt as if my air supply had been cut off," Ellie told Sports Illustratedabout her feelings during her husband's climb.

Every person, it is clear, must do his or her own math. Sometimes you just have to pray the numbers work out.