You couldn't do it, even if you were paid. And those you mentioned were some of the most extraordinary people on Earth, ever. That you can't tell the difference is part of your problem, but since you are likely struggling to make ends meet every week, not an important issue for you.
You don't know me, so your extrapolations mean you are an idiot. The only thing that makes extreme sports people special is their worship and dedication to their own adrenaline rush. You could not understand if you were paid. ....and bullshit, pretty much anyone dedicated to it can do it.
gee good one, how ever shall I respond? You think climbing a rock makes one special and noble, nothing more needs to be said.
Everest, big deal... A housewife with no climbing experience died up there, it's open to anyone that has the $ and wants to go through a horrible ordeal... brain damage is guaranteed at that altitude... I have a rule for doing dangerous things: once I finally get diagnosed with something terminal I'll do them all, first will be a custom Harley Chopper, that's more like enjoyment with risk, much better than major ordeal with risk... Here's an odd fact about the earth: it's smoother than a billiard ball! Everest is 6 miles or so, the diameter of the earth is 8000 miles. You climb up there and you've only gone one part in 1300 of the diameter...
You don't have a good response. Take your loss. I bet that happens to you a lot while trading: Getting in without a clue on how to get out if it doesn't work the way you planned. And you think THAT thing is a "rock". Nothing more needs to be said...
In support of your point about everest. If you watch Everest (great first season) on netflix ...you see that people without any skills can get up there with oxygen and almost everyone takes oxygen. The sherpas are the virtually the only heros who climb Everest. In my opinion big accomplishments should require big skills. Everest without oxygen would be a big accomplishment. Surfing the biggest day of the year in HI would be an accomplishment. Consistently trading an account up from 5 figures to 7 figures or say six to 8 would be an accomplishment. Winning a national tiddly winks tournament would be an accomplishment. Everest on oxygen? seems like going on a tough hike in very dangerous conditions.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/everest/etc/script.html "Storm Over Everest" A FILM BY DAVID BREASHEARS ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSED AND PRODUCED BY Jocelyn Pook EDITOR McDonald Brown CO-PRODUCER Callie Taintor PRODUCED & DIRECTED BY David Breashears ANNOUNCER: Tonight on FRONTLINE: From the rooftop of the world comes the story that changed the perception of Everest forever. NEAL BEIDLEMAN, Guide, Scott's Team: You feel your body start to come alive, and you're climbing Mt. Everest. ANNOUNCER: Three teams of climbers- LOU KASISCHKE, Rob's Team: Few people have stood here looking out over this fantastic sight. ANNOUNCER: -an unexpected storm- GUY COTTER, Pumori Base Camp: It was a very black wall of clouds coming in low. LOU KASISCHKE: One minute, we could look down and we could see the camp below. And the next minute, you couldn't see it. ANNOUNCER: -and a journey that would test them all physically and emotionally. LOU KASISCHKE: Rob wasn't leaving Doug. I don't think it's possible to get somebody who's incapacitated down the Hillary Step. GUY COTTER: The rescue that would save his life was no longer coming. BECK WEATHERS, Rob's Team: The storm, the wind, the snow, the cold- everything is just crescendoing. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. HELEN WILTON: If you're stuck up there, you might as well be on the moon. ANNOUNCER: Tonight on FRONTLINE, Storm Over Everest. DAVID BREASHEARS: [voice-over] For over 25 years, I've been making the journey to Mount Everest. I've stood on its summit five times. The mountain has given me great joy and close friendships. It's also been a place of hardship and tragedy. In 1996, a fast-moving storm trapped climbers high on the mountain and people died. Stories were told forever changing the world's perception, and my own, about climbing Everest. Now I've come back to Base Camp alone to remember and to reflect on what it was like to be here on this mountain 10 years ago. We were all gathered at the mountain's base that year. We'd come with a common goal. I shared their energy, optimism and desire, all those hopes, all those dreams. But most of all, I remember the climbers and friends caught in that storm. This is their story. NEAL BEIDLEMAN, Guide, Scott's Team: When we left Base Camp, we were all wary, of course, of mighty Everest in front of us. But this was it. This was our chance. So we took off and it was a great feeling. BECK WEATHERS, Rob's Team: Nobody can go there without thinking, "This is way cool, just to be able to climb on this thing." Just that idea that you're actually going to put your feet on Everest, I don't care whether you're a climber or you're not a climber, that's big stuff. That's exciting. JOHN TASKE, Rob's Team: We went two thirds of the way through the Icefall, and I was hooked. It was the most spectacular piece of real ............
Climbing Everest (or any other mountain for that matter, i hear K2 is far more dangerous btw) does not appeal to me in the least. However, I admire, but not necessarily respect, others for doing it.