It would sure look like a death wish to many people. I suspect everyone has a hobby or activity which many would regard as a death wish, though. Well, maybe not everyone, but lots of people. Most, maybe.

In this case, as with many, many other somewhat extreme activities, a combination of training, experience and equipment will render it pretty tame. The average person who headed out into bad weather with their windbreaker and kids sleep-over bag is going to have a terrible time. Add good clothing and bag, he'll do better. Teach him and he'll do fine.

I think for people like this, part of their equipment is themselves. They have to have physical and emotional reserves that most of us, including me, don't. The emotional reserves have to include the ability to absorb the blow if Mother Nature slaps them down for thumbing their noses at her.

Running a marathon would kill half the people in the US, I think. It would me. If I tell you I'm running a marathon this weekend, that's a death wish. And it's not a death wish for those who do it.

Arf