Posted on 05/26/2011 8:31:11 PM PDT by grey_whiskers
John Delaney, founder and CEO of Intrade, the prediction market, has died while trying to climb Mt. Everest.
He was less than 50 meters from the top, according to the Daily Mail.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/intrade-founder-john-delaney-dies-on-mt-everest-2011-5#ixzz1NWGn2RKK
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
This link will provide what it takes to climb everest http://www.ehow.com/how_2121665_train-everest.html
Basically, you have to be on a hardcore physical training for AT LEAST 1 year before your climb, this training will take up most of your time and is very demanding. Once you get to base camp, you stay there for a couple months acclimating. There are tons of conditions that have to be right to attempt the climb, if it’s too warm, they won’t allow anyone up the first step due to high chance of avalanches, he could have been stuck at base camp for weeks before they let him climb, he may in fact have planned to be back in time to see his child born. Thus, prudent to call him selfish.
Leaving two sons as well...ages I think around two and three. Little tikes.
Yup. Have a nice evening
Exactly, that’s why the people calling him selfish are wrong.
Most likely he expected to be back in time to see his child born, since she was born pre-mature he was already on his way up, or about to be. At this point would you throw away 80 grand and come back down, knowing you wouldn’t even be back in time to see your child born?
The American way was never about being so selfish you left your wife alone while you went off to climb a mountain for selfish reasons.
BTW 'this difficult adventure' is all about hiring Sherpa guides who really know how to climb that mountain and who puff up the egos of guys with money.
Back to the history books.
Of course many men did set out in territory filled with hostile natives(wouldn't you be hostile to a bunch of invaders coming into your ancestral lands?) hoping to strike it rich. Those who planned or prepared poorly died,sometimes the whole family died. Those who died because they messed up get a footnote in history.
I think it is silly to celebrate the un-necessary taking of foolish risks for little reward.
“...Your priorities are mixed up...”
I think assigning selfish reasons to him and speaking so ill of a fella is the wrong priority.
Expecting a child takes precedence over personal thrill-seeking. When one becomes, or will shortly become a parent, unnecessary risk-taking is irresponsible, regardless of whether one can get a refund on a big deposit on a trip to climb a mountain. When the choice is between a father being there for his child and money or a fabulous trip, only a selfish man would choose the trip.
Mr. Delany was a well-off man. Had he wanted to get back home, he could have done so. Sure, he might have missed his trip, but better that than missing raising his child.
The baby was born three days before he died. Family did not want to worry him so plans to share the news when he got back. So he never learned he had a daughter.
I don’t judge the guy one way or another...these climbs require mega months of planning not to mention preparation. Plus his wife and he certainly made that decision together. So it was “theirs”. Not to mention all the other mountains he’s climbed..so it was something he did with some frequency. I suspect she knew he was a climber before they married.
The baby was born three days before he died. Family did not want to worry him so plans to share the news when he got back. So he never learned he had a daughter.
I don’t judge the guy one way or another...these climbs require mega months of planning not to mention preparation. Plus his wife and he certainly made that decision together. So it was “theirs”. Not to mention all the other mountains he’s climbed..so it was something he did with some frequency. I suspect she knew he was a climber before they married.
Planning and preparing for a climb of Everest takes far longer than 9 months. It is entirely possible that he could have made the summit of Everest and then attended the birth of his daughter.
Some things money just can’t buy!
Big difference. American pioneers, whether you're talking about the founders taking up arms, the early explorers of the American west, industrialists who put their fortunes on the line, right up to our current astronauts have all taken risks to expand the field of human knowledge, explore new territories, blaze new trails or develop new products for the benefit of themselves and their fellow countrymen.
Mr. Delaney undertook this risk in order to say, "I did it."
Can come up with a reason to climb a mountain that’s been climbed close to 2,000 times when he should be home with his family? This is the epitome of selfishness.
Mr. Delany wasn’t seeking a new frontier; he was going on a thrill ride. This wasn’t some honorable attempt to support his family or better their life by forging a trail through the wilderness. He was pursuing some personal desire irrespective of the consequences to his family. That’s shameful.
Had he been seeking exercise, there are a multitude of ways he could stay in good physical condition without traveling to Nepal.
Actually we all have 100% chance of dying.
The baby was born pre-maturely, apparently the family did not inform him that she was born, he died not knowing that she was born. It’s likely the due date fell on a date that he thought he would be back in time for, the decision to go was most certainly discussed with his wife and family which they were okay with or he wouldn’t have gone.
Two young children left without a father...He should have just stayed home and found another hobby.
All this "I have to climb it to prove myself" carp is ridiculous, as witnessed by the numbers of people who've died trying to do it.
If he'd waited just a few weeks he could've mounted his wife...
NO cheers, unfortunately.
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