The Experience of Risk in High-Altitude Climbing

Abstract

Abstract Climbers remain adventurers in our society. When climbers move out on a high-altitude expedition or some other vertical mountain experience they are already in a risky situation. This paper explores how climbers perceive the inherent risks in climbing through their subjective experiences. The data was collected through nineteen in-depth interviews with climbers, and the analysis explores how perception of risk is constructed as a fundamental element in climbing. It seems to be clear that risk is inherent to this activity, and climbers are perfectly aware of its existence. The discourse analysis suggests a differentiation throughout life concerning risk-taking among climbers. Moreover, throughout the climbers' narratives, we are able to see that climbing allows the construction of a distinctive life.