Nick1962, I agree entirely. If I was fantasizing about what might massage my ego, like something to tell my grandchildren, or a reason for a blue plaque outside my house it would be for being one of the few people that gave up their summit attempt and saved someones life. That is waaaayyyyy more awesome than making the summit of everest. The rescue stories make you well up with emotion, when you think how brilliant those rescuers are. If any mountaineers want a challenge, want to prove themselves, want to make the ultimate achievement, why not just skip up and down everest all climbing season saving lives. Any old fool can summit, a real man brings back his fellow man.
(edit -I’m not knocking anyone who has summitted or walked past a dying climber, I don’t know anything about mountaineering or morals..I’m just commenting that I am more impressed by a rescue than a summit.)