Avalanches

They seem to be happening more frequently these days. I don't know, maybe mountain climbing has gotten more popular, so avalanches of the same frequency and severity are just killing more people. But I don't think raising an eyebrow at this makes me too much of a global warming alarmist.

Putting aside its larger implications, why are people still mountain climbing in light of these numbers? "[A]bout 100 climbers" have been killed in the Alps, 20 on Mont Blanc alone, since June. How many people successfully climbed those mountains during that time? How could that ratio possibly be acceptable to any prospective mountain climber who's not trying to cash in a life insurance policy?