I am surprisingly un-judge-y about them, I think. People tend at least not to try K2 unless they're competent, and these guys are reportedly very well-qualified.

And -- well, mountaineering is not my thing, but they are making an informed choice about the massive risk they're taking with their lives, and because the mountain's not going to be crowded, they're unlikely to take anyone else with them.

Both Dawes and Pritchard did a number of "death routes," and I have huge respect for them. It'd be hypocritical for me to disapprove of the Russians just because I don't have any personal desire to climb mountains.

(Ask me about Everest any time, though, and I will be as judge-y as anyone whose highest summit is 5 metres can be.)