To those of us for whom a comfortable bed running water and the probability of living at least until tomorrow are of prime importance the phenomenon of the traveller appears as incomprehensible as it is intriguing Here are people who have succumbed to the treacherous seduction of the unknown who actually choose to put their lives at risk by climbing the sheer and icy face of an avalancheridden mountain who sail alone in frail craft through towering seas who will eat maggots and river insects if nothing more palatable is on offer and who can live day and night for months on end in the shadow and the promise of the unknown