If we would all die if the earth was a few inches closer to the sun, then how come we don’t die when we get closer to

Question: If we would all die if the earth was a few inches closer to the sun, then how come we don't die when we get closer to the sun by climbing a mountain?
- Keywords:
  earth,
  solar system,
  sun
Asked by Zealousy to Chris on 22 Jun 2015.
- Chris Armstrong answered on 22 Jun 2015:
  
  We don’t.
  
  Thats a really weird myth that made it round the internet. In reality the Earths orbit isn’t a perfect circle its more of an ellipse with the sun at one of the locals. At its closest the sun is 147 Million KM away at its furthest its 152 Million, thats a swing of 5 million KM.

Question: If we would all die if the earth was a few inches closer to the sun, then how come we don't die when we get closer to the sun by climbing a mountain?