Why Climb?

If you read this blog regularly, you know how passionate I've become about mountaineering. My family members think I'm a bit crazy but they fully support me. I think it's hard for non-mountaineers to understand why we climb. Climbing is not about the mountain at all. And it's certainly not about "conquering" a mountain. The mountain could care less if you climbed it or not. It's me against myself, as always. Doing something hard for myself is the entire point. It's the need to do something that you feel stretches you. Why do people run a marathon? Why do they pursue a challenging doctor's degree? Why do they try to learn Für Elise on the piano? Because it feels good to try to get good at something. Mountaineering is just one way of doing that. The journey is better than the destination. And when the destination is also great, it's an amazing experience. 

The first time I left Hawaii for the mainland and saw mountains, genuine snow-capped mountains, I think I fell in love. I was overwhelmed by their beauty. Today the mountains still draw me. What I seek is beyond adventure. The mountains are where I commune with my Creator.