Why I Climb

I am often asked why I climb these dangerous mountains, especially at my age. I always struggle with the answer. I think the best answer is that the mountains and mountaineering bring together so many of the ingredients of life and daily living: beauty, adventure, drama, danger, risk, hopes, dreams, aspirations, life, death, success and failure. Many people my age take up golf, tennis, reading or travel. Those are fun and noble pastimes, and maybe some time I will pursue them too. But, they don’t combine the elements that make the mountains so attractive to me.

Take a look at these photos and see if you don’t agree.