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“I wanted to achieve something essential in life, something that is not measured by money or position in society. I wanted to respect myself as a man and I wanted the respect of my friends and family. My fate was to be an athlete. I was born with a certain physical and mental ability… I have tried to use those gifts to realize myself as a human being. The mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambitions to achieve. They are my cathedrals, the houses of my religion. Their presence is grand and pure. I go to them as all humans go to worship. In their presence I attempt to understand my life, to purify myself of earthly vanity, greed and fear. On their alter I strive to perfect myself physically and spiritually. From their vantage point, I view my past, dream of the future and with unusual acuteness I experience the present. My ascents renew my strength and clear my vision. They are the way I practice my religion. In the mountains I celebrate creation, on each journey I am reborn”.

(Annapurna Base Camp, Hymalaya 2005.
Anonymous dead climber; extract).