The desert sharpened the sweet ache of his longing, amplified it, gave shape to it in sere geology and clean slant of light.

Its not always necessary to be strong, but to feel strong.

In climbing, having confidence in your partners is no small concern. One climber's actions can affect the welfare of the entire team.

Mountains make poor receptacles for dreams.

The sad end he met in Afghanistan was more accurately a function of his stubborn idealism - his insistence on trying to do the right thing. In which case it wasn't a tragic flaw that brought Tillman down, but a tragic virtue.

Don't settle down and sit in one place. Move around, be nomadic, make each day a new horizon.

Everest has always been a magnet for kooks, publicity seekers, hopeless romantics and others with a shaky hold on reality.