The simple fact is this: when you goto Alaska, you get your ass kicked.

One hour three times per week in the gym is no counterbalance to all of the other behavior in those other 165 hours

I don't actually care what I climb, only how it affects me. Which means the summit doesn't matter as much as the emotional process.

Inconsistency, incompetence, and lies are all cut short by the ground. It will stop you if you can't stop yourself.

Effort and pain may not be avoided. Physical and psychological breakdowns occur. The support of a like-minded group, dedicated to The Art of Suffering, provides a safety net. An individual will push harder and risk more in the company of trustworthy peers.

Success can breed contempt, and a casual attitude toward danger.

Crested Butte is for spectators; Chamonix is for participants.