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.

We may train ourselves to be adaptable as possible, to respond appropriately in each situation, but the ideal of controlling the outcome or steering events as they occur must be relinquished. Chaos rules it all.

So go ahead, break stuff. Break yourself on the once-hard edges of yourself. And recycle the debris into the foundation of your future.

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

Punish the body to perfect the soul.

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.

Some of us wake up. Others roll over.