Many would argue that alpinism is art, not sport.

Many would argue that alpinism is art, not sport.

You can’t coach desire, and no matter how fancy your training plan or how high your stated goals are, it comes down to getting out the door and doing the work day after day.

In no organized sport do the participants have to endure days of struggle just to get to the starting line of their event. The option to drop out of a race that is going badly does not exist for a climber halfway up a big route, and may entail more risk than pushing on. A team of volunteers will not be waiting with warm blankets and hot food at the next bivy ledge. When you reach the summit, having overcome the challenges that inspired you for months or years, you are not at the finish line. The race is not over. You can't relax and let your guard down like a normal athlete.

In the mountains, fatigue is the biggest controllable limitation that will come between you and success.

On big routes in big mountains, speed equals safety.

The descent is often as much (or more of) a challenge as the climb.