"To mountaineers of yesterday the sport's attraction was the basic
simplicity and directness of purpose - its freedom from material
restrictions, organizations, and legalities. They typically
climbed with small parties of close friends and like-minded
companions and found adventures that forged deeper
friendships and provided greater esthetic rewards ...
Dee Molenaar, "The Challenge of Rainier".
"...climbing is not about pressure and the confinement of grading system. It's not about winning and gaining an elite position over other climbers. Instead, he reminded us that climbing is about traveling and meeting new people unified under a common interest, learning about the depths of oneself and using that insight to push through personal
limitations. Climbing is all about what you want it to be since years from now no one is going to care whether or not you won the 2007 World Cup or sent Papas Fritas 6.13f."
excerpt from:
http://northeastclimbing.blogspot.com/
Anatoly Boukreev
"Mountains are cathedrals: grand and pure, the houses of my religion. I go to them as humans go to worship...From their lofty summits, I view my past, dream of the future, and with unusual acuity I am allowed to experience the present moment. My strength renewed, my vision cleared, in the mountains I celebrate creation. On each journey I am reborn." -Anatoli Boukreev
