I used to think aging was a scam, a total abdication of your self. Well, aging's not a scam, but quitting is.

The idea of metanoia returns again and again in my life. The purpose of life is to see what you do when challenges come your way, and the value in that experience is seeing how you handle those challenges.

I never did end up getting any skills that are marketable in a traditional sense, but I have used my knowledge of the mountains, and I have no regrets.

I have always felt that no climb is worth losing the tip of a little toe.

I mean any fool can hurl themselves at a climb that is beyond their abilities to safely negotiate. You may get away with such an approach nine times, but the tenth time you don't come back.

Being willing to risk it all for any given climb will inevitably end at some point in disaster.