[proud_yank]

My son is also a climber. He once told me that next to flying his plane, being at the top of Mt. Whitney and Mt. Rainier was the closest he came to touching God. (yes, I know it was a metaphor, but it was meaningful to him.)

The feeling is amazing. I was exhausted and cold on my first summit, and reaching it warmed me right up!

I am glad that there are still men in this country who are willing to face challenges and be stronger because of them. We need more like them.

Agreed. IMHO, the same attitude and approach applies to business too. When I was interviewing I used a couple mountaineering examples/analogies too and got an offer :-)

[Rushmore Rocks]

I'm so glad you understand. Too few here do.

[Jezebelle]

Or you could head on over to the Afghanistan/Paki border, climb some peaks there and see if you can root out Binny. Now THAT is something I could respect and it would be quite a challenge.

But what you're talking about is all just ego and/or personal gratification/exhilaration at great risk to yourself and the happiness and future of your loved ones.

For all we know, God intended that His mountains be admired from a distance or from the window of a chopper on a good day. There's a reason He makes it colder than death and harsher than the terrain of hell in such places.

Myself, I can touch God by caressing the face of a loving child.