“Ski mountaineers conceive of an adventure, take all the necessary steps to prepare for it, attempt it, often a few times, and eventually complete it. Modern society is all about specialization and mass production. Most people only work on one aspect of a project. While this maximizes productivity, I find it counter to my goals in life, which vaguely include utilizing and sharpening all, or at least a great many, of my human gifts. Ski mountaineering pushes us to give life to a vision, challenges us to develop the skills to seek out that vision, then tests our determination and resolve as we attempt to complete it. It takes much time and energy, and produces little or nothing tangible that the rest of the world might consider useful or leading to progress. But once you complete a ski tour or a climb it’s yours forever, start to finish. And it doesn’t even take up any room in your garage.”