“This is the human paradox of altitude: that it both exalts the individual mind and erases it. Those who travel to mountain tops are half in love with themselves, and half in love with oblivion.”

-Robert Macfarlane, British author, born 1976

This quote is from Robert Macfarlane’s book Mountains of the Mind, and it perfectly captures the spirit of mountain-climbing.[1] Throughout the book, Macfarlane explores the human need to climb mountains. In this quote, he’s touching on one of the basic dualities of verticality, which he refers to as a paradox. For humans, height represents both safety and danger. The higher we get, the more dangerous the conditions, which include temperature, weather, lack of oxygen, avalanches, and the potential for a fall, to name a few.

On the other hand, the higher we get, the closer we get to the sky. We experience a sense of isolation, accomplishment and clarity while we’re at high altitudes. There’s a wonderful sense of adventure and the pump of adrenaline from the heightened dangers associated with mountain-climbing, which is a major draw for those who have a passion for it. It’s an intensely personal experience, even when climbing with a group, and this is why Macfarlane believes climbers are in love with themselves.


[1]: Macfarlane, Robert. Mountains of the Mind: Adventures in Reaching the Summit. New York: Vintage Books, 2003. 157.