"Mountains are not fair or unfair -- they are just dangerous." -- Reinhold Messner "If you don't let go, you can't fall off!" -- Jerry Moffat "The mountains will always be there, the trick is to make sure you are too." -- Hervey Voge "It's not advisable to drink too much strong liquors while climbing in the Alps. If, however, you are going to fall over a cliff, it's advisable to be thoroughly intoxicated when you do so." -- English alpinist "...as I hammered in the last bolt and staggered over the rim, it was not at all clear to me who was the conqueror and who was the conquered. I do recall that El Cap seemed to be in much better condition that I was." -- Warren Harding "As in any alpine region, the weather is changeable, protection questionable, route finding bewildering, rock fall frequent and descents tedious. In short, it's everything you could ever ask for." -- from the Canadian Alpine Journal 1993, selected by Peter G. Green " -: You guys going up? -: Yes, yes, we go up. -: You may be going a lot higher than you think!" -- Don Whillans, to a Japanese party, while descending Eiger "I've got you good." "Well, get me better!" -- Two climbers talking as one moves through the crux of the climb. (Allen Sanderson) Some reasons why climbing is better than love. * The bond between you and your partner is more apparent. * Your partnership doesn't often end up making children. * Your partner usually doesn't throw things at you when there is an argument. * Your partner doesn't get mad at you if you forget the anniversary of your first climb together.