"There is a certain madness involved," I said, "a certain envy of great and powerful natural forces, that some men have. Each mountain is a deity, you know. Each is an immortal power. If you make sacrifices upon its slopes, a mountain may grant you a certain grace, and for a time you will share this power. Perhaps that is why they call me...."
The Context: Jack Summers, one of the greatest mountain climbers in the universe, gives an explanation beyond "Because it's there."
Why I like it: I don't have any particular interest in mountain climbing, but Zelazny manages to convey the majesty they contain in This Mortal Mountain.
If you ever make it out to Washington State, I'm totally taking you out to hike up Mount Baker.
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