A Tribute in Honor of STS-107

February 1, 2003

I think "Why?" is the million dollar question.  Why did you trek to both poles and climb the Seven Summits?

It's like everything else in life.  Why do you write for a magazine?  Things happen.  It's not like I've planned this since I was six.  It happens, and you don't exactly know why.  I mean I could be doing something different.  But then again maybe not.  It depends what you believe in.  I do think that climbing is the right thing for me to do because there's something in climbing that fits my personality, fits my skills.  And I found it.  If I didn't climb, what then?  I'd be a lawyer working on cases, watching TV, and inviting my friends for a beer.  Climbing is much more fun. I know some people find it difficult to understand why people trek to poles or climb mountains.  I don't think people ask the same questions to football players or marathon runners or swimmers.  Those sports are accepted as a regular thing while climbing is unusual.  For me, climbing or polar adventures are normal. I don't have to ask myself why I do it because its something I love to do.

LINKS:

NASA STS-107 Tribute

NASA Main Site

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