Why We Climb is a celebration, in word and image, of those aspects of the climbing life that are most universal, meaningful, and long lasting-- the strong connection to partners and nature; the physical and mental mastery required (and how to achieve it); the rewards of exploring oneself and the world through climbing. Through interviews with some of North America's most notable climbers the book undertakes a quest to find the soul of climbing-- asking what compels men and women to dedicate their lives to the challenges and deprivations of living in a vertical world? What are the sacrifices and what are the rewards? And most importantly, can the lessons learned on cliff faces, frozen waterfalls, and alpine peaks-- lessons of respect, discipline, commitment, humility and simplicity--be brought home and used to benefit society as a whole?