A key tenet of our desire to be immersed in the outdoors is that of exploration. We want to test every facet of ourselves technically, physically, and emotionally. Not necessarily to breaking point, but to explore our place in the world for the sake of knowing. It is an esoteric drive that differentiates our chosen passion from everything else.

There is a harmony to the outdoors. A balance.

Ascent follows descent. Biting cold becomes a remedy to burning lactic. The hum-drum of preparation sets the foundations for pure, unabridged exhilaration. The bustle of a troubled modern mind calmed by the simplicity and tactility of pursuing a simple goal amongst the wild and untamed tableau of our beautiful outdoor spaces.

We are drawn by the infinite possibilities of these places, and the opportunities they provide to not only move across but to explore. We hear and feel the irresistible call of ‘what if there’s more’ echoing off the rock, percolating down through the trails. The late nights, the early rises, the unseen summits and hard-won miles - what it’s all for - it is the WHY that keeps us coming back.

It stays our nerves, steadies our hands. Pulling us through fatigue and discomfort and the unpredictable torments of a heart that beats only for the pursuit of rewards that transcend mere accomplishment.

The why is felt more keenly than others. To some, it is a magnetic pull to a point just out of reach, or a hitherto unfathomed depth inside themselves. Others it is a reaction to the hum-drum, to the paths well-trod, which pushes them in new ways into new places. It is an emotional framework for our connection with the outdoors that we all share. A fulcrum around which our internal desires and physical experience balance. In a world beset on all sides by insidious, unseen forces, we stand together unified by the simple recognition of a hard job done well, and the visceral rewards that go unseen yet felt more keenly for it.

It is as much a practical drive as inspiration. The pouring over maps by torchlight, the last-minute check of gear before you leave the carpark, the weeks of obsessing over kit purchases – it all contributes to the cumulative knowledge that will help propel you towards your goal, and a deeper understanding of the outdoors.

More than just a question, and a lot more than a simple answer, it is the acknowledgement we are fortunate to be in such revered places, and indicative of our desire to be at peace amongst our chosen hardship. To find our home moving amongst the mountains.