The fatigue cancels out the joy, so you’re kind of in this middle space. Chin says. Anker’s thoughts were equally conflicted. Exhilaration is something the great climber rarely experiences on the summit. ‘I mean, sure we were saying “wow, we made it.” But I always get to the summit and somehow it doesn’t mean anything. It’s just another point. It’s crazy. The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters. I’d been so so happy to be back there, and climbing that mountain again, but only because I’d loved climbing itself.’