“Why do you do it?” – a question often asked of high-altitude sports practitioners. Avalanches, adverse weather, physical strain – the risks are high and setbacks are certain. in 2019, freeriders Fabian Lentsch, Max Kroneck and Joi Hoffmann had to break off a ski expedition in Tajikistan. Psychologist and mountain guide Pauli Trenkwalder thinks the real question should be: “Why do I do it?” Like a magnet, passion and the search for meaning forever compels us to scale the next mountain.