It's a tough thing to make the decision to turn back without a summit on any mountain. I've done it myself, less than a few hundred yards from my goal. The decision can come about for several reasons; weather, altitude sickness, exhaustion, too late in the day, unsafe rock, navigational errors, etc. For Ann Curry and her team it was a combination of physical exhaustion and altitude sickness. I guess it just stops being fun when you're throwing up and have a throbbing headache.

The common perception of mountaineering is that it is all about the summit. Contrary to that though, many seasoned climbers will tell you that although the summit is an achievement and a great place to reflect on the journey, it isn't the most important piece. The journey itself and often the bonds you build with your partners are the true summit. Finding out more about yourself, your physical limits, being in a beautiful place, an alien landscape, and being part of a team are what are truly important. The summit is nice, don't get me wrong. Looking down from that perch and thinking about all it took to get there as well as all it takes to get back down is a place of great reflection. When I'm up there I feel like a bird gliding above the world. Ann and her team should know they already accomplished more than most by just attempting Kilimanjaro. And that's bragging rights enough.

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