Those who have a strong love for climbing high and difficult mountains are often looked upon with astonishment. Why are men and women16to suffer cold and hardship, and to17on high mountains? This astonishment is caused, probably, by the difference between mountaineering and other forms of activity18men give their leisure. 

Mountaineering is a sport and not a game. There are no man-made rules, as there are for such games as golf and football. There are rules of a different kind which it would be dangerous to19，but it is this freedom from man-made rules20makes mountaineering interesting to many people. Those who climb mountains are free to use their own methods. 

If we compare mountaineering with other more21sports, we might think that one big difference is that mountaineering is not a “team game”. We should not be22in this. There are,23，no “matches” between “teams” of climbers, but when climbers are on a24linked by a rope on which their lives may25，there is obviously teamwork. 

The mountain climber knows that he may have to fight forces that are stronger and more powerful than man. He has to fight the forces of26This sport requires high physical and mental27.