"Because it's there"

The above is a famous answer from George Mallory, answering the never-ending why?-questions, regarding his mountaineering aspirations.

Born 1886, died 1924. Mallory was a pioneer in Mount Everest exploration, leading three British expeditions on the mountain. He was one of the greatest climbers at the time. For political reasons the expeditions used the West Ridge, and it was high up on this route - 8200 meters - that Mallory died from a fall. It is not known whether he and climbing partner Andrew Irvine actually sumitted, but probably not. His body was found in 1999 and was very well preserved on the cold mountain.