The Higher You Go, The Farther You See

One month later, Si still hasn't recovered from the climb. He hopes he never does. "I've never been as exhausted or as scared as I was on that mountain," he says. "Nothing I do in regular life will ever push me as hard. I don't think I'm invulnerable, but I feel that if I can handle this, I can pretty much handle anything." This summer, Si is planning to make a bid for Gannett Peak (13,804 feet) in Wyoming's remote Wind River Mountains.

If you think civilians such as Si are crazy for risking their necks just to get a good view, you might hold your opinion until you get to Grand Teton's pinnacle. All of Wyoming and Idaho's snowy subranges seem to radiate before you. At the top, with the wind hushed and your body pressed safely between a cluster of warm, sunny rocks, it's nothing like the moments to come at the office, when you tell your expedition story and shake your head as if you're not sure whether the climb was stupid or profound or ever to be repeated. At the top, you think you know.

Todd Balf (72774.2435@compuserv.com) , a frequent contributor to "Outside" and to "Men's Journal," calls his ascent of Grand Teton his toughest outdoor challenge -- so far.