In photographs shot from afar, Mount Everest seems like just a mountain. So why since the dawn of known humanity have so many been fascinated with and, in some cases, obsessed by this particular rock? For the brave it is arguably the toughest physical test—the apex. And while most people never try to conquer it, we all wonder what it would feel like to live the fantasy. On Earth, Everest is as big as it gets. The mountain is only the beginning of our fascination. The heart of what compels us is all about the challenge.