The first real tourists to Nepal where the Mountaineers that where attracted by the peaks of the Himalaya. International attention was drawn to these mountains in 1953 when New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Norgay Tensing became the first people ever to reach the peak of Mt. Everest. The highest mountain in the world had been conquered and Nepal would never be the same. Mountaineering has always been a mysterious activity to those looking in from the outside. Many people wonder why a person would risk their safety and push their physical and mental strength just to get to the top of a mountain. But it is so much more than just reaching the peak. Its true satisfaction comes from the entire journey itself. The mountain always sits on the horizon during your approach to the climb and fills your mind with wonder and excitement. The realisation that you might be on the top of that mountain lingers in your head. Such things as setting up base camp and analysing maps make your climb a reality. Long days of climbing lead to short nights of rest. And soon the peak is before you and you see the world from a different point of view. The rest at the top offers you a little time to appreciate the struggles of the climb and to prepare for the other half of your journey , the climb down. Of course not all climbing attempts are successful and mother nature is never predictable. But any experience on such great mountains as the Himalayas gives you awareness and insight about your true strength.