Devo perchè posso

«I climb mountains because it makes me happy.» Anyone who hears Simone Moro speak – at conferences on his mountain exploits, in the inspirational speeches he gives for companies, in any spontaneous chat – remains fascinated and gets a feeling of well-being. Why? The secret is happiness. Yet, in his life Simone certainly did not shy away from fatigue with the 54 mountaineering feats he completed on the most challenging and insidious peaks on the planet. Nor did he spare himself the discomfort, exposing himself in the winter to the lowest temperatures on Earth. At the same time he experienced giving up several times when he had to return to base camp due to adverse weather conditions and above all he experienced the suffering of losing dear friends in mountaineering accidents. But happiness comes from a dream and from the strength and determination with which we try to realize it day after day, throughout our lives. To build it, we can start by identifying our myths - those who for Simone, among others, were Messner, Cassin and Bonatti - and then choose masters - for him, Camòs and Anatoli Boukreev - who will help us make our own tape of tools and to find the means. Then it is good that we look for allies, identifying them among our own personal resources (our own talents, strengths) and in real people who can support us (among others, for Simone, Marianna Zanatta, his collaborator for always and co-author of this book). Finally, we must also take into account error and betrayal, fear and sacrifice. But the result of all this is happiness. Rich in unpublished episodes from Simone Moro's mountaineering exploits and as enthralling as all his stories of experiences in high altitude, I have to because I can is a very useful and strengthening read for any of us, even if we don't even take a step in the mountains. But, like everyone, we seek happiness in our daily dreams.