Evolaarticulatesthecloserelationshipbetweenthephysicalrigorsofmountainclimbingandtheascentoftheinitiatetowardself-transcendence.JuliusEvola,aleadingexponentofesotericthought,wasalsoanardentmountainclimberwhopersonallyscaledthepeaksoftheTyrols,Alps,andDolomites.ForEvolathephysicalconquestofamountain,withallthecourage,self-transcendenceandmentalluciditythatitentails,becomesaninseparableandcomplementarypartofspiritualawakening.Itisnocoincidencethatmanyancientcultureschosemountainsastheabodesoftheirgodsandconsideredtherigorousascentofpeaksasthetaskofheroesandinitiates.Inmoderntimes,whichtendtosuffocatetheheroicwithnakedselfinterest,themountainstillformspartoftheprofounddimensionofspiritwherethesoulfindswithinitselfmorethanwhatitthoughtitselftobe.InMeditationsonthePeaks,Evolacombinesrecollectionsofhisownexperienceswithreflectionsonotherinspirationalmenandwomenwhosharedhisviewofthetranscendentgreatnessofmountains.
