To Mark, the mountain symbolizes a hidden truth that he must uncover—either about himself or, more broadly, life—though he’s somewhat unsure of his own question. Mark assumes that climbing the mountain means certain death, but a kind of death he chooses for himself. He would rather die pursuing truth and adventure than fade away in pity and comfort. Mark’s resolve only further solidifies as the mountain’s truths remain obscured by clouds and storms, refusing to reveal its secrets to him.

Mark believes his journey holds a certain outcome, but the mountain still manages to surprise him:

White and shining, painted impossibly bright by the moonlight. Shocking, unmovable white against the black of the sky and the storm and the darkness. Mount Rainier is an awesome mountain. It is fierce and it is proud. It is almost angry against the sky. […] I yanked at my clothes and pulled my camera free and held it up to everything I’d been seeking. I didn’t know if the mountain, so grand, could fit in the small frame of the camera. But I held it up and I pointed it and pressed my gloved finger on the button (212).

Mark finds that life is stormy and difficult, but the meaning at its center is expansive and full, like the mountain that the camera lens may or may not capture completely.