From a fantastic little book, The Night Climbers of Cambridge, the traditions of which appear to be still going strong:

“The immediate exaltation after a difficult climb lasts only two or three days, but there is a residual effect after the effervescence has died down. The imagination, through its violent and constant use in climbing, receives a permanent increase in strength. It becomes constructive instead of haphazard, so that instead of thinking what he might do, a climber thinks more of what he could and may do. Each achievement makes the next one easier…
There are new worlds to conquer and we must be ready. The future is waiting, in its smile a tremendous invitation and we must try to win favours from it. It will not tolerate half-heartedness…”