Reaching the top feels like the finish line, but in mountaineering, it’s only halfway. Fatigue, fading light, and deteriorating weather make the descent potentially more dangerous than the climb.
Stay hydrated, eat small snacks to keep energy up, and watch your footing — especially if snow has softened or ice has refrozen. Keep track of time and landmarks; routes that felt obvious in ascent can look completely different going down.
The mountain only truly lets you go when you’re back at the trailhead. The best climbers know that getting down safely is the real victory.