In recent years, the culture of trekking and mountaineering has shifted from introspective exploration to externally validated accomplishment. This short essay critically examines the rise of certificate-oriented treks and the commodification of high-altitude experiences, drawing on personal reflection and broader trends in adventure tourism. From summit selfies to laminated certificates, it explores how social media, bucket-list marketing, and consumer expectations have transformed sacred and solitary landscapes into stages of performance. Juxtaposing this trend with traditional values of humility, transformation, and reverence, the essay asks: what is lost when the journey becomes a product? Through examples from Kilimanjaro, Everest, Annapurna, and beyond, it advocates a return to a slower, deeper, more meaningful engagement with the mountains—one not stamped or shared, but quietly carried within. Summits for Show: On the Commodification of Trekking In the summer of 2005, I ...
or In Dialogue with Destiny