The mountain is a metaphor, and it's the hard thing you would be proud of yourself if you did. It may be writing a novel or standing on your head or running a successful business or a kickass parent. In an avalanche of tautology, an accomplishment only matters to you if it matters to you.

If it does matter to you, then having tried and failed is arguably better than having been safe and taking no risks and then dying anyway because death knocks on your door no matter how much you try to avoid it.