Through the testimonies of great Himalayan mountaineers, journalists, historians on the attempt to open a new route on the Amnye Machen (Tibet), the author tries to understand the desire to go "up there", despite the risk of never coming back. With testimonials from: Jean-Michel Asselin, Christine Janin, François Damilano, Pierre Mazeaud, Jean-Christophe Lafaille, Patrick Berhault, Reinhold Messner, Bertrand Roche dit Zébulon, Katia Buffetrille, Elizabeth Hawley, Junko Tabei, Sylvie Braud, Kurt Diemberger.