When he returned from Scott’s tragic expedition to the South Pole, Apsley Cherry-Garrard wrote the following passage which sums up perfectly my thoughts on why we do these thing.:
“...the desire for knowledge for its own sake is the one which really counts...Exploration is the physical expression of the intellectual passion. And I tell you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore. If you are a brave man you will do nothing: if you are fearful you may do much, for none but cowards need to prove their bravery. Some will tell you that you are mad, and nearly all will say, “What’s the use?” For we are a nation of of shopkeepers, and no shopkeeper will look at research which does not promise him financial return within a year. And so you will sledge nearly alone, but those with whom you sledge will not be shopkeepers: that is worth a good deal. If you march your winter journeys you will have your reward, so long as all you want is a penguin’s egg.”
"The Worst Journey In the World"