Seems like you've answered your own question but, just in case you still have doubts, sunk cost (time, money, effort) is... sunk. You can't have it back. If the desire to justify it clouds your decision making, it's a fool's game with, in the mountains, sooner or later, the same old sad conclusion. You made the right decision. The graveyards are full of my mates who pressed on. RBJ said it best: 'Come back. Come back friends. Top out.' Sounds like you got two out of three - and a lovely, lovely video. (Thanks!) Where I come from, that's a pretty good result. Mick