In his last interview before his death, British actor Julian Sands spoke about the “solace” and “existentialist self-negation” that he found in mountain climbing. He also acknowledged the danger of the sport, saying that it can be “much more dangerous” if you’re not “absolutely committed.”

Sands, who was 65, died after going missing during a hike in the San Gabriel Mountains in California. He was an experienced mountaineer, but the conditions in the mountains had been treacherous, with the potential of avalanches.

In his interview with the Radio Times, Sands said that he had seen “spooky things” on mountains, such as human remains. He said that these experiences could be “chilling,” but they also reminded him of the power of nature.

“You’re in the presence of big nature and big nature is revealing itself in all its power,” he said. “It can take us over a threshold of hypersensitivity into a realm of natural forces.”

Sands said that he believed that mountain climbing could be a “complementary” activity to acting. He said that both activities required a “focus” and a “commitment” that could be “deflating” if they weren’t present.

“If you can deal with dangerous mountains, you can certainly deal with life as an actor,” he said.

Sands’ death is a reminder of the dangers of mountain climbing, but it also highlights the rewards that the sport can offer. For Sands, mountain climbing was a way to find solace, self-affirmation, and a connection to nature.