Climbing up to Pike's Peak - Fear of the Unknown

We took a trip to Denver this week and traveled down to Colorado Springs and Pike's Peak, more info here. We traveled all 14 miles up to all 14,115 feet to the summit top. My husband drove and we were both terrified once we passed the treeline. A small winding road led us to the top and it kept going around and then back. While going up the switchback, the road seemed to disappear into the heavens! We didn't know if we were ever going to reach the summit.
However, on the way down, I had very little fear at all. Why? Well, for one thing, I could see far in front of me, and I had already went up the hill so I knew what to expect.

I got to thinking, is our fear of the unknown so strong that it ruins the experience? Or is knowing, as an adult now, all the bad things that can happen, making me even more fearful. I'll admit my imagination got the better of me, and on the way up, I kept picturing us sailing off the edge like Thelma and Louise. I just remember how paralyzing it was to be so terrified going up. Is that what is holding me back in life? My fear of the unknown? Maybe on the way down, I had just given up worrying and figured, "Well, if something bad happens, it happens, I might as well accept my fate." I think having that attitude of acceptance really helped me enjoy the experience. The view was like nothing I had ever seen, so spectacular! It made the terrifying trek up the mountain worth it.