It's impossible to translate this exactly, you'll never fully appreciate the piece.
这篇文章不可能准确翻译,所以你也许永远不可能好地阅读它。
To fall to pass the exam
考试落榜
It is true that during their explorations they often faced difficulties and dangers of the most perilous nature, equipped in a manner with would make a modern climber shudder at the thought,