Reinhold Messner Interviewed on the Eve of his 70th Birthday

German journalist Stefan Nestler, who always does an excellent job of covering the world of mountaineering and other outdoor sports, has interviewed Reinhold Messner on the eve of his 70th birthday. The Italian climbing legend, who is the first to climb all 14 8000-meter peaks, amongst a number of other feats, will reach that milestone tomorrow, and indications are that he is both philosophical and pragmatic about his advancing years.

When asked how he'll celebrate his birthday, Messner says he'll have a private party with close friends, where he'll invite them to bivouac with him under the stars one last time. He says it will be the last night that he spends in a sleeping back outside, which is a surprise for a man who has spent a lot of nights outside over the course of his life.

Nestler asks Messner about his level of happiness at this point in his life, how he spends his time in his private castle, and what his goals are for the next decade of his life. To that Messner says he'll concentrate on his mountaineering museum, ensuring that it has a lasting legacy beyond his lifetime, and that he'd like to work on some films, in addition to his farms.

Perhaps more importantly, Reinhold discusses his thoughts on Carlos Soria still climbing 8000 meter peaks at the age of 75, how the events on Everest this past spring will impact climbing there, and his advice for young mountaineers heading to the mountains today. He closes the interview by discussing the state of his own personal climbing ambitions, saying that he still routinely goes above 6000 meters (19,685 feet), and actually feels better at that altitude than he does in normal life. He says that might serve as incentive for him to visit Nepal more regularly over the next decade, as the altitude seems to make him feel better. He is quick to point out however, that he has no intention of climbing the big mountains again, adding "I don't want to die in the mountains."

This is another intriguing and insightful interview with Messner, who is always an interesting guy. I like that he doesn't hold back on his thoughts and opinions, and is always happy to share his perspectives. At the age of 70, clearly his best days of climbing are behind him. But I'd venture to guess he could still teach today's mountaineers a thing or two, and many of them would not be where they are today if it weren't for Messner breaking trail for them. On this milestone birthday, I salute his accomplishments. Happy birthday Reinhold!

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Curious Animal Interviews Mountaineering Legend Reinhold Messner

On the eve of his 70th birthday, mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner sat down with adventure travel magazine Curious Animal for an eye-opening interview. As usual, Messner has strong opinions on life, death, and the mountains, and he isn't shy about sharing those thoughts with the world.

In the interview, Messner talks about the challenges he sought as a younger man, both in rock climbing and high altitude mountaineering. He also discusses how testing your own limits helps you to learn about yourself, and your own possibilities when faced with survival in extreme environments. The Italian climber, who many believe to be the greatest mountaineer of all time, emphasizes that danger is an essential element of mountaineering, and without the chance of death, it just doesn't hold the same appeal. He says that mountaineering is "...not a sport. It’s a play with nature, a serious play with nature."

Messner goes on to discuss his preference for climbing and traveling solo, as it allows him more freedom to do what he wants, on his own terms. He also touches on whether or not climbing is "worth it" considering the number of people who have died in the mountains over the years, and shares his approach to an expedition prior to setting out.

One of the more interesting aspects of the interview are when Messner gives a nod to several of the exceptional young climbers today. For instances, he mentions David Lama's free climb of the Cerro Torre in Patagonia as an amazing feat that he could never have accomplished, and he calls Ueli Steck's solo-summit of Annapurna one of the most impressive climbs in recent memory.  He also salutes Sandy Allan and Rick Allen for their impressive first ascent of the Mazeno Ridge on Nanga Parbat from a few years back, calling it one of the greatest, and most intelligent, ascents of the past few years.

Finally, Messner talks about his ongoing efforts in the mountains, which have slowed down in recent years, but his love for remote places keeps driving him to go back. He shares his thoughts on the Yeti, and mentions his efforts at setting up a charitable foundation, following in the footsteps of Edmund Hillary, who he says he respects "more for his social work than for his climbing." He wraps up the interview by discussing his time in office as a politician, which seemed to leave him a bit frustrated by the process.

All in all, a good interview from a man whose reputation and legacy are certainly secure. For me, Messner is indeed the greatest mountaineer of all time, and I always enjoy reading his take on climbing, adventure, and life in general. He remains a very interesting man, and I'm not sure there will ever be another one like him.

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