Reinhold Messner



  • Since 1969 Reinhold Messner undertook more than hundred expeditions to the highland regions and deserts of the world which he documented in his books. He is famous for his many first-ever ascends and his climbing the fourteen highest mountains in the world. He successfully managed to cross Greenland horizontally and disclosed the secret of the Yeti. Between his expeditions Reinhold Messner lives with his family in Meran.
  • Since thirty years Reinhold Messner belongs to the most successful mountaineers. He did approximately 3500 ascents including one hundred first ever ascends. Messner climbed all fourteen 8000 m peaks and crossed the Antarctic and Greenland in their entire lengths as well as Tibet and the desert Takla Makan on foot.
  • Reinhold Messner began his mountaineering career in 1949. After his studies at the technical university he shortly taught at the compulsory school. In contrast to other mountaineers who represent themselves as adventurers, Reinhold Messner was never interested in establishing a record. He wants to be exposed to isolated and untouched landscapes and keeps his equipment to a minimum. His expeditions to the North Pole and the idea to cross the South pole were inspired by Shackleton. Moreover he was affected by Mummery’s “by fair means” at the Nanga Parbat. Despite the possibilities of modernism he undertakes his expeditions on foot and eschews deliberately the use of bolts while climbing, satellite telephones or oxygen-maks. This seems to be anachronistic but it gives an inexhaustible potential of experience in the wilderness.
  • Between his expeditions he lives in Meran or on his castle Juval together with his family. There he keeps mountain farms, writes books and develops museum like estates. Moreover he works as TV commentator, and his presentations for mountaineers, tourists and economists are always in demand.