He’s One of the Best Mountain Climbers Ever | National Geographic

Reinhold Messner is acclaimed as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. He was the first person to climb all 14 8,000-meter peaks-the tallest mountains in the world-and one of the first to climb Mount Everest without any supplemental oxygen. Hear Messner recount what it was like to climb Everest and what drives his passion for adventure.
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Read more about Messner, and his advice to the next generation of climbers:
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PRODUCERS: Mary Anne Potts, Jason Kurts, and Freddie Wilkinson
VIDEOGRAPHERS/EDITORS: Nacho Corbella and Eileen Mignoni
He’s One of the Best Mountain Climbers Ever | National Geographic
• He’s One of the Best M...
National Geographic
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[@uso_Jus2SmooTh94]

A man who has lived his life to the fullest.

[@sho8611]

Amen

[@oldwarmonger8750]

Someone who climbed everest in the 70's without oxygen has my respect

[@suba7320]

During the monsoon. Because, you know, doing it during the climbing season isn't hard enough lmao. What an absolute beast.

[@dudel39]

Lets not forget he did it 2 years later completely on his own alpine style.

[@danradu231]

And solo as well.

[@philkeh]

Guy is compleet nuts. Read his books

[@ChampChamp2024]

@@philkeh Germans usually are lol

[@futuropasado]

Soloing everest with no oxygen, no help from anybody... One of the greatest achievements ever! And doing that on those decades with little information is groundbreaking.

[@RahulVGopinathan]

He is probably the best 'calculated risk taking' human ever, to walk on this planet. I say so because Reinhold Messner is still alive and able to cherish those supreme conquests in his 20s and 30s, whereas almost all of the closely talented ones like Jerzy Kukuczka or his own brother Gunther met with their end in the snow mountains, the mighty Himalayas, and not in their old age.

[@arvinclok]

it was calculated that one person to accomplish all his feats alive would only have 1% of being alive

[@jonbertocchi173]

Yeah staying in the dead zone for 2 days without oxygen and not freezing to death or just dying is crazy. I wonder if he pitched a tent and started a fire inside it, Or made an igloo and started a fire inside it.

[@oldwarmonger8750]

@@jonbertocchi173 he has really good circulation

[@VCthaGOATdunker]

Sure there was some luck involved, some factors like avalanche cannot always be predicted and has taken many of the greatest climbers ever down. But beyond that, Messner never did his thing with an ego, he aborted many many climbs because there was bad weather coming or other risks involved that he would not take. That's why he is around today.

[@denverbritto5606]

a few other greats who've made it to old age. Kammerlander, Habeler, Wielicki....and the ancient one, Diemberger.

[@Jegiro]

The first to climb all Fourteen +8000m peaks without oxygen, the first to solo climb Everest without oxygen, (think about that, alone on Everest, without oxygen). He was the pioneer to climb these big mountains without using supplemental oxygen, and experts said he was crazy!!! He in fact has NINE FIRSTS in the Guinness book of world records, all related to mountaineering! A complete living legend, Reinhold is definitely one of the greatest mountaineers of all times.

[@TheBumbleCheese]

Once i met him personally and had the chance to talk to him in germany, he's awesome! He has the ability to motivate you on a way no one could imagine! After the talk i felt like i was in a dream

[@Kemagic]

Brilliant, marvellous words.

[@harishdeshani7382]

The weight of personal experience is there in his words....

[@harishdeshani7382]

He speaks words which he Lives too, That is why it is most effective.

[@SupremeChickenx]

respect for this man who has marked his place among humanity. his accomplishments will be significant in the grand scale of the universe.

[@ianburrows1700]

SupremeChickenx In the human parts of the universe.

[@gianmariagori8991]

"I think I became a quite good high altitude climber for the fact that I failed many times" Reinhold Messner

[@robiniapseudoacacia]

Surely one of the most remarkable people to have ever walked the earth.

[@johnmacklin6421]

Reinhold Messner IS the greatest mountaineer of all time. Everest solo without supplemental oxygen in 1980 is the greatest feat ever! In those days he was practically alone on the mountain. He took a variant of the North Ridge Route too. Amazing achievement with many record setting climbs behind him, and many more ahead of him.

[@marshalniel]

John Macklin His 1978 achievement change the mountaineering forever

[@rowerzystapo8zawaach427]

Kukuczka was better

[@dcqec111]

@@rowerzystapo8zawaach427 To borrow from the Simpsons, if he was so great how come he is dead? :-D

[@VCthaGOATdunker]

@@rowerzystapo8zawaach427 Boukreev may have been better than both.

[@shanmukhsagi9166]

I agreed but ueli steck is equally great

[@namejov]

All of those mountains and all his fingers are still there that is truly incredible

[@namejov]

Oh :(

[@jvranjes]

Yes there is a video where he explains, after loosing toes he did not have choice any more but to go to high mountains instead of climbing dangerous walls. Without toes this is impossible.

[@sharathshivashankar2419]

What a legend! Much respect and best wishes to you Mr. Reinhold Messner!

[@danradu231]

Guys like Reinhold are the real deal. There are some great climbers today but it seems like the romanticism of Himalayan climbs is no more. It's mostly guides and rich dentists.

[@kamilahmet2706]

everyone nowadays know that climbing everest is not a big deal. Try to do K2 and Annapurna. This guy is the first human who summited all 14 eight thousanders without oxygen balloons and any other supplementaries.

[@solelygripped]

"If you're there waiting fear is calling, if you are acting fear is getting less, you can fail but that's the only thing, you can also die but uh adventuring is not dying"-Reinhold Messner

[@danielr.7137]

True story

[@arvinclok]

The art of adventuring is not dying - this will stay as one of my life's motto

[@eriksmit1804]

A legend!! The greatest mountaineer of all time. Full stop,

[@ropersix]

That is the most amazing, memorable 4 minutes I think I've ever seen on KZbin.

[@Northern85Star]

He makes all achievements in sports seem superficial.

[@danielr.7137]

Are they too! In sports, nothing has changed. People can still do exactly what people have always been able to do. This TedTalk here shows very nicely why we believe there is progress in normal sports: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnSykoCBl7OljpI Messner distinguishes very well in the sport, tourists and those who go on real adventures.

[@JudoMonte]

I think this is my first time in many years on youtube commenting on video.. Amazing inspiring all explaining video. This guy is my idol even if never ever knew about him before this moment now.

[@xtrofilm]

Totally agree mate, well said,

[@jaakops3584]

There are people here in Nepal who talk about him and how strong and determined he was.there are sherpas who have done solo climbs but no one is his label.Aang Chiri Sherpa,Gyalgi Sherpa and few are most known and famous for their climbs but they themselfs have said no one is like Messener

[@BinaryRex18]

He makes a good point. True adventure is about risking one's life. There are so many unclimbed six-thousanders in the Himalayas that no-one goes after. Does anyone realise how tall a six-thousander is? It's massive, it's exciting! A mountain doesn't have to be 9km to be exhilarating.

[@hgrimes816]

Just set a personal goal to find an unclimbed mountain and be the first to reach it's peak and go where no other people have been, thank you tremendously Messner!!

[@earlviney2820]

ed hillary great. but Messner accomplishments are unparalleled. aside from the technical aspects the stamina of this guy is unbelievable. he is truly the best climber of all time.

[@ericeinarson6654]

He would dispute that; and with good reason. By trying to compare the 'greatest climber of all time', it means you are taking all the achievements by all the climbers in history, and comparing them to one another, which is not fair or possible. ie. Comparing the first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1860s, to the first ascent of the Eiger North Face in the 1930s, to the first ascent of Everest without oxygen etc etc. Each climber/group of climbers were leading figures of their time, but distinguishing who was greater is impossible.

[@bellini98-1]

Eric Einárson he was even the first to summit the north face of Nanga Parbat with his brother Günter, and yes, it's the best, or at least the one with more important archivements....

[@arvinclok]

what's even more amazing is that scientifically he was measured to have only an average vo2max - what this means is that he must have a superhuman mind to achieve the feats he had

[@jrborghuis9178]

'Edmund Hillary great'? Why?

[@romuloambay9624]

@@ericeinarson6654 reinhold was the first ever to climbed the fourteen peaks above 8k meters. .had anyone duplicated this feat. .

[@Saurav_prakash]

Reading " The crystal horizon" by messner...what an adventure

[@gunsofaugust1971]

Wow, I know this guy is a complete badass; but I had no idea how eloquent he is.

[@Cactijellyfish]

I would be knee-wobblingly honored to meet him.

me too

[@samuelbettinelli3059]

what a man and what a climber !!!! a legend how's able to inspire as no one does . I've heard he has never been arrogant , especially when he started ,he had to face many problems that today don't exist anymore in the climbing world thanks to him . him and simone moro are my legends

[@mauricelamain1978]

This men was one of a kind, legendary climber

[@user-gm4lo8hu4i]

Greatest climber who walked the earth. Gotta love his 70's hairstyle...

[@kingyordanov]

The best ever I love how easy he made things look on his climbs

[@danielbroomhall8882]

This guy is lucky to be born at a time that mountaineering and exploration were still in their early stages and there was room to even venture yourself alone out there. Nowadays everything has become so commercialized and touristy that is even impossible to do what he did (such as climbing Everest alone etc, not possible anymore).

[@rjmoney9]

It’s just not true that “everything has become commercialized” that’s a cop out

[@danielbroomhall8882]

@@rjmoney9 of course it is true....there is not such a thing u can do on your own anymore, you always need to pay some fees etc.

[@andibonnington]

To me, he has been the greatest of all time. When he climbed 14 8,000 meter peaks, technology was still in diapers. He is like Bruce Lee for current MMA and UFC fighters.

[@jsheriff396]

This guy is the best at what he does, Bruce Lee is no where near the skill level current gen mma fighters are at.

[@TheTurtlesaregreen]

Can't understand a word. But he seems very humble and wise

[@bellini98-1]

Emilio Rivera if he is still alive after all those years climbing the highest unexplored route of the world, it means he is extreamly humble, otherwise he would have been dead from decades

[@Nonpartisanmusic]

1924. He said if they did it in 1924 without oxygen, goretex, technology, why can i not... seems pretty straightforward... respect

[@annuelle6215]

Incroyable, incomparable...tous les adjectifs pour cet alpiniste doué à ..l extrême...

[@cappy2282]

..what a legend 🙏

[@kevinmalone3210]

There's good, very good, and the best. Then there's guys such as Messner who are even better than the best.

[@SamSoMite421]

Most mountain climbers become philosophers. I wonder if this has to do with endless hours of climbing and reflection which goes along with it, or the closeness one feels to god in mountains.

[@by1stander]

Maybe some philosophers are mountain climbers

[@speedoflight9005]

The greatest.

[@TucsonDude]

One of my personal heros.

[@oldschoolchannel7402]

The King...

[@TheAuspicious8]

Finally recognized, four his sport and courage . Waiting for his official film that does him justice, the rest, is obvious.

[@meiert]

“Sport is not adventure.”

[@juvenilegolden]

The greatest climber of all time.

[@Aflatoon67]

Messner is a giant

[@MiNkOYu]

True Legend 🤯

[@realomon]

„I have become successful only because I have failed so many times and learned from it”

[@felixalexander7399]

I came here because of a fictional character (Roland Tembo, The Lost World: Jurassic Park) I really admire their passion for adventure. There are many lessons to be learned from the characters of both film and real life.

[@khnarry7938]

All 14 ………….Wow……… And lived to tell ……...

[@tommybewick]

He's not one of the best, he is the best!

[@ayeshak6822]

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

[@zoppas7524]

🇮🇹 a true Italian King 🇮🇹

[@eugenleo4255]

A Südtiroler King. Not Italian. ;)

[@zoppas7524]

@@eugenleo4255 :) I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Still Italy mate and nothing wrong with that

[@erictrenbeath9680]

Ueli was undeniably rad, but Reinhold is still alive!

[@fatelvis6924]

Mozart of mountaineering

[@lacrosse2man]

As said by the best!

[@akum_jp_4270]

He is the best

[@nuancolar7304]

He makes a very interesting point: if he was able to summit Everest in the 1970s without oxygen, then it's entirely possible there were successful summit attempts in those early expeditions of the 1920s. Mallory and Irvine come to mind in that regard.

[@andybea6352]

I think Mallory and Irvine most likely made it to summit but died descending in pitch black darkness after even the moon had set. If they made it, not sure what they would have felt in the final moments when it was pitch black. On one hand, super proud that they made it but on the other, knowing there was a good chance they would die on the mountain and not live to tell the tale

[@joostvandervalkvandervalk8984]

He is the best, all peaks Himalaya without O2

[@philkeh]

What this guy did in his countless expeditions is completely nuts. I red few of his books. The story where his brother dies and he barely survives for example. Completely nuts

[@Javzaman]

A real adventurer....

[@sergejmaher144]

He is the best no doubt. No oxygen, alpinist style constantly in the death zone

[@RomietNJulio]

The most astonishing part is he has survived.

[@adanacman666]

whenever there is a debate about who is the greatest athlete ever,Ali,almost always wins,but nobody even comes close to Messner,just read his history........

[@varmaips]

Legend

[@francisjtuk]

One tough geezer

[@everydayjoe649]

Men like this guy Jacques Cousteau etc. 👍 much respect!

[@lukegriffies259]

I know I will send this to my friend !!!!!

[@igorm8110]

The Bob Ross of mountaineering.

[@arunkarki4446]

He is correct about how all 8thousanders will be in 10 years, can see already in these 6 years. Awesome 👍

[@floatblue8588]

It is so funny to hear him speak in English for the first time. He is great!

[@JohnMcIlroyTax]

Come on... he wasn't "one of the best" mountaineers of all time. He was the GOAT. The Wayne Gretzky of mountaineering.

[@kmurr4y]

One nahhh best Alpline climber to live

[@jrborghuis9178]

'One of the best!?

[@Lucky-ih9xk]

Sir !

[@johnforealdoe8999]

Little-known fact: Messner was the main inspiration for Patrick Swayze's character in Point Break.

[@FourthWayRanch]

high altitude mountaineering means frostbitten toes and fingers, suffocating in an avalanche, etc etc, I'll stick to the crags on the weekends thanks

[@paytonmacdonald]

Incredible athlete. No comparison to the rich socialites who pay other people to carry their stuff. Messner is one of the greatest of all time.

[@Marjis8]

I almost survived watching almost this clip´s end- almost.

[@MrJames-cr6lu]

WOW .. SUPERMAN!

[@Mezner]

[@midnightassassin5799]

amazing

[@edwinkubena9944]

Probably the best climber ever there are a few to compare but Messner is so good

[@dillydarns8024]

He’s my grandma’s cousin 😭

[@sergejmaher144]

This guy can outclimb a whole expedition with nothing

[@kalyantr7]

Jerzy Kukuczka climbed all the 8000s, most in alpine style and during winter with limited resources. Reinhold Messner climbed most of them with assistance from Sherpas in climbing seasons, so decide who is the greatest.

[@Flex2212]

Had he been American, he would be called not "one of" but "THE greatest".

[@Schizm1]

2nd best climber! ...Because Kukuczka will always be no. 1

[@tip00former1]

Ok, he was very good but not the first and as I recall not without oxygen. Two things Messner did. I will not rub in his death as that's more coincidental than anything. He was a great climber for sure with all the new routes but Messner was simply better.

[@robford3211]

@@tip00former1 I think even Messner admitted that Kukuczka was technically better climber, the thing is you can not compare them. Messner started climbing 8000 peaks in 1970 with money and sponsorship, Polish climbers had none of that and they started climbing in late 70s, hence the tragedy with rope...

[@warshipsatin8764]

proving the impossible possible on more than one occasion

[@Georgann-x3l]

What does it take to be a Reinhold Messner Why do you think I only take his word for everything?

[@saiyanveg]

3:29 "most important thing about adventure is there should no possibility of rescue in case of accidents". Lol, and people casually using the word "adventure" left right and center after joining a guided tour XD. Aint gonna lie - I'm guilty as charged. If I'm honest, there aren't many among us to have the balls to go out in the nature in search of true adventures like him. We may call them crazy and may be stupid, but what do we know, the ones who've never truly experienced that thrill and been on, as defined by Messner, "Adventure".

[@drewhiller438]

Please look at the closed captions in English

[@MajorplayLP]

'One of the best'? This Guy IS the best climber ever

[@bartoszlipinski6934]

Well, there was also Kukuczka

[@jacopochiefjaco123]

@@bartoszlipinski6934 And Buhl!

[@niagra898]

Majorplayer Jerzy Kukuczka

[@NESendings]

How does he have all of his fingers.

[@drbobsnightmare2521]

Where is the entrance to inner earth?

[@nextuser1]

One of the best ? He is the best climber ! AND he is still alive 2024.

[@pthomas5641]

The question is was there or no fixed lines? When he did the solo or all of his 8000ers climbs, or did he trailblaze without any fixed lines, only with his ice axe. Please give educative replies no guesses or probability

[@pakistanilover6740]

❤❤❤😊

[@roborovski008]

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID

[@theone-lm3mx]

I failed so many times, thats why I succeed.

[@HIMANSHUSINGH-rx5qk]

Google say he climbed kailash.

[@NancyHanson3472]

Don't believe everything that Google tells you.

[@ΓεωργιοςΠαπανικολαου-π4θ]

Not "one of...." He is THE BEST climber ever!!!!!!!