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I had the privilege...

 

...of attending a lecture by Reinhold Messner in the mid 1990's.  He spoke for about an hour to a mixed group of climbers in Southern California about his early life, his climbing career, and his ambitions for the future.

He is a fantastic speaker, and his accomplishments listed above are awe-inspiring.

One thing you'll notice from the last photo of him in the post, he is missing a number of toes (only 3 remain, I believe) from frostbite during his Himalayan climbs.  During his talk, he mentioned that on one of these, weather and disorientation forced him to descent the opposite side of the peak he had ascended.  He fortunately found a small Indian village as he neared death.  The villagers, who nursed hm back to health, thought he was a god, because while they had seen climbers ascend the mountain from their village (and many never return) they had never seen a man descend from the mountain who had not first gone up it.

-Tom

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13 Comments view entire thread 

I think it's time to rename the Rolex 1655 "Steve McQueen"

 
By: smith : October 24th, 2009-07:02
My proposal: Let's call it in future the "Reinhold Messner"! This Rolex deserves to be named after a real adventurer/explorer, who indeed wore this remarkable tool-watch: Regards Smith...  

Put me down for one.. :-)

 
By: hans_jorgen_1968 : October 24th, 2009-13:01
A professional tool watch deserves a professional person to be named after, and Mr Messner looks to be one of thoose prof tough guys. Smith, could you enlighten us some more on Mr. Reinhold Messner. I believe a Swiss or Austrian guy he? Best regards Hans

Some facts about Reinhold Messner (from Wikipedia)

 
By: smith : October 25th, 2009-03:03
Reinhold Messner (born September 17 , 1944 ) is an Italian mountaineer and explorer from South Tyrol , often cited as the greatest mountain climber of all time. He is renowned for making the first solo ascents of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen ... 

Reinhold Messner is my hero...

 
By: hans_jorgen_1968 : October 25th, 2009-14:35
...and we should name a Rolex watch after him. BR Hans P.S. He is my true hero, as I actually scared of heights

Definitely more apropos.

 
By: fernando : October 24th, 2009-23:59
From what I gather, Steve M, didn't actually wear this watch,so it's a misnomer.However, it will be difficult to change peoples perception and identity of something once it's been ingrained in their minds. cheers fernando

Good Idea...

 
By: greenecollector : October 25th, 2009-01:44
A few years ago I attended a lecture given by Messner's climbing partner Peter Habeler at the Royal Geographical Society here in London. It was awe inspiring to hear how he and Messner in 1974 set out one afternoon to climb the North face of the Eiger one...  

Great picture !

 
By: DrStrong : October 25th, 2009-05:23
wait until tomorrow, I have a little something for you Explorer freaks ... Cheers Jeff

Superb picture, indeed!

 
By: amanico : October 25th, 2009-05:35
Who will say that these watches aren't toolwatches? Best, Nicolas

I had the privilege...

 
By: tee530 : October 26th, 2009-09:35
...of attending a lecture by Reinhold Messner in the mid 1990's. He spoke for about an hour to a mixed group of climbers in Southern California about his early life, his climbing career, and his ambitions for the future. He is a fantastic speaker, and his...