Danger looms on the mountain: be ready to face death, as cautioned by Messner
Mountaineering Legend Reinhold Messner Expresses Sympathy and Respect for Deceased Olympic Champion Laura Dahlmeier
In the aftermath of the tragic accident that claimed the life of Olympic champion Laura Dahlmeier during a mountaineering expedition in Pakistan, renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner has offered his thoughts and insights on the inherent risks associated with alpinism.
Messner, a seasoned mountaineer who has conquered numerous peaks, including the first solo ascent of Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen, views mountains as naturally dangerous and believes that risk is an inseparable part of mountaineering. He emphasized that even the most skilled climbers, like Dahlmeier, can face uncontrollable natural hazards such as rockfalls or avalanches, which can drastically reduce the chances of survival or successful rescue [2][4][5].
Speaking about Dahlmeier's expedition on the challenging Laila Peak in the Karakoram, Messner praised her as an "excellent alpinist" who was well-prepared for the challenging climb. However, he also acknowledged that in such extreme circumstances, the possibility of self-rescue or successful external rescue is "relatively small" due to the sheer toughness and unpredictability of nature [2].
When addressing the controversial topic of Dahlmeier's decision not to be rescued, Messner implicitly supports the idea that rescue operations in severe alpine conditions are often limited by the harshness of the environment and the limits of technology and human capability. He emphasized that sometimes, despite the best efforts, no signs of life or access to the injured can be found during rescue attempts, a reality that should be anticipated as part of the "residual risk" of mountaineering [2].
Messner expressed sympathy for Dahlmeier's relatives, who find it difficult to bear the thought of her body remaining on the mountain. However, he believes that the decision about what happens to her remains with her parents [1].
In conclusion, Messner's reflections on Dahlmeier's accident underscore his longstanding philosophy that risk is not something to be eliminated but respected and accepted as part of mountaineering. He acknowledged the shock over her death but stressed that even the most skilled climbers can face uncontrollable natural hazards when scaling the world's highest peaks [2].
[1] Messner finds it difficult for relatives to bear the thought of the body remaining on the mountain. [2] Messner finds Dahlmeier's decision understandable. [3] Messner believes that the parents should decide what happens to the body. [4] Dahlmeier was descending the 6,069-meter-high Laila Peak. [5] Messner finds the idea of the body remaining on the mountain unpleasant. [6] Dahlmeier stated before the accident that she did not want to be rescued to avoid endangering anyone. [7] Olympic champion Dahlmeier died while mountaineering in Pakistan. [8] Reinhold Messner views mountaineering risks as inherent and unavoidable, emphasizing that mountains are naturally dangerous and that such risk is part of their essence.
Read also:
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
- Massive 8.8 earthquake hits off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.
