Reinhold Messner is the main guest of the Smichov Festival of Alpinismus, that starts today in Prague. He considers as his the best mountaineering success the fact that he is still alive, he said on opening press conference of the festival today.

Messner also said he mainly spent his time now by his project of mountains museums, and he climbed recently with his son only occasionally. He explained to journalist from Czech mainstream media, that in his age of 65 years climbing is not so easy, and that such extremes, like Adam Ondra climbed, even 40 years old climbers could not managed.

At the address of Prague Mayor Pavel Bem, who sat next to him at press conference, Reinhold Messner said, that he did not know any other Mayor who had reached Everest. Pavel Bem climbed Mount Everest at on May 8, 2007, during his first governing period as Mayor of Prague.

The Festival continues till Sunday 22nd 2009 and the detailed program is on web: www.festivalalpinismu.cz


Reinhold Messner at press conference of the Smichov Festival of Alpinismus in Prague with Prague Mayor Pavel Bem
photo © standa@lezec.cz


Reinhold Messner at press conference of the Smichov Festival of Alpinismus in Prague with Prague Mayor Pavel Bem, left is the main organizer of the Festival Ladislav Jirasko, on the right former chairman of the Czech Mountaineering Union Jiri Novak
photo © standa@lezec.cz


The National House of Smichov, Prague
photo © standa@lezec.cz


Smichov Festival of Alpinismus in Prague
photo © standa@lezec.cz


German climber Stefan Glowacz held the first presentation about his expedition at Baffin Island
photo © standa@lezec.cz