Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Messner Sees Yeti
One of the best known mountaineers in the world today is Reinhold Messner, who, by the age of 20, had climbed the hardest routes in the Dolomites and Western Alps together with his brother Günther.
An avalanche near the base camp on Nanga Parbat later killed Gunther, unfortunately. But since his brother's death Messner has reported that during ascents without supplemental oxygen tanks in the mountains near Nanga Parbat, he has sensed - and even conversed - with his deceased brother. He also claims to have encountered the Yeti twice during his expeditions to Karakorum and to have photos proving that the Yeti is a large, long-haired bear.
Messner isn't the only one to make such reports. Over the decades, dozens of mountaineers have reported hearing, seeing, and feeling strange things when at high altitude. This may be due to their brains being short on oxygen, plus the hard physical labor of mountaineering in extreme conditions. Skeptics about the paranormal suggest that the hypoxia is responsible for all the Yeti and Abominable Snowman reports -- Messner's included.
Some fear that Messner has suffered permanent brain damage due to numerous climbs to extreme altitudes without supplemental oxygen. But brain damaged or not, his record of ascents is impressive.
One of the best known mountaineers in the world today is Reinhold Messner, who, by the age of 20, had climbed the hardest routes in the Dolomites and Western Alps together with his brother Günther.An avalanche near the base camp on Nanga Parbat later killed Gunther, unfortunately. But since his brother's death Messner has reported that during ascents without supplemental oxygen tanks in the mountains near Nanga Parbat, he has sensed - and even conversed - with his deceased brother. He also claims to have encountered the Yeti twice during his expeditions to Karakorum and to have photos proving that the Yeti is a large, long-haired bear.
Messner isn't the only one to make such reports. Over the decades, dozens of mountaineers have reported hearing, seeing, and feeling strange things when at high altitude. This may be due to their brains being short on oxygen, plus the hard physical labor of mountaineering in extreme conditions. Skeptics about the paranormal suggest that the hypoxia is responsible for all the Yeti and Abominable Snowman reports -- Messner's included.
Some fear that Messner has suffered permanent brain damage due to numerous climbs to extreme altitudes without supplemental oxygen. But brain damaged or not, his record of ascents is impressive.
Labels: climbing
¶ Tuesday, June 26, 2007
