Reinhold Messner recalls the Messner slab on Sass dla Crusc, Dolomites

For decades it was one of the most talked-about climbs in the Dolomites. An enigma, four difficult meters climbed in absolute extremis by Reinhold Messner way back in distant 1968. A complex and bold moment that, despite all his adventures and mishaps, the South Tyrolean mountaineer still defines as his hardest rock climb ever. And also the instant he risked most.

We’re obviously referring to the famous Messner slab on the route Mittelpfeiler, or Pilastro di Mezzo in Italian, high up on Heiligkreuzkofel (Sass de la Crusc) established by Reinhold with his brother Günther Messner on 6 and 7 July 1968. Nowadays the grade settles in at VII but, difficulties aside, what is equally remarkable is the psychological commitment needed at the time. Even today Messner can recall this with minute detail.

22/11/2010 - The Messner slab on the Sass dla Crusc, Dolomites
The famous section climbed by Reinhold Messner on the Pilastro di Mezzo on Sass dla Crusc (also referred to as Sasso della Croce or Heiligkreuzkofel), analysed by Heinz Mariacher. Plus the history, a video and an on-site report by Nicola Tondini.