International Mountain Summit

Bressanon, 2010

Nov, 7

International Mountain Summit 2010: "This is where new impulses will come from"

The International Mountain Summit is closing its doors. Starting from 30 October top mountaineers, leading alpine associations, representatives of the media, industry, academia and international organizations met in Brixen to debate, celebrate, connect and forge new friendships. For the organizers, this day marks the end of an exhausting and exciting week.

"Personally, I think Oh Eun-Sun's presence was the highlight of this year's IMS," IMS - Organizer Alex Ploner concluded. With her open and friendly attitude she rectified some issues entirely changing her own image in European media. She mentioned herself that this week had been really important to her and we would be happy to welcome her here again." While the final congress day was the highlight of the week, the other topics also attracted much interest. "The events all worked out really well", Ploner recaps and he adds: "Conferences like the symposium on the Dolomites UNESCO world heritage have never been held like this before. This has been a very important event for South Tyrol. The symposium about alpine recue also produced interesting propositions that will continue to stimulate the debate. We were able to provide some food for thought here. This is where new impulses will come from."

Much praise was received for the presentations in the scope of "IMS Talk". This year, we had very different contributions, not only reports about climbing and alpine expeditions, but also very personal accounts from Simone Moro and Steve House. They allowed us to take somewhat part in their lives", IMS-executive director Markus Gaiser sums up. Every evening after the IMS Talks, alpinists and guests would gather at the Forum reviving the old local tradition called "Abklettern" - a gathering of the mountaineers for the year's last few climbs in late autumn and an opportunity to meet people and plan new projects. "Mountaineers consider the IMS as a kind of family reunion. This is what makes this event so special: it is very personal," Alex Ploner describes.

IMS guests have a chance get to know top alpinists during the "IMS Walks" "These hikes are a very special feature of the International Mountain Summit. Demand was even higher than last year. All walks were well attended; in particular the one with Reinhold Messner was extremely popular. We are very pleased about that, since the mountaineers also appreciate participating. Oh Eun Sun even joined two walks this year", Markus Gaiser rejoices.

Altogether, attendance increased as compared to last year. "We had about 5,600 guests at the Forum and 4,000 at the Bouldering and Slacklining Contests," Gaiser recaps. Especially on Friday and Saturday, the bouldering hall was crowded when the first slackline champion was selected and the Top Boulderers impressed with their skills at the IMS Cup.

On the last day of IMS the organizers already look towards the next edition. The dates for 2011 are fixed. We will start a bit earlier, from the 21 until the 30 October 2011 the next IMS will take place" Alex Ploner announces:"We are however really pleased with the interest of international media in our festival. There were more media representatives at IMS than last year. Therefore we are certainly right to say that the mountain world in this week looked at Brixen. We hope that this will go on in 2011. That's what we are working on and look forward to"

Top-Alpinists 2010:
Nives Meroi, Denis Urubko, Hans Kammerlander, Krzysztof Wielicki, Andy Holzer, Steve House, Mick Fowler, Simone Moro, Reinhold Messner, Alessandro Gogna, Jerry Moffat, Silvio Mondinelli, Kurt Diemberger, Stephen Venables, Alexander Huber, Oh Eun Sun

Nov, 6

"Without the competition, I would have never attained my goals"

IMS Congress "Women and mountaineering" with Oh Eun-Sun

A new chapter was opened in the history of Alpine rescue at today's IMS Congress titled "Rescue from the world's highest mountains: exporting rescue operations or education?" At the IMS Congress today, Friday 5 November, top alpinists met with rescue operators and emergency physicians to talk about experiences, challenges and the way forward in rescue missions in the highest mountains. This event, which can probably be considered of the most important international events on alpine rescue in the last 20 years, was organized by the EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine under the direction of Dr. Hermann Brugger.

Bruno Jelk, President of the Terrestrial Rescue Commission (ICAR) and one of the world's best rescuers, confirmed that with the newest technologies today, alpine rescues are feasible even in the highest altitudes. Thanks to the cooperation between rescue committees from Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, such rescue missions can be carried out by local teams. With the necessary training and technical support from abroad, the poorly working rapid response teams based in Europe could eventually be replaced by local rescuers and mountaineers. The groundwork of this approach would be the transmission of the experience gained in 40 years of Alpine rescue coupled with the training is of local Sherpas who are familiar with the location. Simone Moro, Gerold Biner, Ramon Chiocconi and Nazir Sabir reported about some very difficult rescue missions. Experienced rescuers criticized the increasing number of inexperienced hobby mountaineers who need to be rescued. In the closing debate, Reinhold Messner stated that helicopters are being used as a matter of course: "We are taking away the charisma of alpinism".

IMS Walk & Talk Early in the morning, a group of approximately 100 mountain lovers hiked to Rastnerhutte. Their mountain guides were Allessandro Gogna and Steve House, who had just given a moving speech about the effect his recent accident had on his life the night before. The second walk on the today's program was at least as popular: To hike with Reinhold Messner and Oh Eun Sun, the first man and the first woman to have climbed all 14 eight-thousanders, was a unique experience for the 150 participants. At the IMS Talks on Friday 5th November with Mick Fowler, Simone Moro and the Godfather of mountaineers Reinhold Messner the guests of IMS could experience a journey through the joy and pain of their expeditions. Reinhold Messner however devoted his actual talk to another star: the Dolomites.

IMS on Sunday The International Mountain Summit is slowly getting to its end. On its final day, the platform of alpinism still has to offer an exciting program. Once more, there will be a chance to hike with top alpinist. Hobby mountaineers will leave from Forum Brixen /Bressanone to join Mick Fowler, Stephen Venables and Jerry Moffat for a walk. In the afternoon, Silvio Mondinelli will kick off a series of talks with his presentation "Beyond the 14 eight-thousanders" followed by Stephen Venables who will talk about his trips with exceptional mountaineers. In the morning, a group of media experts and journalists will discuss about the way mountain sports are presented in the media. In this context, journalists and media representatives will talk about their own assessments. All mountain enthusiasts are cordially invited to join fellow hobby mountaineers, alpinists, and speakers to round off the IMS 2010 together at the Forum.

Denis Urubko's interview

Nov, 5

Does High Altitude Alpine Rescue Take Away the Spirit of Alpinism?

a new chapter was opened in the history of Alpine rescue at today's IMS Congress titled "Rescue from the world's highest mountains: exporting rescue operations or education?" At the IMS Congress today, Friday 5 November, top alpinists met with rescue operators and emergency physicians to talk about experiences, challenges and the way forward in rescue missions in the highest mountains. This event, which can probably be considered of the most important international events on alpine rescue in the last 20 years, was organized by the EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine under the direction of Dr. Hermann Brugger.

Bruno Jelk, President of the Terrestrial Rescue Commission (ICAR) and one of the world's best rescuers, confirmed that with the newest technologies today, alpine rescues are feasible even in the highest altitudes. Thanks to the cooperation between rescue committees from Switzerland, Germany, and Italy, such rescue missions can be carried out by local teams. With the necessary training and technical support from abroad, the poorly working rapid response teams based in Europe could eventually be replaced by local rescuers and mountaineers. The groundwork of this approach would be the transmission of the experience gained in 40 years of Alpine rescue coupled with the training is of local Sherpas who are familiar with the location. Simone Moro, Gerold Biner, Ramon Chiocconi and Nazir Sabir reported about some very difficult rescue missions. Experienced rescuers criticized the increasing number of inexperienced hobby mountaineers who need to be rescued. In the closing debate, Reinhold Messner stated that helicopters are being used as a matter of course: "We are taking away the charisma of alpinism".

IMS Walk & Talk Early in the morning, a group of approximately 100 mountain lovers hiked to Rastnerhutte. Their mountain guides were Allessandro Gogna and Steve House, who had just given a moving speech about the effect his recent accident had on his life the night before. The second walk on the today's program was at least as popular: To hike with Reinhold Messner and Oh Eun Sun, the first man and the first woman to have climbed all 14 eight-thousanders, was a unique experience for the 150 participants. At the IMS Talks on Friday 5th November with Mick Fowler, Simone Moro and the Godfather of mountaineers Reinhold Messner the guests of IMS could experience a journey through the joy and pain of their expeditions. Reinhold Messner however devoted his actual talk to another star: the Dolomites.

IMS on Sunday The International Mountain Summit is slowly getting to its end. On its final day, the platform of alpinism still has to offer an exciting program. Once more, there will be a chance to hike with top alpinist. Hobby mountaineers will leave from Forum Brixen /Bressanone to join Mick Fowler, Stephen Venables and Jerry Moffat for a walk. In the afternoon, Silvio Mondinelli will kick off a series of talks with his presentation "Beyond the 14 eight-thousanders" followed by Stephen Venables who will talk about his trips with exceptional mountaineers. In the morning, a group of media experts and journalists will discuss about the way mountain sports are presented in the media. In this context, journalists and media representatives will talk about their own assessments. All mountain enthusiasts are cordially invited to join fellow hobby mountaineers, alpinists, and speakers to round off the IMS 2010 together at the Forum.

Nov, 4

International officials and representatives of alpine and mountain sports associations met at the International Mountain Summit to discuss about sustainable tourism in the mountains. This IMS Congress was jointly hosted by the Alpine Convention, the Carpathian Convention and the UN Environmental Program. Speakers noticed a return to traditional values in mountain tourism - calmness, environmental virginity / virgin landscapes and a slow-down in the rhythm of life are gaining importance. The increasing popularity in mountain sports holds economic prospects , however it can also jeopardize a sustainable use of mountain resources. Marco Onida (Alpine Convention), Ingo Nicolay (UIAA) and Nazir Ahmed Sabir (Pakistan Alpine Club) agree that interregional cooperation and a harmonization of policies promoting quality and containing growth bear have a huge potential in improving sustainability in mountain tourism.

In a video message, Valentino Izzo of the European Commission underscored the necessity to form local networks. As a representative of the Alpine Convention, Marco Onida underscored the importance of mountain tourism as an economic factor, but he advised against too much show and folly in the Alps. Pier Carlo Sandei illustrated the importance of the Carpathian Convention to the seven member countries: "Protection zones can become an economic factor", he explained and demanded an integrated tourism concept for all affected regions.

Nives Meroi, Hans Kammerlander and Denis Urubko made their debuts at the IMS 2010

In the afternoon, Nives Meroi invited to her presentation about the successful climb of K2 together with her husband Romano. Denis Urubko displayed impressive pictures from his home mountain region in Kazakhstan and new routes onto the eight-thousanders. In the last presentation, Hans Kammerlander took his audience on a visual journey from his youth in South Tyrol to the world's highest mountains.

4 November 2010, the IMS Congress was concerned with the Dolomites which gained the UNESCO world heritage status in 2009. Against this background, experts discussed the consequences of this "coronation" for the region, its inhabitants and its strategy for tourism. Special thanks are due to Christope Engl, Director of the South Tyrol Marketing Company (SMG) and Michl Laimer and his Regional Department for Area Planning, Environment and Energy who organized yesterday's congress. Among the experts speaking at the convention were Beat Ruppen, Member of the Swiss UNESCO Committee and Andreas Bass, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway World Heritage Management Board, Engelbert Ruoss, Director of the UNESCO Venice Office who presented the distinctive features of their respective regions. The anthropologist Annibale Salsa and the geologist Piero Gianolla addressed the scientific aspects of the UNESCO candidacy. The speakers all agreed on the significance of the world heritage. The public's awareness for the quality of its own values has been strengthened.
Open the eyes of the seeing at the IMS Walk with Andy Holzer

At the IMS, mountain enthusiasts had another chance to enjoy a hike with top alpinist around Brixen. Denis Urubko, Simone Moro and Krzysztof Wieliecki took their group of hobby mountaineers up to Rossalm Peak. The second group had a very special experience: their mountain guide, the blind alpinist Andy Holzer, showed the groups of hikers is unique view on moutnaineering. Together with Nives Meroi and Silvio Mondinelli, the third group climbed up to Sattelalm Peak.
Exciting talks took the IMS audience on journey in breath-taking altitudes. Krzysztof Wielicki from Poland is known for his winter expeditions. He guides his guests through the Himalaya and the most extreme conditions prevailing in winter expeditions. Andy Holzer would like to open the eyes of the seeing. With his spectacular presentation, he shows that a physical disability does not necessarily result in a loss in quality of life. Finally, Steve House who Reinhold Messner considers one of the world's best extreme mountaineers, narrated about his severe accident and the subsequent recovery process which made him view his life from a different perspective and reflect on the significance of his achievements.


Outlook

Tomorrow, Friday 5 November, the IMS Congress will be devoted to another exciting topic: "Rescue from the world's highest mountains". Thanks to the initiative of the EURAC Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine and its head Dr. Hermann Brugger, this convention, which is the first of its kind in the history of mountain sports, will gather international medical experts, experienced alpine rescuers / rescue associations and top alpinists Reinhold Messner and Simone Moro to debate the usefulness of establishing a permanent air rescue in Nepal.

Nov, 3

Outlook: IMS highlights Thursday 4 November 2010

Tomorrow, Thursday 4 November 2010, the IMS congress will be devoted to "Dolomites - UNESCO world natural heritage". UNESCO representatives, tourism and environmental experts will be discussing the chances of and responsibility for preserving the world heritage.
There will be another chance to engage in personal dialogues with top alpinists: Simone Moro, Denis Urubko und Krzysztof Wielicki will take hikers from Kreuztal to Rossalm mountain inn wile IMS guests can join Nives Meroi and Silvio Mondinelli climb Sattelberg peak. Starting from 4 pm Krzysztof Wielicki from Poland, Andy Holzer from Austria und Steve House from the US will invite to their talks.

Nov, 2

This Tuesday, 2 November 2010, the platform of alpinism is opening its doors in Brixen / Bressanone. With tonight's opening celebration, an exciting week all about the world of mountains will be launched. The first congress day is devoted to the issue "The Right to Risk - About Rights and Risks in Mountain Sports".

In today's press conference, IMS Organizer Alex Ploner welcomed international media representatives, partners and mountaineers. Two top climbers, Alexander Huber and Oh Eun-Sun, representing the world of mountain sports, were present to take the first questions from the media. The Korean alpinist, who is travelling to the Dolomites for her first time, appeared excited about the first impressions made in the city of Brixen and its surroundings. For Alexander Huber, it is already his second visit at the IMS. To him, the IMS is a unique platform facilitating the debate about controversial topics.

Albert Purgstaller, Brixen's mayor, also welcomed the audience and emphasized the importance of the event as the city's highlight of the year. Dr. Christian Wadsack, president of the Austrian Alpine Club (OEAV), and Georg Simeoni, Senior Chairman of the South Tyrolean Alpine Club (AVS), drew attention to today's topic "Right to Risk". Wadsack maintains that "Mountain Sports always requires personal responsibility and is constantly associated with an element of risk". Simeoni also alludes to the problem of overregulation in mountain sports.

Tonight, the opening celebration will start at 7 pm. Subsequently the conclusions of today's debate will be presented and discussed. Alongside representatives of the alpine clubs, the two alpinists Alexander Huber and Hanspeterle Eisendle will participate at tonight's discussion. Interested guests can obtain tickets for tonight's climax at the Forum Brixen / Bressanone.

Heinrich Mayer Kaibitsch
Press/Media IMS

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