When you go to the mountains, you really have to accept that there is always a risk. It's more dangerous than sitting at home watching TV. It's really sad.
It's like a living process. You start out, and you see the Eiger north face, and you think, 'That's impossible.' Then you start to dream. Then you climb the Eiger north face. Then maybe you go to the Himalaya.
I don't like being restricted. When I climb, I feel free and unrestricted; away from any social commitments.
I don't worry about other people, and I don't let them influence me too much. I try to find out what I want to do and not what other people want me to do.
I'm getting older, turning 40 this year. I had a period where I thought each expedition had to be something harder, something faster. But you can't go on like that, or you're going to die.
Annapurna was a special situation. It was a lifetime dream to finish that route. When I started climbing the South Face, I really expected not to come back alive.
Slow down and stay alive.
It's really impressive what those like Messner and Walter Bonatti have done - they are a big part of the history of alpinism.
Everest is how it is right now. We have to fix ropes up there; we have the commercial expeditions. If you don't like that, go on another mountain or choose another part of the mountain. There's still space for everybody.
