Reinhold Messner: the man who made the first solo ascent of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and the first climber to ascend all fourteen "eight-thousanders." It's fair to say - without any over-exaggeration - that he is a bit of a "legend" in the mountaineering world. 

Born in 1944 in South Tyrol, Messner is now 70 years-old. In this video interview by National Geographic, he reflects on his lifetime adventures and offers his thoughts on modern mountaineering, failure, risk and responsibilities.

"I think I became a good high altitude mountaineer for the fact that I failed many times."