Who do you think is the most accomplished mountaineer in climbing history?

I think your comparing apples and oranges...

You gotta look at everyone in terms of their era... What gear was available? What were others doing? Those types of things.

Messner was definitely great in his era.

there were others who were great in their own eras...

Mark O'Neal wrote:Messner. Everest solo winter. Nuff said

Just for correctness Messner solo'ed Everest during the monsoon season (August). No one has solo'ed an 8000m peak in winter.

Regardless I would also say that for the time period of the 60s-90s the most accomplished mountaineer in climbing history would be Messner. Kukuczka also ranks right up there. If one goes back to the 20-50s it would be Shipton and Tilman. I would also include Brad Washburn in that time period.

Elena Sera Jose

Well according to Rock and Ice Adam Ondra is the best climber ever.

Adam Ondra is so far from a mountaineer amazing sport climber but hardley a mountaineer.
If we're talking modern climbers I would say Sharma Ondra Caldwell and Honnold.

The Ondra remark was facetious. Respect for amazing sport climbers, but in all honesty I lost any remaining respect for RnI when they put him as best climber ever on their cover.
IMHO, you cant be the best climber ever if the only thing youre known for is sport routes.

Mark E Dixon wrote:Elena Sera Jose

el o el. you boys love her!

doligo wrote: el o el. you boys love her!

It was for Marsella's benefit :-)
I'm trying to ruin his keyboard in my spare time.

mediocre wrote:The Ondra remark was facetious. Respect for amazing sport climbers, but in all honesty I lost any remaining respect for RnI when they put him as best climber ever on their cover. IMHO, you cant be the best climber ever if the only thing youre known for is sport routes.

Yes a complete waste of climbing talent messing about on sport routes.

Allen Sanderson wrote: Just for correctness Messner solo'ed Everest during the monsoon season (August)

Hmm. Why did I have winter in my head? Must have been the beer.....

Michael S. Catlett wrote:An endless debate for sure: "The best climber is the one having the most fun" Alex Lowe

Tug wrote:^^^^^ dumbest quote ever. ^^^^^

Tug must still think climbing makes him cool.

Tug wrote:^^^^^ dumbest quote ever. ^^^^^

For hacks like you and me, yeah, it sounds pretty dumb because we certainly don't climb for fun. I live pretty well off my sponsorships, but... For a guy that was at the time one of the best climbers in the world, it was a line in a paragaph when asked about how he felt about being considered the best climber in the world.