The inventor of "red point" climbing style Kurt Albert (from the Frankenjura, DE) was probably the biggest attraction for rock climbers at the Festival of Alpinism in Smichov Prague, Czech Republic this weekend.

From the mountaineers there were Hans Kammerlander, Peter Habeler and Kurt Diemberger.

Kurt Albert (53 years old), who in the 70´s began to mark clean climbed routes by with a red point, which later developed the sport climbing style of red point (RP), talked this weekend about the expedition to Venezuela. Almost a year ago his expedition climbed one of the table mountains called tepui (Acopan Tepui) via a new 600 m long route, that they named El Purgatorio, 7c (Purgatory in Spanish). As he explained to me, the route is adequately equipped by bolts  at least on belaying positions) and the rest secured by gear and suitable for further repetition.


Kurt Albert in Prague, Nov 24, 2007


Kurt Albert and his  slideshow from the expedition to Venezuela



Kurt Albert and his climbing partner Holger Heuber, with whom along with Stephan Glowacz he climbed in Venezuela



Behind the scenes of the Festival: Kurt Albert lends his personal experience to members of a Czech expedition which plans to climb in Canada according to an article by Kurt Albert published in 90´s in the Czech climbing magazine Montana.



Another foreign guest, Carlos Suarez from Madrid, after his presentation about climbing and base jumping. Btw. Carlos is Kurt´s adviser for his journeys across Latin America, who helped him e.g with the study of Spanish. Latin America will probably be Kurt´s aim again. He told me he would like to visit  Venezuela again and may be Mexico for his next climbing trip.


The presentation hall - Carlos Suarez performing


Ladislav Jirasko (in the middle), the organizer of Smichov´s Festival in discussion with another legend of Czech mountaineering Voloda Suchy (in the circle on the right), who has taught entire climbing generations. And as Voloda told me, at 83 he still climbs sometitmes.


  Interior


The event location in Smichov, an old part of Prague

The homepage of Kurt Albert
www.kurt-albert.de

About the expedition to Venezuela:
Venezuela - The Lost World