What was it like?

If I were to use the style of newspaper headlines, I would describe it like this.

Climbing celebrations and nice caresses. Also meeting friends and a slap in the face in the hall, beautiful girls, footage for a film documentary, plus a stream of beer and singing.

In summary... The film festival started on Thursday and there are different views on it, just as people can be different. So I will allow myself to describe my view. First, there is the memory of last year, which brought us the Mountaineering Ascent of the Year award from the Czech Mountaineering Association. Ondra's and mine first ascent  on Langtang Lirung. I was honestly very pleased. First of all, I am not and never have been interested in collecting awards. At the same time, I had no doubt about the quality of this ascent, which is one of the absolute highlights of last year in global alpinism. The only question hanging in the air was whether it was just my illusion that I had created within myself or not. Of course, I could have been reassured that abroad, both in magazines and on servers at the domestic mountaineering arena, there was no shortage of interest in what the two guys had achieved. At the same time, there were expressions of deep regret from all corners of the world over Ondra's departure to the other shore. Nevertheless, it was in the air whether it was appropriate to recognize the ascent as a successful achievement or not. This discrepancy in perception hit me hard again the moment I stepped onto the podium. Because no one represented Ondra here. I knew from the information in advance that it would look like this. Or rather, the horror lies in the fact that no one shows any visible interest in Ondra's merits, which he had to fight for. I could have gotten used to it, but somehow I can't. Still, I don't change my view and I won't change it. We managed to squeeze out of ourselves the best that we had learned over the years in the mountains. We succeeded where the ideas, or even the steps of our predecessors, ended. An accident happened during the descent, from which I later found no lessons. Events simply happen where skills and faith cannot reverse the result, because you cannot predict or influence it. There is nothing left to do but to take a breath and move on.That is why I appreciate the final winning decision of the jury, which went through a stormy discussion. However, the most important message follows from this: "We recognize the value that you guys have done there and hereby confirm, Ondra, that we will not forget. Your commitment, skill and what you have achieved. You are forever written in our hearts, amen." I would like to express my deep gratitude to all the jury members who voted for the Climb of the Year, as well as to those who voted against it. Thanks to this, the decision itself has a much deeper meaning for me. You could also say that this is a small plebiscite on how to view efforts that do not always have to end with a happy fairy-tale ending. The next part of the festival included a lecture that I gave in the amphitheater. Man next to man, finally filled the entire meadow in front of the giant screen. The story of the first ascent of Langtang, which bears the name "Ondra's Star", was underlined by the final applause. It flew directly to him and only for him. And the last apparent crumbs of these days were the simultaneous filming of two documentaries, which will hopefully see the light of day by the end of the year. One is in charge of Markéta Ekrt Válková and the other is "Van Gogh" by Czech auddoor film Tomáš Galas Galásek. I won't reveal anything about Markéta, but I'll only give light hints about Galas. A partially fictional documentary about the life of a mountain loafer. From the photos taken while filming, you might be able to guess who it is. But more on that next time. Then just friends, beer, climbing and the lightness and beauty of dancing fairies around. Finally, a big thank you for organizing the festival and to everyone who is preparing the celebrations of our guild. Finally, a big thank you for organizing the festival and to everyone who is preparing the celebrations of our guild. Thanks to the Czech Mountaineering Association and the spectators for the caresses that Ondra and I received. And thanks in general for meeting everyone who sent me energy for the next few days. Maara