Putting himself in peril is a common denominator in the life story of Australian-born thrill-seeker Greg Child (54), who says risk-taking "always seemed like the logical thing to do".
Take his teenage fascination with reptiles, for instance, which ultimately led to his early foray into climbing, at age 13.
"I was a teen reptile collector and was bitten by a tiger snake ... a very deadly creature," Child explains.
"I was extremely sick, though such a snakebite can be fatal. That episode led me to move into climbing - safer than reptile collection."
Many of his first ascents of free climbs in the notoriously difficult Mt Arapiles, Australia, were done as a teenager and after shifting to the United States in 1980 he achieved further success, establishing new routes on El Capitan, a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, and carving out a reputation as an accomplished big-wall climber.
He has completed many mountaineering expeditions to the Himalayas and conquered the highest peaks, including Everest and K2, while exploratory mountaineering has taken him to remote jungles and locations across the globe.
Child's reputation as a compelling storyteller stems from years of sharing his adventures through different mediums. His career has been recorded in books, magazines, photographs and television documentaries and he has been honoured with the American Alpine Club's Literacy Award for his mountaineering literature and an Emmy for his videography.
His publications include Thin Air: Encounters in the Himalayas, Postcards from the Ledge and Over the Edge.
"I hope to not be showy, or pompous, but tell some good yarns and crack a couple of jokes," he says of his speaking appearance at the film festival tonight.
Child's only real regret from his lengthy career is the loss of friends along the way.
One incident in 1983 stands out, when he lost his climbing partner to pulmonary oedema on Broad Peak, an 8000m mountain in Pakistan.
"Losing a friend and climbing partner during the course of a climb leaves an indelible imprint on the mind, which never fades. You simply adapt to it."
He is up front about his own "many" close calls, including summiting K2 and getting back down again in the shadow of a "huge" storm.
"Over the years in the big mountains I had close calls, like a rockfall on Trango Tower [among the world's biggest vertical faces], on which a pillar of rock the size of a 747 fell off right beside me. Minutes earlier I was in its fall line.
"Most climbing lives are punctuated by accidents and injuries and lucky escapes. Somehow I was able to remain on the favourable side of the odds."
While he is yet to climb in New Zealand, Child says New Zealand alpine and rock climbers are admired internationally for their physical and mental toughness, the latter being a key ingredient in his own success.
"There is no room for the part of fear that immobilises," he says.
Despite Child's apparent fearlessness, his advice to aspiring climbers is to take the conservative approach.
"Tread the careful path before you tread the ambitious path."
Child claims to have significantly reduced his risk-taking today, citing age and his responsibilities as a single father as the main motivators.
"At times I barely recognise myself of today versus the self of the past," he said.
"Still, glad I got a chance to have so much fun."
• The festival
The NZ Mountain Film Festival runs until July 5 at the Lake Wanaka Centre and Basecamp Wanaka Climbing Centre. Full programme at www.mountainfilm.net.nz.
