Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - To the Summit - full transcript

The summit assaults are launched. Climbers set off knowing they might never return and many of them of them are in desperate physical condition. They need enormous mental and physical ...

LAST TIME ON "EVEREST"...

[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]

HE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK FOR ME

TO GET HIM TO THE SUMMIT
AND BACK DOWN.

Narrator:
EXPEDITION LEADER RUSSELL BRICE

ALMOST KICKS TIM
OFF THE SUMMIT TEAM.

DON'T COUNT ME OUT YET.
BELL DIDN'T RING.

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
AND SHRINKING MUSCLES

CATCH UP WITH BRETT,
THE FIREMAN,

ON HIS SECOND ATTEMPT TO SCALE
THE WORLD'S TALLEST MOUNTAIN.

CAME IN HERE,



GOT IN MY SLEEPING BAG,
AND NEVER WENT TO SLEEP.

Narrator: NOW RUSSELL MUST FIND
TWO SAFE DAYS TO SUMMIT

ON A MOUNTAIN WHERE STORMS
CAN RISE IN A HEARTBEAT.

Russell: THE ONLY THING THAT CAN
PUSH ME AROUND IS THE WEATHER,

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S DOING.

Narrator:
THE PUSH FOR THE SUMMIT

HAS COME DOWN
TO FIVE CRITICAL DAYS.

STANDING BETWEEN SUCCESS
AND FAILURE IS THE DEATH ZONE

AT 26,000 FEET.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS



EVER, EVER, EVER.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST.

[ MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
OVER RADIO ]

Narrator: RUSSELL'S TEAM
HAS FINISHED ACCLIMATIZING.

[ COUGHING ]
YEAH, EVERYBODY MADE IT UP.

PERFECT.

Man: WELL, YOU FEEL ASLEEP
LIKE HALFWAY THERE.

Narrator:
THEY HAVE FORCED THEIR BODIES

TO PRODUCE MORE RED BLOOD CELLS.

EACH MAN CAN NOW ABSORB
MORE OXYGEN PER BREATH,

BUT THEIR LUNGS
WILL ALWAYS CRAVE MORE.

YOU KNOW,
THIS WHOLE EVEREST THING

IS ABOUT A GAME
OF HURRY UP AND WAIT.

WE'VE BEEN DOWN AT BASE CAMP

WAITING FOR A FEW DAYS
TO ACCLIMATIZE.

THEN WE COME HERE.
WE HAVE TO WAIT HERE.

WE ONLY SPEND ABOUT 10 DAYS ON
THE MOUNTAIN IN TOTAL, YOU KNOW?

71 DAYS FOR 10 DAYS CLIMBING.
IT'S A BIT CRAZY, HUH?

STUPID GAME.

Narrator: TWO GROUPS
WILL MAKE THE FIVE-DAY,

8,000-FOOT SUMMIT CLIMB

FROM ADVANCED BASE CAMP

TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD.

ALONG THE WAY,
THE TEAMS WILL SPEND ONE NIGHT

IN EACH OF THE FOUR HIGH CAMPS.

JUST ABOVE CAMP 3,
AT 26,000 FEET,

THEY ENTER THE DEATH ZONE,

WHERE OXYGEN LEVELS ARE A THIRD
OF THOSE AT SEA LEVEL.

WE TRIED TO BALANCE THE TEAMS
AROUND A LITTLE BIT AS WELL.

Narrator: RUSSELL HAS PUT
THE STRONGEST CLIMBERS IN TEAM 1

AND THE REST OF HIS GROUP
IN TEAM 2.

LET'S START
WITH THE FIRST TEAM.

Narrator:
TEAM 1 IS LED BY BILL CROUSE,

A GUIDE WITH FOUR SUMMIT CLIMBS
UNDER HIS BELT.

TEAM 1 INCLUDES BRETT MERRELL,

MOGENS JENSEN, FROM DENMARK,

AND TERRY O'CONNOR,
THE EXPEDITION DOCTOR.

LEADING TEAM 2,

GUIDE MARK WOODWARD
HAS SUMMITED TWICE.

TEAM 2 INCLUDES
DOUBLE AMPUTEE MARK INGLIS,

LOS ANGELES BIKER TIM MEDVETZ,

AND MAX CHAYA,
A MOUNTAINEER FROM LEBANON.

RUSSELL NOW TEAMS UP
HIS CLIMBERS WITH SHERPAS.

YOU GOT TO PAY EXTRA
BECAUSE YOU GOT PHURBA.

WOODY'S BEEN TWO TIMES SUMMIT,
AND PHURBA 10 TIMES.

Narrator: IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG
ON THE SUMMIT ATTEMPT,

THESE MEN ARE THE BEST CHANCE
FOR RUSSELL'S CLIMBERS

TO GET DOWN ALIVE.

TERRY, YOU'RE
WITH KARSANG NAMGEL.

BE OKAY THERE.

BRETT -- WHERE'S BRETT?

RIGHT HERE, PAL.

YOU'RE WITH PHURA NURU.

Brett: I STARTED THINKING,
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"

MOGENS WITH TA SHI AGAIN.

MARK, YOU'RE WITH DORJI SONAM.

OH!

TIM, YOU'RE WITH LAKPA NURU.

WE HAVEN'T THANKED THE BOYS,
SINCE THEY CAME DOWN YESTERDAY,

FOR CARRYING DOUBLE LOADS,
GETTING EVERYTHING READY.

LET'S SAY THANKS TO THE GUYS
BECAUSE THEY DID WORK HARD.

Narrator: THE SHERPAS ARE BOTH
FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO RUSSELL.

MOST OF HIS OLD CLIMBING BUDDIES

HAVE BEEN KILLED
BY THE MOUNTAIN.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST.

Russell:
WE KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS.

YOU KNOW,
YOU HOPE IT'S NOT YOU.

BUT, IN MY LIFETIME,

PROBABLY 80% OF MY MATES
HAVE DIED FROM CLIMBING.

AND, YOU KNOW...

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SURVIVE
THIS LONG, I SUPPOSE.

Narrator: SINCE RECORDS BEGAN
IN THE 1920s,

192 PEOPLE HAVE DIED
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE STAYED.

THE LAW OF EVEREST IS
YOU'RE LEFT WHERE YOU DIE.

Russell: MARK JENINGS --
HE WAS A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE.

I FOUND HIS BODY
JUST AT 8,200 METERS

AND TRIED TO REVIVE HIM,

BUT WITH NO SUCCESS.

MICHAEL RHEINBERGER.

[ Voice breaking ]
VERY GOOD FRIEND.

ALL UP HERE.

Narrator: FOR EVERY THREE KILLED
BY EVEREST, ONE IS A SHERPA.

WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON
IS DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW?

YOU CAN DIE.

AND I CAN'T HELP YOU IF YOU'RE
GOING TO PUSH YOURSELVES

TO A LIMIT
THAT WE CAN'T HELP YOU.

IT'S NO USE GETTING
TO THE SUMMIT AND SAYING,

"WELL, I CAN'T GET DOWN."

REMEMBER, THE MOUNTAIN
WILL STAY HERE.

WE'RE MERE MORTALS.

THE SHERPAS
THAT ARE HELPING US --

YOU SEE HOW IMMENSELY STRONG
THEY ARE.

BUT REMEMBER ALSO,
THEY ARE MERE MORTALS

AND THAT THEY ALSO HAVE FAMILIES
AND THAT THEY HAVE LIVES.

IT'S NOT THEIR JOB
TO DIE ALONGSIDE YOU

BECAUSE OF YOUR AMBITIONS.

IF I SEE THAT
THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,

I'M GONNA CALL
THE SHERPAS AWAY.

I WILL DEAL WITH THAT
IN COURT LATER,

AND YOU WILL DIE...

'CAUSE IT'S NOT THEIR JOB
TO DIE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN STILL PULL OUT NOW,
GO HOME.

YOU STILL HAVE
THE CHANCE TO SAY,

"NO, I'M NOT READY
FOR THIS CHALLENGE,"

BUT I RECKON YOU ALL ARE.

SO LET'S GIVE IT OUR BEST SHOT,

AND LET'S BE SAFE
AND BE CAREFUL.

AND GOOD LUCK.

Narrator:
IN A FEW DAYS,

A WEATHER WINDOW OPENS
ON THE SUMMIT.

TO REACH IT AND RETURN ALIVE,

TEAM 1 MUST LEAVE
ADVANCED BASE CAMP TOMORROW,

TEAM 2, THE FOLLOWING DAY.

SHOWER, SHAVE,
TRIM THE NOSE HAIRS.

Narrator:
KNOWING THEY'RE ACTUALLY HEADED
FOR THE SUMMIT IS SOBERING.

THE CLIMBERS TAPE
SOME VIDEO LETTERS HOME,

KNOWING THESE WORDS
COULD BE THEIR LAST.

[ GRUNTS ]

HI, EDGAR.
HI, KELLY.

HI, PUPA.
HI, JOVIE.

[ SPEAKING DANISH ]

PBHT!

LET'S GET TO THE TOP,
GET DOWN, GET HOME.

I MISS YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.

I'VE GOT PHOTOS OF ALL YOU GUYS

FOR WHEN I'M MISSING YOU
AND THINKING OF YOU.

IT'S A LONG WAY AWAY
FROM BEING HOME UPSTAIRS

WITH YOU, MY DARLING,
I CAN TELL YOU.

[ SIGHS ]

ALMOST THERE, MA.
TAKE A LOOK.

UP THERE --
THERE'S THE SUMMIT.

BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I LOVE YOU AND, UH...

UH...

LOVE YOU, DARLING.
SEE YOU LATER. BYE.

[ SMOOCHES ]

Narrator: TEAM 1 --
TERRY, MOGENS, AND BRETT --

PUSH FOR THE SUMMIT FIRST,
FOLLOWED A DAY LATER BY TEAM 2.

RUSSELL STAYS BEHIND TO DIRECT
EVERY PHASE OF THE CLIMB.

Russell: I SUPPOSE
IT'S A REALLY EMOTIONAL DAY.

I'M A LITTLE WORRIED
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

I'LL BE MUCH MORE RELIEVED
NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY

WHEN THESE GUYS
START COMING DOWN --

HOPEFULLY, ALL IN ONE PIECE.

HOPEFULLY, ALL IN ONE PIECE.
EVER SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD,

EVER SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD,

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO CLIMB
THIS MOUNTAIN.

THIS IS THE LAST
GREAT HUMAN ADVENTURE.

Narrator: BRETT'S LAST SUMMIT
ATTEMPT ENDED A YEAR AGO,

WHEN EIGHT SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
FORCED HIM HOME.

OH, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

HEADING OUT THE DOOR,

AND THEN I DECIDED THAT
THIS PACK IS WAY TOO HEAVY.

CHEESE.

SOUP.

Narrator:
BRETT'S ACCLIMATIZATION
HAS NOT GONE WELL...

EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS,
RIGHT?

Narrator: ...AND HIS NERVES
ARE ON EDGE.

GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES.

I'LL THINK OF ANOTHER REASON
NOT TO LEAVE.

YOU KNOW, I'D BE LYING TO SAY
THAT I WASN'T A LITTLE SCARED.

BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING IT OVER AND DONE WITH.

Russell: BRETT IS LOSING
A LOT OF WEIGHT.

HE'S USING FAR
TOO MUCH MENTAL ENERGY.

AT HOME, HE'S ONE OF THE REAL
TOUGH, TOUGH FIREMEN.

BUT HERE HE'S JUST
A MERE MORTAL.

Narrator: MOGENS, THE DANISH
CLIMBER, FIGHTS OTHER DEMONS.

MOGENS IS AN ASTHMATIC,

BUT STILL WANTS TO SUMMIT
WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN.

Brett: MOGENS IS AN ANIMAL.
HE'S A GENETIC ABNORMALITY.

I'LL BE SEEING HIS BACK MOSTLY,
YOU KNOW, AS IT GOES BY ME.

Narrator: TERRY O'CONNOR
IS AN E.R. DOCTOR FROM OREGON

AND A SPECIALIST
IN HIGH-ALTITUDE SICKNESS.

Terry: I HAVE CONCERNS
AS WELL, YOU KNOW.

I'LL BE PUSHING
MY OWN PERSONAL ENVELOPE

IN A LOT OF WAYS ON THIS TRIP.

SOMETHING TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE
CAN HAPPEN.

AND HOW CAN YOU NOT BE A LITTLE
BIT AFRAID OF THAT, RIGHT?

[ LAUGHING ]

SEE YOU UP THERE,
BUDDY.

Man: GOOD LUCK, MOGENS.
THANK YOU.

TAKE CARE.

Man: BYE, MOGENS.
TAKE CARE.

Russell: MY PART IS TO PUT
THE LOGISTICS IN PLACE

AND THEN SORT OF WATCH OVER THEM
A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO THIS
THEMSELVES.

I CAN'T HELP THEM.

OKAY, BUDDY.
I'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET BACK.

WHAT'S UP, MAN?

ALL RIGHT?

YEAH, I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.

I'M A BIT HYPED ABOUT THIS.

YOU START THINKING,
"WOW, NOW IT'S GONNA HAPPEN."

Brett: I GOT TO GET UP THAT HILL
PRETTY SOON.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

EVER, EVER, EVER.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

Narrator: BECAUSE EVEREST
IS 5 1/2 MILES HIGH,

CONDITIONS CAN BE CALM
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP

WHILE STORMS RAKE THE SUMMIT.

CHOOSING THE BEST DAY TO CLIMB
IS ALWAYS A GAMBLE.

Russell:
THERE'S A LITTLE...

A LITTLE BIT MORE WIND
ON THE SUMMIT,

WHICH HAS PICKED UP TODAY,
WHICH IS MEANT TO.

BUT...

I'VE GOT AN UNEASY FEELING,

BUT A HAPPY FEELING
THAT WE GOT IT RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE MIGHT BE LUCKY.

Narrator:
FROM ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

TEAM 1 TREKS UP A 1,000-FOOT
ICE CLIFF TO NORTH COL.

AT 23,000 FEET, NORTH COL
IS THE BRIDGE BETWEEN EVEREST

AND ITS NEIGHBOR MOUNTAIN,
CHANGTSE.

IT'S ALSO THE SITE OF CAMP 1.

THE TEAM HAS ACCLIMATIZED HERE
THREE TIMES BEFORE.

BUT THIS TIME,
INSTEAD OF TURNING BACK TO ABC,

THEY'LL CONTINUE TO HEAD
FOR THE SUMMIT THE NEXT MORNING.

Russell: PEOPLE REALLY FEEL THE
PRESSURE GOING UP TO NORTH COL,

WHEN THEY'RE GOING UP THERE AND
THEY'RE GOING TO THE SUMMIT --

"AM I MENTALLY PREPARED?
AM I READY?

BECAUSE THIS IS THE LAST TIME
I'M COMING UP HERE."

Terry:
I THINK A LOT OF THE FITNESS
THAT PEOPLE BRING WITH THEM --

IT REALLY IS A LOT
OF MENTAL FITNESS.

YOU JUST GET USED
TO SUFFERING, FRANKLY.

Brett:
I USED TO DO THREE HOURS

WITH 60, 65 POUNDS ON MY BACK
ON THE STAIRS.

AND THIS IS FIVE HOURS OF JUST
BRUTAL CAN'T-CATCH-YOUR-BREATH.

Narrator: ON MOGENS' LAST
ATTEMPT, HE ALMOST SUMMITED,

UNTIL FROSTBITE
STOPPED HIM IN HIS TRACKS.

FROM NORTH COL, IT'S A FOUR-DAY
CLIMB TO THE SUMMIT.

HOURS AFTER
MOGENS AND TERRY ARRIVE,

BRETT STRUGGLES INTO CAMP 1.

I THINK SOMEBODY STUCK ROCKS
IN MY PACK.

THAT WAS A TOUGH CLIMB.

I'M WORE OUT.

Narrator:
AT 23,000 FEET,

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
BARELY FUNCTIONS.

Terry: WE REALLY BURN
A HECK OF A LOT MORE

THAN WE'RE ABLE TO PUT IN.

WHEN YOU GO UP HIGH ALTITUDE,
THERE'S LESS OXYGEN,

AND THE BODY JUST DOESN'T WANT
TO BURN FUEL

THAT YOU PUT IN
THROUGH YOUR MOUTH ANYMORE.

I DRANK A CARBOHYDRATE DRINK,
AND THEN I ATE A GEL --

CARBOHYDRATE GEL,
AN ENERGY GEL.

SO THERE'S ABOUT 450 CALORIES
RIGHT THERE.

Terry: THE BODY
JUST DOES NOT WANT TO

WASTE ITS ENERGY BURNING FUEL

THAT WE'RE TRYING
TO FORCE-FEED OURSELVES,

BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF OXYGEN.

IT PREFERS TO CATABOLIZE,
OR EAT ITSELF,

UNDER TIMES OF VERY,
VERY HIGH STRESS.

AND IT'S A VERY, VERY STRESSFUL
ENVIRONMENT UP THERE,

AND SO THE BODY PREFERS TO,
ESSENTIALLY, EAT ITSELF.

LIKE I SAID,
I'M JUST GONNA EAT MOGENS.

IT'S EASIER THAT WAY.

AND HE'S GOT
ALL THIS DIET PLAN TOGETHER,

YOU KNOW,
SO MANY CALORIES PER OUNCE.

I'M SURE HE TAKES
A DAILY VITAMIN, TOO, SO...

[ LAUGHING ]

Narrator: ACCLIMATIZATION HAS
WORKED FOR EVERYONE BUT BRETT.

HE CAN'T SLEEP
AND NEEDS TO GO ON OXYGEN.

I DESERVE A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP,
SO I'M GONNA GO ON HALF A LITER.

Narrator: BUT HIGH-ALTITUDE
SICKNESS AND BRAIN SWELLING

ARE A 24-HOUR THREAT,

AND NO ONE'S FORGOTTEN
WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

SPIT!

OVER THE PAST SIX WEEKS,

EACH CLIMBER HAS LOST BRAIN
AND BODY FUNCTION,

CELL BY CELL.

NOW, AS THEY FALL ASLEEP,

EACH MAN WONDERS IF HE'LL
WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING.

EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER.

EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST, REST.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

Narrator: CAMP 1 --
4 DAYS TO THE SUMMIT.

NORTH COL, BILL,
DO YOU COPY?

WHEN RUSSELL BRICE RADIOS
HIS GUIDE BILL AT NORTH COL,

HE'S RELIEVED TO HEAR HIM
CALL BACK.

YEAH, RUSS,
HOW ARE THINGS GOING DOWN THERE?

WE'RE LOOKING COOL.

LET'S JUST KEEP ROLLING.
SECOND TEAM IS ON ITS WAY.

Okay, thanks, man.

YOU BETTER KEEP GOING BECAUSE
THE OTHER GUYS ARE BEHIND YOU.

TEAM 2 WILL SHORTLY LEAVE
ADVANCED BASE CAMP

FOR NORTH COL.

BRETT, TERRY, AND MOGENS

WILL DEPART FOR CAMP 2
AFTER BREAKFAST.

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES HAVE PROVEN

THAT HOT TEA ACTUALLY IMPROVES
THE MOOD OF MOUNTAINEERS.

"WHY TEA?" IS A MYSTERY.

OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF.

Narrator: BUT OXYGEN
IS A KNOWN CATALYST

FOR EVERY FUNCTION OF THE BODY.

YEAH, I DIDN'T GO ON THE O's
UNTIL MIDNIGHT

AND JUST FOR ABOUT FOUR HOURS.

AND, MAN -- WARMER,
SLEPT DEEPER,

GOT A GOOD APPETITE
THIS MORNING.

JUST FEEL LIKE...

FEEL LIKE I'M AT SEA LEVEL
RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GREAT.

Narrator:
HOPEFULLY, THE OXYGEN

WILL GIVE BRETT
THE BOOST HE NEEDS,

BECAUSE TODAY HE FACES A CLIMB

HIGHER THAN
HE'S EVER GONE BEFORE.

TO REACH CAMP 2, HIS TEAM
MUST TREK UP 1,500 FEET OF ICE

TO AN ALTITUDE OF 24,500 FEET.

MOGENS IS STOKED.

BRETT SEES THE MOUNTAIN
AS A GREAT EQUALIZER.

Brett:
I THINK IT'S GONNA GIVE ME

A GREATER RESPECT FOR MYSELF,

IF I'M LUCKY ENOUGH
TO GET TO THE TOP.

Narrator: SOLAR RADIATION
IS BRUTAL IN THIN AIR.

CLIMBERS WHO BREATHE
WITH THEIR JAWS OPEN

CAN SUNBURN
THE ROOF OF THEIR MOUTHS.

EXPECTING IT TO BE VERY,
VERY HOT TODAY.

EXPECTING TO SWEAT A LOT, AND
I'M EXPECTING TO GET DEHYDRATED

BY THE TIME I GET UP THERE.

I'LL PROBABLY HAVE A DEHYDRATION
HEADACHE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

BUT IF I DON'T, I'LL JUST BE
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

Man:
COULD BE VOMITING.

OH, YEAH,
I COULD BE VOMITING, TOO.

FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART.

Bill: IT SHOULD BE A GOOD TRIP
TO CAMP 2.

I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY
NOT A LOT OF WIND, WHICH IS GOOD

BECAUSE IT'S, AS YOU CAN SEE,
QUITE AN EXPOSED RIDGELINE.

SOMETIMES THE HEAT, THOUGH,
IS THE KILLER, LIKE YESTERDAY.

AND YOU NEED TO BE
IN DOWN SUITS,

BECAUSE IF THE WIND CHANGES
OR THE TEMPERATURE CHANGES,

IT CAN GO FROM
SITTING AT THE BEACH

TO BEING ON THE NORTH POLE
PRETTY MUCH INSTANTANEOUSLY.

Narrator: THE CLIMBERS SPOT
A STRING OF SHERPAS

HAULING SUPPLIES TO A HIGH CAMP.

BILL HOPES THE TEAM WILL MAKE
THE SAME PROGRESS UP THIS SLOPE.

Bill: 20, 25 FOLKS PROBABLY
UP THERE IN FRONT OF US.

AND IT'S NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC,

WHICH ALSO MAKES FOR A MORE
EFFICIENT DAY ON THE ROPES.

Narrator: USING THE ROPES FIXED
DAYS AGO BY RUSSELL'S SHERPAS,

THE TEAM TREKS UP A LONG,
GRUELING SLOPE.

MOGENS WORKS HARD TO CLEAR THE
CO2 FROM HIS ASTHMATIC LUNGS.

2,000 FEET BELOW, TEAM 2 --
TIM, MAX, AND MARK --

MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS
FOR THEIR SUMMIT PUSH.

EVERY STEP ON THIS MOUNTAIN
IS A MIRACLE FOR MARK INGLIS.

IN 1982, MARK SPENT 13 DAYS
TRAPPED BY A STORM

ON NEW ZEALAND'S HIGHEST PEAK --
MT. COOK.

HIS FROSTBITTEN LEGS WERE
AMPUTATED JUST BELOW THE KNEES.

BUT HE'S NOW DETERMINED
TO BE THE FIRST DOUBLE AMPUTEE

TO SUMMIT EVEREST.

Russell: I SEE THOSE LEGS
WALK PAST THE TENT DOOR,

AND I GO,
"WOW, THERE'S A MARTIAN HERE."

BUT, ACTUALLY,
ON TOP OF THOSE LEGS

IS A MAN FULL OF DETERMINATION.

I ADMIRE THAT MAN.

$900 BOOTS
AND SOME FOOT WARMERS.

FOOT WARMERS ARE ABOUT $250.

WORK IT OUT TO ABOUT $25 A TOE.

Narrator: TIM MEDVETZ, THE
MOTORCYCLE DESIGNER FROM L.A.,

HAS LAGGED BEHIND THE REST
OF THE TEAM SINCE DAY ONE.

JUST SO EXHAUSTED.

Narrator: TIM FELL ASLEEP
ON A TRAINING CLIMB

AND DEVELOPED BRONCHITIS
SO SEVERE

HE HAD TO RETREAT TO BASE CAMP
TO RECOVER.

BUT RUSSELL'S IMPRESSED
WITH THE BIKER'S PROGRESS

AND GIVES TIM THE OKAY
TO GO FOR THE SUMMIT.

Tim: MIGHT BE A LITTLE SLOWER
THAN THE REST OF THE TEAM,

BUT I COULD EAT.

THIS IS GONNA BE
OUR SUMMIT FOOD.

THIS IS JUST RICE.

WE PUT SOME POWDERED MILK
IN HERE,

AND THEN WE PUT SOME SUGAR.

AND THEN ALL WE GOT TO DO
IS JUST BOIL SOME WATER UP,

AND THEN WE GOT RICE PUDDING.

EAT THAT UP, AND THEN WE PUSH
FOR THE SUMMIT.

SOME POP-TARTS, ENERGY GELS.

AND THAT IS OUR FOOD STASH

FOR FOUR DAYS WITH TWO PEOPLE.

AND THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT --

PACKING FOR THE SUMMIT
OF EVEREST.

Narrator: RUSSELL'S JOB NOW IS
PROTECTING TIM AND THE OTHERS

FROM SUDDEN ATMOSPHERIC CHANGES
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

HIS OBSESSION
WITH WEATHER ON EVEREST

BEGAN 10 YEARS AGO TO THE DAY,

WITH A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

ON MAY 10, 1996,

A FREAK STORM TRAPPED A GROUP
OF CLIMBERS AT THE SUMMIT.

EIGHT PEOPLE DIED,

INCLUDING TWO OF THE WORLD'S
MOST RESPECTED MOUNTAIN GUIDES,

SCOTT FISCHER
AND RUSSELL'S FRIEND ROB HALL.

Russell: ROB HALL
COULD TALK TO HIS WIFE

BACK HOME IN NEW ZEALAND,

BUT HE DIED,

AND HE COULDN'T EVEN TALK TO HIS
SECOND GUIDE 100 METERS AWAY.

[ LIGHTER CLICKING ]

Narrator: MARK INGLIS LOST
HIS FRIEND ANDY HARRIS THAT DAY.

CAN SOMEONE GO UP
TO NEMA'S CAMP AND SEE...

Narrator:
THE '96 TRAGEDY

REVOLUTIONIZED
RUSSELL'S STRATEGY ON EVEREST.

RUSSELL PROTECTS HIS CLIMBERS
WITH A COMMUNICATIONS MATRIX

UNMATCHED ON THE MOUNTAIN.

RUSSELL:
Are you all together?

MAN: Yeah,
we're all pretty tight.

Okay.

UP HERE NOW, EVERY SINGLE
PERSON'S GOT A RADIO --

EVERY SHERPA, EVERY MEMBER.

Narrator:
RUSSELL'S WEATHER REPORTS

GET MORE AND MORE SOPHISTICATED.

EACH SEASON,
HE PAYS A SMALL FORTUNE

FOR SUPERCOMPUTED FORECASTS

COMPILED BY A TEAM
OF SWISS METEOROLOGISTS.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL,

RUSSELL STOPPED CLIMBING
WITH THE TEAM UP THE MOUNTAIN.

INSTEAD,
HE STAYS BELOW 23,000 FEET

TO KEEP HIS MIND CLEAR.

FROM THESE LOWER CAMPS,

HE COORDINATES THE SHERPAS
LIKE A MILITARY COMMANDER.

SEE YOU ALL.
SEE YOU, MARK.

SEE YOU, BUDDY.
TAKE CARE.

[ RUSSELL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY
ON RADIO ]

Narrator:
RUSSELL'S GOAL

IS TO WIN THE SUMMIT BATTLE
WITH NO CASUALTIES.

BUT IT'S TOUGH
BEING PHYSICALLY SEPARATED

FROM THE CLIMBERS
HE'S SWORN TO PROTECT.

WELL, YOU CAN'T LOOK
INSIDE MY STOMACH,

BUT I THINK I'M A LITTLE BIT
WORRIED INSIDE --

A LITTLE BIT
OF DISTRACTION HERE.

BUT NOW I'M PRETTY WORRIED
ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING UP THERE,

BUT COMFORTABLE
TO SEE THINGS ARE MOVING.

YEAH, WE'VE GOT OLD PEOPLE.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE
THAT HAVE HAD OPERATIONS.

WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WITH NO LEGS.

THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS
GOING ON THIS YEAR,

SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE
A LITTLE BIT WORRIED, I SUPPOSE.

Narrator: TEAM 1 --
BRETT, MOGENS, AND TERRY --

HAVE REACHED 23,800 FEET

ON THE HARD CLIMB TO CAMP 2.

NICE DAY, HUH?

Russell: PUT A PLASTIC BAG OVER
YOUR HEAD AND RUN UP THE STAIRS.

THAT'S PROBABLY HOW YOU FEEL.

IT'S NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD
FEELING, SHORTAGE OF BREATH.

IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT
OF FRUSTRATION AS WELL.

PEOPLE KNOW
THAT THEY'RE FIT AND STRONG,

BUT THEY CAN'T MOVE
AS WELL

AS THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN MOVE
AT SEA LEVEL.

IT'S HARD TO PREDICT
HOW YOU'RE GONNA DO ABOVE 8,000

IF THE CONDITIONS
ARE PRETTY POOR.

BUT SO FAR,
THE FORECAST LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, I GO UP THERE
WITH A BIT OF TREPIDATION, TOO,

JUST AS ANYBODY ELSE

WHO'S GETTING ABOVE 8,000 METERS
FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I'VE GOT JUST AS MANY CONCERNS,
YOU KNOW?

Narrator: LAST YEAR,
BRETT MORTGAGED HIS HOUSE

TO PAY FOR HIS CLIMB.

THIS YEAR, A FRIEND PUT UP
THE $40,000 FEE,

SO NOW THE PRESSURE ON BRETT
TO SUMMIT IS EVEN HIGHER.

Brett: I DON'T CARE
IF I'M THE LAST ONE UP THERE.

I DON'T CARE
IF I'M THE LAST ONE DOWN.

JUST AS LONG AS I MAKE IT.

Narrator: BRETT'S NOW FALLEN
WAY BEHIND MOGENS AND TERRY,

WHEN THE WIND SUDDENLY PICKS UP.

EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER.

EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER.

REST, REST, REST, REST.

EVER, EVER, EVER.

WHEN UNBROKEN SNOW FALLS
FROM AN OVERCAST SKY

ONTO SNOW-COVERED GROUND,
IT'S CALLED A WHITEOUT.

CAUGHT IN THE FREEZING
WHITE GLOW,

THERE ARE NO SHADOWS
AND NO OTHER CLIMBERS.

BRETT LOSES ALL SENSE OF DEPTH
AND ORIENTATION.

BRETT'S GROUND TO A HALT,

PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY
STUNNED BY THE STORM.

AND NOW HIS RADIO FALLS SILENT.

TERRY, MOGENS, AND BRETT
ARE SWALLOWED BY A WHITEOUT

AND LASHED
WITH 50-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS.

DOWN AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

EXPEDITION LEADER,
RUSSELL BRICE,

KNOWS THE MEN HAVE BEEN CLIMBING
FOR FIVE HOURS

AND HOPES
THEY'RE CLOSE TO CAMP 2.

WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW
IS MOGENS AND TERRY

HAVE COMPLETELY LOST SIGHT
OF BRETT,

AND THE FIREMAN HAS BEEN
OUT OF RADIO CONTACT FOR HOURS.

SO, WHAT'S HAPPENING, BRETT?

[ RADIO STATIC ]

Narrator:
AS THE WEATHER BEGINS TO CLEAR,

HE CAN SEE CAMP 2
LESS THAN 500 FEET AWAY.

BUT BRETT
IS PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED

AND THINKS
HE'S SUFFERING AN ATTACK

OF ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.

YEAH, OKAY.

UNDERSTAND.

SORRY TO HEAR THAT,
BRETT.

But, as you know,
I can't get in your head.

BUT IF YOU FEEL
AS THOUGH IT'S YOUR BEST SHOT,

THEN THAT'S UP
TO YOU, MAN.

OKAY, BRO. THANK YOU.

WELL, I RECKON BRETT'S COMING
DOWN TOMORROW.

DOESN'T HAVE THE ENERGY
TO COME DOWN HERE,

BUT HE MAYBE JUST
WANTS TO LICK HIS WOUNDS

FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

THAT'S FAIR.
THAT'S OKAY.

BUMMER.
[ CHUCKLES ]

Narrator: BRETT'S NEAREST SAFE
HAVEN IS CAMP 1 AT NORTH COL,

1,000 FEET BELOW.

WHEN HE GETS THERE, HE'LL MEET
MARK, TIM, AND MAX FROM TEAM 2,

WHO'VE ARRIVED
FROM ADVANCED BASE CAMP.

Brett:
YEAH, THANKS, PAL.

I COULDN'T PUT ANOTHER FOOT
IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.

WHEN I TOOK OFF THIS MORNING,
I JUST SAW MYSELF ON THE SUMMIT.

I FELT LIKE A MILLION BUCKS.

HELL, I WENT CLIMBING
WITH MOGENS.

"LET'S GO, YOU AND ME,
WE'LL CLIMB TOGETHER."

AND...

I GOT ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF
BELOW CAMP 2

AND JUST COMPLETELY BONKED --
NOTHING LEFT.

EVERY LITTLE MOTION WAS LIKE --

I WAS JUST SO SPENT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS,

ALL THOSE GUYS GOT UP THERE
WITHOUT OXYGEN.

I WAS ON TWO LITERS.

YOU KNOW, LET'S BE REALISTIC.

IF I CAN'T MAKE IT UP THE HILL
ON TWO LITERS OF OXYGEN,

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ME
UP HIGHER UP?

THEN I JUST BECOME A LIABILITY.

I CAN MAKE EXCUSES
TILL THE COWS COME HOME.

BUT...

I THINK IN MY HEART OF HEART,

I THINK...

I THINK IT MAY BE
JUST TOO TOUGH FOR ME.

I'M A WIENIE.

NO, NO.

WIENIE FOR THE DAY.

I WOULDN'T SAY
YOU'RE A WIENIE.

NO,
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.

Narrator:
WORRIED ABOUT THE TRAIL AHEAD,

THE TEAM PUMPS BRETT
FOR INFORMATION.

Max: IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE
A BIT MORE WINDY TOMORROW.

WAS THE WIND BEARABLE TODAY,
BRETT?

AND THEN SOON AS
THAT WIND COMES UP,

SOON AS YOU GET OVER
THAT FIRST RISE,

FORGET IT.

THEN IT STARTS
GETTING COOL.

DOES IT?
YEAH.

AND THEN THE SNOWSTORM CAME IN,
AND THEN THE WHITEOUT.

IT'S A COLD
AND LONELY PLACE UP THERE.

Narrator: BETS WERE ON BRETT
TO SUMMIT THIS YEAR,

BUT NO ONE PUT ANY MONEY ON TIM.

BIG BOSS MAN PUT A LITTLE
PRESSURE ON ME BEFORE I LEFT.

HE'S GOT ME
ON A TIME SCHEDULE.

TIM HAS CONSISTENTLY FALLEN
BEHIND HIS FELLOW CLIMBERS

AND REMAINS A QUESTION MARK.

HOW WE DOING ON THAT SOUP
OVER THERE, BOBBY?

Bobby:
KEEP CALM.

SHARE.

BE KIND.
AND DON'T SING.

* HEY, THERE,
LONELY GIRL *

[ LAUGHING ]

CAMPING
WITH THE BOYS...

23,000 FEET.

IT KILLS YOU, THIS ALTITUDE,
DOESN'T IT?

BANG!

UP HERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS,
AND YOU WANT TO GO TO SLEEP.

WHEN THE REST OF TEAM 1 --
MOGENS AND TERRY --

REACH CAMP 2,

THEY FIND OUT
THAT BRETT'S TURNED BACK.

Bill: NEVER LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE
TURN AROUND,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK
THAT THEY'RE DOING QUITE WELL.

Narrator:
BRETT'S TURNAROUND

IS ANOTHER OMEN ADDED
TO THE DEATH OF THE SHERPA,

THE NEAR-DEATH
OF THE INDIAN CLIMBER,

AND A WHITEOUT
RUSSELL NEVER SAW COMING.

ARE THE WINDS STRONGER
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING?

SHOULD WE WAIT A BIT?

THOUGHT IT WAS COMING IN
TOMORROW NIGHT.

THEN, NEAR THE END OF THE DAY,
EVEREST KILLS AGAIN.

BILL RADIOS IN THE NEWS.

SOME CZECH CLIMBERS
HAD AN ACCIDENT

IN LHOTSE COULOIR
TODAY.

YEAH, ONE SERIOUS.

FATAL.

[ RADIO STATIC ]

EVEREST BECOMES THE TOMBSTONE
FOR ANOTHER MOUNTAINEER.

A 38-YEAR-OLD CZECH CLIMBER
DIED FROM A FALL

ON THE MOUNTAIN'S SOUTH SIDE.

FIVE LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST
SINCE THE EXPEDITION BEGAN,

AND SOON MOGENS AND TERRY
WILL ENTER THE DEATH ZONE.

CAMP 1 AT NORTH COL
AT 23,000 FEET --

BY MAY 11th, FATALITIES
ARE STACKING UP ON THE MOUNTAIN.

FOUR SHERPAS
AND ONE CLIMBER HAVE DIED

SINCE THE START
OF THE CLIMBING SEASON.

Brett:
ABC, ABC -- NORTH COL.

HEY, RUSS,
WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW

I'M HEADING DOWN
FROM THE NORTH COL TO ABC.

OKAY, PAL. OKAY, PAL.
SEE YOU IN A LITTLE WHILE.

Narrator: AS BRETT HEADS
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

MOGENS AND TERRY DEPART
FOR CAMP 3 AT 25,900 FEET.

IN THE MEANTIME,

MARK, TIM, AND MAX
LEAVE NORTH COL FOR CAMP 2.

ON TEAM 2, NO ONE FACES
A GREATER CHALLENGE

THAN DOUBLE AMPUTEE MARK INGLIS.

THE CLIMB TO CAMP 2
ADDS 5 MORE HOURS OF STRESS

ON HIS CARBON FIBER LEGS,

BUT MARK'S SUPPLY OF GUTS
IS ENDLESS.

AS MARK INCHES UP TO CAMP 2...

BRETT AND A SHERPA ESCORT

REACH THE OUTSKIRTS
OF ADVANCED BASE CAMP.

Brett: MY JOURNEY'S OVER WITH
FOR RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW?

IT'S ON TO ANOTHER BIG ADVENTURE
IN MY LIFE.

RIVER RAFTING TRIPS
THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON,

SCUBA DIVING IN THAILAND --

YOU KNOW,
STUFF BELOW 25,000 FEET

[LAUGHS] WHICH PRETTY MUCH
IS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING,

EXCEPT FOR MT. EVEREST.

PUT ME ON THE FIRST YAK
BACK TO KATHMANDU.

HOW ARE YOU?

I LOVED IT.
REALLY?

I JUST COULDN'T DO IT
ANYMORE.

AIN'T CUT OUT FOR IT, PAL.
I GAVE IT A TRY, MAN.

YOU BETTER GO BACK
AND PUT FIRES OUT.

I'LL HAVE TO COME OVER

AND SEE IF YOU CAN TEACH ME
TO SLIDE DOWN THE POLE, HUH?

OH, I'M SURE
YOU'LL DO FINE.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, MAN --

I GAVE IT 98%.

I DIDN'T GIVE IT 75%.
I GAVE IT 98%.

2% GOT ME BACK.

GOOD THING
IT WAS DOWNHILL.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE
AN APPETITE BACK.

GOOD.

Narrator: HIGH ABOVE ABC,
BRETT'S TEAMMATES --

MOGENS AND TERRY --

WILL SOON LEAVE CAMP 2
FOR CAMP 3.

MAN:
And got about 12 hours.

Narrator: BEFORE DEPARTURE,
THEY WENT ON BOTTLED O2,

BECAUSE HERE AT 24,500 FEET,

THE OXYGEN IN THE AIR IS JUST
43% OF THAT AT SEA LEVEL.

HEY, MOGENS,
CHECK YOUR HARNESS FOR ME.

MOGENS REMAINS OFF
BOTTLED OXYGEN,

DETERMINED TO REACH THE SUMMIT
ON HIS OWN POWER.

MOGENS IS THE FIRST TO LEAVE
FOR CAMP 3.

HE'S TRYING WITHOUT OXYGEN.
THAT'S HIS PERSONAL GOAL.

AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY ADMIRE
THIS YOUNG BOY.

GOOD FOR HIM.
AND HE'S CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

OTHERWISE,
I WOULDN'T HAVE HIM HERE.

HE'S A VERY STRONG INDIVIDUAL,
OBVIOUSLY -- VERY FIT.

AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S GONNA HAVE
COLDER FINGERS AND TOES THAN US,

AND HE'LL BE BREATHING
THE AMBIENT AIR.

AND THE COLDER IT IS,

THE MORE DIFFICULT
IT WILL BE FOR HIM.

Narrator:
BACK AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

BRETT MOURNS
THE DEATH OF HIS DREAM.

Brett: I WAS ENVISIONING MYSELF
ON MT. EVEREST.

THAT'S HOW CONFIDENT I FELT.

I WAS PROUD OF MYSELF,
YOU KNOW?

[ Voice breaking ] I, UH...

I SET THE GOAL, AND I MADE IT.

BUT...

THERE WAS A STRONG SENSE
OF CALM THAT CAME OVER ME.

BECAUSE UNTIL YOU GO UP THERE
AND YOU TRY SOMETHING LIKE THAT,

YOU CAN'T EVEN PUT INTO WORDS
HOW TOUGH IT IS.

WHEN YOU'RE UP THAT HIGH
AND YOUR BODY JUST GIVES OUT...

I JUST KNEW
THE TRIP WAS OVER WITH.

I HAD REACHED MY SUMMIT.

Narrator: RUSSELL'S TEAMS
ARE HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN

AND ON THEIR OWN.

IT'S HARD UP THERE.

WE'RE SITTING DOWN HERE
IN THE SUN NOW TALKING ABOUT IT,

BUT UP THERE, IT'S BRUTAL.

THEY'VE GOT TO DO IT.

THEY'VE GOT TO PUT ONE FOOT
IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.

HOW THEY PLAY THEIR GAME
IS UP TO THEM.

Narrator:
AFTER A FIVE-HOUR TREK,

MARK INGLIS AND TEAM 2
MAKE IT TO CAMP 2.

IT'S 25 DEGREES BELOW ZERO,

BUT SPIRITS ARE HIGH.

1,400 FEET ABOVE, TERRY AND
MOGENS ARRIVE AT CAMP 3.

CAMP 3 IS DELIBERATELY LOCATED
JUST BELOW THE DEATH ZONE...

A FROZEN DESERT
WHERE NO LIFE SURVIVES,

AND HUMANS VISIT
AT TREMENDOUS RISK.

BY REACHING CAMP 3,

MOGENS HAS PUSHED HIS BODY
FIVE MILES ABOVE SEA LEVEL

WITHOUT OXYGEN.

Mogens:
IT'S AMAZING.

WHEW!

Bill: THAT'S PRETTY
IMPRESSIVE, TERRY.

ACTUALLY, THE HARDEST PART
OF MY WHOLE TRIP

IS BLOWING UP
MY THERM-A-REST RIGHT NOW.

[ LAUGHS ]
YEAH, THAT'S HARD.

Narrator: FOR MOGENS,
RUSSELL'S DECISION

TO SUMMIT EARLY
SEEMS LIKE A GOOD MOVE,

AND HE'S FEELING STRONG.

THE WINDS HERE CAN RAKE THE CAMP
WITH 100-MILE-AN-HOUR BLASTS,

EQUAL TO
A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE.

UNLESS THE TENTS
ARE ANCHORED WITH ROCKS,

THEY'LL BE BLOWN AWAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE GETTING GOOD
FOR SATURDAY/SUNDAY.

LATEST FORECAST
IS PRETTY GOOD FOR THAT.

YEAH,
WE'RE ALL DOING WELL.

NOT TOO BAD OF WINDS.

I DON'T KNOW --
20, 50, MAYBE, GUSTING.

Narrator: IF RUSSELL FAILS
TO ANTICIPATE

RADICAL SHIFTS
IN THE WEATHER,

FROM HERE ON,
SOMEONE WILL DIE.

DOWN AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

BRETT STRUGGLES
TO COME TO GRIPS.

Brett: NO, I CAN'T DO IT, AND
I DON'T WANT TO DO IT ANYMORE.

I'M SECURE WITH THAT...

WITH MY POSITION ON THAT NOW.

YOU KNOW, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO
WITH WHO'S MORE OF A MAN,

WHO'S MORE PHYSICALLY FIT,
WHO'S MORE MENTALLY TOUGH.

THERE'S A LOT OF THOSE
ATTRIBUTES THAT COME INTO IT.

AND THEY'RE A HUGE PART.
DON'T LET ME DISCOUNT IT.

BUT THE GENETIC ABILITY
TO BE ABLE TO DO IT

IS A BASELINE FACTOR.

AND I DON'T HAVE IT,
AND I ACCEPT THAT.

Narrator:
BRETT WAS SIMPLY NOT BORN

WITH THE GENES
TO ACCLIMATIZE ON EVEREST.

NOW, BY ACCEPTING
HIS PHYSICAL LIMITS,

HE'S GAINED A NEW PERSPECTIVE.

Brett:
I REACHED MY SUMMIT.

I SUMMITED UP THERE, EVEN THOUGH
I DIDN'T GET TO THE TOP.

I REACHED THE TOP OF MY OWN
MOUNTAIN, PHILOSOPHICALLY.

SO I'M DONE.

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GONNA HAVE
A PRETTY NICE SUNSET TONIGHT.

YEAH, IT LOOKS GOOD.

YEAH.

WOW. IT'S GONNA BE
BEAUTIFUL.

Narrator: NEXT TIME --

WITH THE SUMMIT IN SIGHT,
THE MOUNTAIN TURNS ON MOGENS,

AND TEAM 1 IS HELD HOSTAGE
BY SUB-ZERO WINDS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT
WE'RE STUCK HERE ANOTHER DAY.

BUGGER!

Narrator:
EXPEDITION LEADER RUSSELL BRICE

MUST DECIDE
WHETHER TO DELAY THE CLIMB

OR SEND HIS TEAMS
INTO THE DEATH ZONE.

CAN YOU TURN THAT
TO FOUR -- OXYGEN?

Narrator: AND NO ONE KNOWS
THAT WAITING AT SUMMIT HEAVEN...

Russell: Please tell them,
let us pass, over.

Narrator:
...IS A TRAFFIC JAM FROM HELL.

THIS IS A PLACE
WAITING FOR A BIG ACCIDENT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE.