Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–…): Season 2, Episode 2 - On the Ropes - full transcript
The climbers face their first big test when they must reach a high camp by the deadline fixed by expedition leader Russell Brice. The climb is especially hard on Betsy, whose inexperience is threatening her summit dreams.
>> Narrator: HURRICANE-FORCE
WINDS, SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES,
MINIMAL OXYGEN.
IT'S NO WONDER EVEREST HAS
CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER 200
PEOPLE.
>> IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SURVIVE
THIS LONG, I SUPPOSE.
>> Narrator: YET THE
DETERMINATION OF THE HUMAN
SPIRIT HAS DRIVEN A TEAM OF
AMATEUR CLIMBERS TO CHALLENGE
THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH.
>> THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
TREAT IT AS DANGEROUS.
>> Narrator: BUT THE TEAM'S A
LONG WAY FROM CONVINCING
EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE THEY'VE GOT WHAT
IT TAKES.
BIKER TIM MEDVETZ IS DANGEROUSLY
ARROGANT.
>> OH, EASY, PIECE OF CAKE.
>> Narrator: AND NOVICE
BETSY HUELSKAMP HAS BEEN HIT BY
THE ALTITUDE.
>> GOD, I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA
THROW UP.
>> Narrator: HIGH ON THE
MOUNTAIN, TWO CLIMBERS ARE
MISSING.
A SEARCH PARTY'S ON ITS WAY, BUT
WILL THEY FIND THEM IN TIME?
>> COME TO EVEREST -- THE STRONG
SURVIVE.
THE WEAK WILL GET EATEN.
>> Narrator: DAWN AT ADVANCED
BASE CAMP -- THE START OF THE
MOST FRIGHTENING DAY YET FOR
RUSSELL BRICE'S TEAM.
THE TWO CLIMBERS ARE STILL
MISSING.
IT'S AN UNNERVING WAKE-UP CALL
FOR TEAM MEMBERS LIKE
BUSINESSMAN DAVID TAIT.
>> I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR
THE KAZAK CLIMBERS BECAUSE
THEY'RE WITHOUT OXYGEN, AND IF
THEY ARE UP THERE WITHOUT
OXYGEN, AS THE RUMORS GO -- THE
BLOOD THICKENING, THE TIME, THE
CLOCK AGAINST YOU IS FAR MORE
DANGEROUS THAN GOING WITH
OXYGEN.
>> 10 HOURS, MINIMUM.
>> IT REMINDS ME THAT THESE GUYS
WERE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE.
>> Narrator: IF TWO HIGHLY
EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS MIGHT
ALREADY BE DEAD, WHAT HOPE FOR A
BUNCH OF AMATEURS?
>> PERFECT.
>> Narrator: TODAY IS THEIR
FIRST BIG TEST -- THE NORTH
COL.
THEY FACE AN EXHAUSTING GRIND UP
A 1,000-FOOT ICE CLIFF...
THEN A MISERABLE NIGHT TRYING TO
SLEEP AT 23,000 FEET.
IF THEY FAIL TO MAKE IT WITHIN
FIVE HOURS, THEY'RE OFF THE
TEAM AND ON THEIR WAY HOME.
>> [ COUGHS ]
OW.
>> Narrator: BIKER TIM IS GOING
NOWHERE.
>> I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND
KIND OF HAD A STIFF BACK, AND
THEN I BENT OVER TO ADJUST MY
BOOT OR SOMETHING, AND I HEARD
SOMETHING KIND OF CRACK.
NOTHING'S WORKING.
OHH!
IT'S JUST MY BACK.
SOMETIMES IT JUST TIGHTENS UP,
ALL THE MUSCLES AROUND IT,
AROUND MY CAGE.
>> Narrator: HIS BODY'S FULL OF
METAL AFTER A NEAR-FATAL
MOTORCYCLE CRASH.
AND HIS SPINE IS SURROUNDED BY A
WIRE CAGE.
>> IS IT MUSCLE PAIN THAT YOU
GET?
>> IT TIGHTENS UP.
MY BACK TIGHTENS UP.
>> Narrator: THERE'S NOT MUCH
EXPEDITION DOCTOR MONICA PIRIS
CAN DO AT 21,000 FEET OTHER THAN
FIT TIM WITH A PAINKILLER PATCH.
>> I SLEEP ON THEM ROCKS.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: BUT HE'S NO
QUITTER.
>> AIN'T NO SHERPA GONNA CARRY
ME UP, AND AIN'T NO SHERPA GONNA
CARRY ME DOWN, PERIOD.
>> Narrator: TODAY'S CLIMB TO
THE NORTH COL IS A TIME TRIAL,
BUT IT'S ALSO VITAL ACCLIMATION
TRAINING.
EVERY TIME THE TEAM CLIMBS
HIGHER, THEIR BODIES ARE SHOCKED
INTO PRODUCING MORE RED BLOOD
CELLS.
THE MORE RED BLOOD CELLS YOU
HAVE, THE MORE OXYGEN YOUR LUNGS
CAN ABSORB.
AND UP HERE, EVERY OXYGEN
MOLECULE IS PRECIOUS.
>> [ Coughing ] GOT TO WAKE UP.
AAH!
>> Narrator: MONICA PIRIS IS A
SPECIALIST IN HIGH-ALTITUDE
MEDICINE.
SO SHE KNOWS THE DANGERS OF
GOING FURTHER WITHOUT
ACCLIMATING PROPERLY.
>> YOU'D INITIALLY FEEL SHORT OF
BREATH, AND THEN YOUR BRAIN
WOULD START TO SWELL.
YOUR LUNGS WOULD PROBABLY START
TO FILL WITH FLUID.
YOU'D LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND
YOU'D DIE.
>> JUST WALKING BACK FROM THE
TOILET MAKES YOU REALLY TIRED.
SO IMAGINE HOW TIRED IF YOU'RE
WALKING UP THERE.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY FAR AND
IT'S REALLY TIRING, I'M MORE
SCARED ABOUT THE COLD.
>> Narrator: CALIFORNIA
JOURNALIST BETSY HUELSKAMP
BEGGED RUSSELL FOR A PLACE ON
HIS EXPEDITION AFTER
INTERVIEWING BIKER TIM LAST
YEAR.
>> AS FAR AS PHYSICAL QUESTS IN
OUR WORLD GO, IT'S TAKING ON
SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
MONUMENTOUS, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME
SKINNY LITTLE GIRL FROM
LOS ANGELES.
>> Narrator: BUT NOVICE BETSY
HAS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP
UP WITH THE OTHERS, AND
RUSSELL'S GUIDES ARE WATCHING
LIKE HAWKS.
>> I THINK SHE IS QUITE
UNDERPREPARED BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GETTING
HERSELF IN FOR.
YOU'VE GOT TO BASICALLY BE ABLE
TO GET TO THE NORTH COL IN FIVE
HOURS.
IF YOU CAN'T, THEN YOU'RE NOT ON
THE SUMMIT TEAM.
>> Narrator: RUSSELL IS STUNNED
TO FIND OUT BETSY DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO ATTACH CRAMPONS, THE
SPIKES USED TO CLIMB ON SNOW AND
ICE.
>> I'VE SEEN PEOPLE PUT THEIR
CRAMPONS ON UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE,
BUT NOT UPSIDE DOWN AND
BACKWARDS.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
>> MAYBE WE'LL REGRET IT, AND
MAYBE WE WON'T.
>> SHE NEEDS A LOT MORE
EXPERIENCE.
HER FOOTWORK WITH CRAMPONS IS
NOT GOOD ENOUGH, EVEN ON JUST
SNOW AND ICE THAT SHE'S WORKED
ON SO FAR.
IT'S BEEN SATISFACTORY ONLY.
AND ONCE YOU START GOING INTO
MIXED TERRAIN, IT DOESN'T WORK.
>> * JOY TO THE WORLD
* ALL
>> WE'RE NOT THE SAME, AMERICANS
AND ENGLISH PEOPLE, ARE WE?
THERE'S THIS BIG PIECE OF OCEAN
BETWEEN US.
HAVE YOU LOST IT?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET
OUT OF HERE.
>> Narrator: ROD BABER FIRST
DECIDED TO CLIMB EVEREST DURING
A DRINKING SESSION WITH HIS
BUDDIES.
BUT NO HANGOVER CAN COMPARE WITH
THE POUNDING HEADACHES HE'S
SUFFERED ON EVEREST.
>> I'VE HAD A FEW HANGOVERS
BEFORE, BUT NOW I CAN MIX DRINKS
AND DRINK AS MUCH AS I LIKE FOR
AS LONG AS I LIKE AND WAKE UP
THE NEXT DAY, AND IF I HAVE A
LITTLE HEADACHE, I GO, "OH!
OH, THAT'S NOTHING."
>> Narrator: ROD'S STRUGGLING TO
DEAL WITH THE HARDSHIPS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE AT ABC.
LAST NIGHT IT WAS MINUS 3
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
>> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR
DRINKING WATER WHEN IT'S INSIDE
YOUR JACKET, INSIDE YOUR
SLEEPING BAG, AT NIGHT.
>> Narrator: BUT FROZEN WATER
BOTTLES ARE NOTHING COMPARED
WITH THE DEVASTATING COLD
THEY'LL FACE HIGHER UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
LAST YEAR FRENCHMAN
GéRARD BOURRAT TOOK HIS GLOVES
OFF TO TAKE PHOTOS...
AND LOST ALL HIS FINGERS TO
FROSTBITE.
THE TEAM IS READY TO START THEIR
FIRST SERIOUS CLIMB, AND THE
CLOCK IS TICKING.
THEY HAVE THE NEXT FIVE HOURS TO
REACH THE TOP OF THE NORTH COL
AND PROVE TO RUSSELL THEY HAVE
THE STRENGTH AND SKILL TO CLIMB
THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.
>> [ SIGHS ]
>> Narrator: BIKER TIM HAS
CONVINCED THE DOCTOR HE'S GOOD
TO GO.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MAKE
THAT DEADLINE.
THEY JUST CAN'T WAIT TO KICK ME
OFF THE TEAM.
AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, THOUGH.
>> Narrator: EVERY ONE OF THEM
HAS GOT IT ALL TO PROVE.
IT'S 10:00 IN THE MORNING.
THE SHERPA RESCUE TEAM ARE
FIGHTING THEIR WAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN AS FAST AS THEY CAN TO
REACH THE MISSING CLIMBERS.
THE MEN ARE FROM KAZAKHSTAN AND
MADE FRIENDS WITH ANOTHER
EXPEDITION BEFORE THEY LEFT FOR
THE SUMMIT.
>> [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
COPY ME? OVER.
>> THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THEM BY
YESTERDAY EVENING.
IT CERTAINLY ENTERED MY MIND
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING AMISS.
>> KAZAKHSTANS.
THIS IS MAXUT. HE'S 30 OR 31.
AND THIS HERE IS VASSILY.
>> THE TWO OF THEM HAVE CLIMBED
TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS, SO THEY
KNOW EACH OTHER WELL.
[ STATIC CRACKLING ]
>> LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS,
THEY SPENT FOUR NIGHTS STRANDED
ON K2 AND GOT OUT OF THAT
SUCCESSFULLY.
>> THEY NEED TO RADIO FOR HELP.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY IN A BAD
POSITION.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NO DRAMA QUEENS.
>> Narrator: AFTER HOURS OF
SILENCE, THE RADIO FINALLY
CRACKLES TO LIFE.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> THIS IS RONNY IN ABC.
DO YOU COPY?
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> Narrator: THIS IS THE FIRST
NEWS OF THE MISSING MEN.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> THAT'S MAX.
>> THAT'S MAX.
>> THAT'S MAXUT.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: THE MISSING
CLIMBERS ARE ALIVE, BUT THEY'RE
REFUSING HELP.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> HE DOESN'T WANT TO USE THE
OXYGEN.
>> HE DOESN'T WANT TO USE IT?
>> YEAH.
>> ...CLIMBED 1,600 METERS
TODAY ALONE CARRYING OXYGEN.
>> AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO
TAKE IT.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS KNOW
THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF SUMMITING
WITHOUT OXYGEN WON'T BE
RECOGNIZED UNLESS THEY MAKE IT
BACK TO ADVANCED BASE CAMP
WITHOUT USING IT.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS UNFAIR
BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF
SHERPAS UP THERE PUTTING THEIR
LIVES AT STAKE, AND THEY'RE NOT
PLAYING BALL.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS'
DETERMINATION GOT THEM TO THE
SUMMIT, BUT NOW IT'S THREATENING
TO BE THE DEATH OF THEM AND
THEIR RESCUERS.
>> Narrator: RUSSELL BRICE'S
TEAM ARE AT 21,750 FEET AND
HEADING FOR THE MASSIVE CLIFF OF
THE NORTH COL.
AS THEY CROSS THE EAST RONGBUK
GLACIER, EVERY STEP HURTS MORE
THAN THE LAST.
THEIR HEARTS ARE RACING OUT OF
CONTROL.
THEY'RE GETTING SEVERELY
DEHYDRATED, AND THEY'RE GASPING
FOR BREATH AS THE AIR GETS
THINNER AND THINNER.
>> I NEED SOME PILLS.
I NEED TO GET SOME PILLS AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE ROPE.
>> Narrator: ROD HASN'T EVEN
REACHED THE CLIMBING ROPES WHEN
HE'S HIT BY A SEARING
HEADACHE, A SIGN THAT SOMETHING
COULD BE SERIOUSLY WRONG.
AT THIS ALTITUDE, A HEADACHE
COULD BE CEREBRAL EDEMA, A
HIGH-ALTITUDE CLIMBER'S GREATEST
FEAR.
IT STRIKES SUDDENLY, AND VICTIMS
CAN BE DEAD IN MINUTES.
LIKE ROD, THIS CLIMBER WAS ON
HIS WAY TO THE NORTH COL.
>> COME ON. CALM DOWN.
CALM DOWN.
>> CEREBRAL EDEMA IS ONE OF THE
MOST DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, IF
NOT THE MOST DANGEROUS
CONDITION, RELATED TO BEING AT
HIGH ALTITUDE.
>> Narrator: THIS MAN WAS LUCKY
TO SURVIVE.
MANY OTHERS DON'T.
>> CEREBRAL EDEMA IS SWELLING OF
THE BRAIN.
IT HAPPENS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF
THE DECREASED OXYGEN THAT THERE
IS IN THE AIR.
YOU HAVE SEVERE BRAIN SWELLING.
YOU'RE IN A COMA, APPROACHING
DEATH.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING ]
[ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ROD'S ANXIETY IS
MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE.
SCIENTISTS HAVE PROVED THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRESSED ARE MORE
LIKELY TO GO DOWN WITH ACUTE
MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> IF IT DOESN'T GO, THEN I
HAVEN'T GOT A CHOICE.
I WON'T BE -- I WON'T BE -- I
WON'T BE ALLOWED TO CLIMB.
>> Narrator: FROM HIGH UP THE
MOUNTAIN, THE SHERPA RESCUE TEAM
RADIO THAT THE KAZAK CLIMBERS
ARE IN A BAD WAY.
>> AND IS IT ONE OF THEM OR BOTH
OF THEM?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> DON'T KNOW.
>> I MUST BE HONEST.
IT'S BLOODY SCARY, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, EVEN WITH HELP NOW, IF
YOU'VE GOT FROSTBITE, AND THIS
WEATHER'S COMING IN...
PHEW.
AND THE THING IS...
I MEAN, HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT HAVE
WE GOT LEFT?
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT ABOUT
SIX HOURS OF TRYING TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY IMMOBILE
GET DOWN.
AND THAT'S PUSHING IT.
>> [ CLEARS THROAT ]
I'D TALK A LOT MORE IF THE
HEADACHE WASN'T HERE.
>> Narrator: ROD'S HEADACHE IS
GETTING WORSE, AND HE'S NOW
GAMBLING WITH HIS LIFE.
AS THE TEAM GET THEIR FIRST LOOK
AT THE NORTH COL, THEY'RE HIT BY
THE MASSIVE TASK AHEAD.
A 1,000-FOOT ICE CLIFF AWAITS --
HARD ENOUGH TO CLIMB AT SEA
LEVEL, AT FOUR MILES UP,
AGONIZING.
>> EACH STEP, YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THAT CLOSE
TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH AIR,
PASSING OUT, AND FALLING DOWN
WHERE YOU STAND.
>> Narrator: BACK HOME, BETSY'S
A FIT WOMAN, A KARATE BLACK BELT
AND FITNESS INSTRUCTOR.
BUT FITNESS HAS NO BEARING ON
WHO CAN ACCLIMATE.
>> I FEEL SO TIRED.
IT'S JUST LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE
AIR THAT MAKES YOU THINK, "HOLY
CRAP, I CAN'T GO.
I CAN'T DO THIS."
>> Narrator: BUT DO THIS BETSY
MUST, OR RUSSELL WILL THROW HER
OFF THE TEAM.
22,300 FEET, AND ONE MOUNTAIN IS
TAKING ON ANOTHER.
BIKER MEDVETZ IS ON THE ROPES.
>> OHH.
I COULD USE A NEW BACK.
OTHER THAN THAT, I FEEL GREAT.
>> I'M GOING SLOWLY, BUT, YOU
KNOW -- SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
>> Narrator: THE FASTEST
CLIMBERS ARE 45-YEAR-OLD
ENGLISHMAN DAVID TAIT AND DANISH
TRIATHLETE MOGENS JENSEN, WHO IS
ON TARGET TO CUT THE FIVE-HOUR
DEADLINE IN HALF.
>> IT'S NICE.
BUT, YEAH, JUST DOING A STEADY
PACE, NOTHING CRAZY, CONSERVING
ENERGY.
>> Narrator: LOWER DOWN THE
ROPES, BETSY IS HITTING THE
WALL.
>> I'M GOING TO LET PEOPLE PASS.
>> Narrator: IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE
A NICE, SUNNY DAY, BUT IMAGINE
HAVING HALF AS MUCH AIR AS YOU
DO BACK HOME, A POUNDING HEAD,
AND FEELING UTTERLY EXHAUSTED.
WELCOME TO BETSY'S WORLD.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA THROW
UP.
>> Narrator: WHILE SHE SUFFERS,
MOGENS CRUISES OVER THE
FINISHING LINE, JUST 2 1/2 HOURS
AFTER LEAVING ADVANCED BASE CAMP
2,000 FEET BELOW.
HALFWAY UP THE ICE CLIFF,
ROD BABER IS STRUGGLING.
>> [ Breathing hard ] PRETTY
HARD.
WHAT TIME...
[ COUGHS ]
10 MINUTES.
FIRST TIME.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
>> Narrator: HE'S HIGHER THAN
HE'S EVER CLIMBED BEFORE, AND
HIS BODY IS SCREAMING OUT TO
STOP.
IF HE CAN'T KEEP GOING, HIS
DREAM OF CLIMBING EVEREST WILL
END BEFORE IT'S BEGUN.
>> Narrator: AMATEUR CLIMBER
ROD BABER GOT INTO
MOUNTAINEERING THROUGH A BET
WITH HIS DRINKING BUDDIES.
>> [ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BUT NOW HE'S IN
BIG TROUBLE HALFWAY UP
MT. EVEREST, ON THE NORTH COL,
AND THERE'S ONLY 50 MINUTES LEFT
BEFORE THE 5-HOUR DEADLINE
EXPIRES.
>> [ COUGHS ]
10 MINUTES.
FIRST TIMES.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
>> Narrator: ROD HAS A YOUNG
FAMILY AND KNOWS HE SHOULD BE
TURNING BACK AS HIS HEADACHE
GETS WORSE AND EVERY STEP
INCREASES THE RISK OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA.
>> I'VE GOT TWO KIDS -- FLASH
AND JAUNTY.
I'LL CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERING
THEM EVERY SINGLE MOVE I MAKE
UPWARDS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
TO ME.
>> Narrator: ROD IS A CLIMBING
INSTRUCTOR BACK HOME, BUT THAT'S
NOTHING TO RUSSELL BRICE.
>> I'M NOT EVEN SURE HE'S
ACTUALLY FIT ENOUGH, FRANKLY.
SURE, HE RUNS A CLIMBING GYM,
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MOUNTAIN
WINGS.
>> Narrator: BUT SHEER GRIT
COUNTS FOR A LOT ON EVEREST.
BIG TIM MEDVETZ HAS PUSHED ON
AND IS NOT FAR FROM THE END OF
THIS MONUMENTAL CLIMB.
>> I'M DOING GREAT, JUST HUNGRY,
HUNGRY AND BACK PAIN.
BUT I GOT MY MUSIC ON.
TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> Narrator: AFTER 4 1/2
PUNISHING HOURS, TIM MAKES IT --
A STAGGERING SUCCESS COMPARED TO
LAST YEAR, WHEN HE HAD A
MOTIVATION CRISIS AND WAS TOO
TIRED TO CARRY ON.
AND DESPITE HIS PAIN, ROD BABER
HAS MADE IT JUST INSIDE THE
FIVE-HOUR DEADLINE.
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PRETTY.
[ COUGHS ]
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO THE
[ BLEEP ] TOP.
[ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BUT ROD'S SO
EXHAUSTED HE COLLAPSES INTO HIS
TENT RIGHT AWAY.
>> EACH TIME YOU GET TO THE TOP
OF THE ROPE AND YOU GET TO
SWITCH ROPES, IT'S LIKE SOME
KIND OF A LITTLE VICTORY IN YOUR
HEAD.
>> Narrator: THAT MAY BE SO, BUT
TIME'S UP.
AND RUSSELL'S HAWKS ARE
CIRCLING.
GUIDE DEAN STAPLES HAS BEEN
INSTRUCTED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE
ON BETSY.
THE FIVE-HOUR DEADLINE HAS
PASSED, AND SHE'S NOWHERE NEAR
THE TOP.
>> SO, HOW YOU FEELING,
HONESTLY, BETSY?
I THINK IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE
DECISION TIME FOR US.
>> [ COUGHS ] I'M FEELING FINE.
I'M JUST SLOW.
>> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
GOING UP, I'LL STAY WITH YOU.
BUT REALISTICALLY, AT THE SPEED
WE'RE GOING, WE'RE LOOKING AT
TWO HOURS MINIMUM, IF NOT MORE.
THE TERRAIN IS STEEPER, LITTLE
COLDER.
REALLY, I'D LIKE TO NOT HAVE TO
TURN BACK BETWEEN HERE AND
THERE.
SO, EITHER WE GET THERE, OR WE
TURN BACK HERE.
>> Narrator: BETSY'S HANDED DEAN
A DILEMMA.
HE'S IMPRESSED BY HER
DETERMINATION, BUT HE'S NOT SURE
SHE'LL MAKE IT.
>> YOU GOT TWO MORE HOURS IN
YOU?
>> YEAH.
I'M GOOD TO KEEP GOING.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU GET WARMED
UP, THEN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND WE'LL CARRY ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> Narrator: UP AT THE NORTH COL
CAMP, THE OTHER CLIMBERS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT ROD BABER,
>> ROD DOESN'T LOOK GOOD -- JUST
EYES IS...
>> LYING DOWN?
>> YEAH.
YEAH, WE TOLD HIM NOT TO.
>> HE'S TAKEN PAINKILLERS.
HE'S TAKEN TOO MANY.
>> Narrator: ROD'S DOSING UP ON
PAINKILLERS, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE
CURE.
HE HAS THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> HE DON'T WANT TO EAT NOTHING.
HE'S JUST LYING AND...
>> HAS HE GOT ENOUGH WATER?
>> HE SAID HE HAD HALF A BOTTLE.
>> OKAY, A HALF A BOTTLE.
>> BRING HIM MORE LATER?
>> YEAH, MAYBE WE GET HIS BOTTLE
AND FILL IT UP.
>> Narrator: AFTER 7 1/4 PAINFUL
HOURS, BETSY ARRIVES AT CAMP 1,
HIGHER THAN ANY POINT ON EARTH,
OUTSIDE THE HIMALAYAS.
>> IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ME.
IT'S A SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY
ELSE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> Narrator: ESPECIALLY THE
GUIDES.
>> TAKE CRAMPONS OFF AND GET
WARM, OKAY?
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY? GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB.
>> Narrator: BUT RUSSELL WILL
DECIDE JUST HOW GOOD A JOB.
BETSY ARRIVED TWO HOURS LATE.
A PLACE ON THE SUMMIT TEAM IS
FAR FROM GUARANTEED.
UP HERE, THERE'S 44% OF THE
OXYGEN THERE IS AT SEA LEVEL.
IT'S A WRETCHED PLACE TO CAMP
AND ONLY HALFWAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
THE GUIDES ARE INCREASINGLY
WORRIED ABOUT ROD.
>> WHAT DO YOU RECKON, DEAN,
FROM THE BOTTLE -- HALF-LITER OR
SOMETHING?
>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS FOR A
MINUTE.
I RECKON GET SOME WATER INTO HIM
FIRST.
>> WELL, HE HAS BEEN HYDRATED.
>> IS HE?
>> Narrator: THEY'VE PERSUADED
ROD TO GET UP AND HAVE SOME TEA,
BUT HIS HEADACHE REMAINS.
[ COUGHS ]
BACK AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,
THERE'S STILL NO SIGHT OF THE
KAZAK CLIMBERS, BUT THE SHERPA
WHO LED THE RESCUE IS BACK AFTER
AN 18-HOUR MISSION.
>> YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY.
>> YEAH.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
YEAH.
YEAH.
>> PHEW, YEAH, SURE. WELL DONE.
>> Narrator: AND THEN, THE FIRST
SIGN OF THE MISSING CLIMBERS...
OR JUST ONE.
ONLY MAX HAS RETURNED.
>> IS THAT MAXUT I JUST SAW UP
THERE?
>> OH, MAXUT, YEAH.
>> IS THAT MAXUT?
>> [ COUGHS ]
>> [ EXHALES ]
>> Narrator: IT'S A HUGE RELIEF.
THE OTHER CLIMBER IS STILL
ALIVE.
>> OH, IS THIS VASSILY?
>> IT'S VASSILY?
>> Narrator: 29 HOURS AFTER HE
REACHED THE SUMMIT, VASSILY
ARRIVES BACK AT ADVANCED BASE
CAMP.
HE'S IN A BAD WAY COMPARED WITH
MAX.
THEIR CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE
WORLD WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN HAS
TAKEN THEM TO THE LIMITS OF
HUMAN ENDURANCE.
>> A LITTLE FROSTBITE?
>> DEFINITELY PUT THINGS INTO
PERSPECTIVE.
THESE ARE TOP ATHLETES, AND THIS
HAPPENED TO THEM.
>> WE HAVE A LONG, LONG DAY.
TWO DAYS WITHOUT WATER --
IT'S -- IT'S NO GOOD.
>> AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, TO
GET ONTO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST
WITHOUT OXYGEN -- I MEAN, A
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE
THAT, AND THAT'S AMAZING.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS HAVE
LIVED TO TELL THE TALE, BUT UP
AT THE NORTH COL, ROD IS FACING
A GRIM NIGHT.
HIS EVEREST DREAM IS HANGING BY
A THREAD.
>> Narrator: DAWN AT 23,000
FEET, NEARLY 4 1/2 MILES ABOVE
SEA LEVEL.
RUSSELL BRICE'S CLIMBERS HAVE
SPENT THEIR FIRST NIGHT AT
EXTREME ALTITUDE.
ROD BABER BARELY SLEPT AND HATED
EVERY MINUTE.
>> THE WORST MOMENTS WERE HUGE,
MASSIVE, CHRONIC, SONIC, MEGA
HEADACHE.
IT'S LIKE A POUNDING
SLEDGEHAMMER CONTINUOUSLY
BANGING YOUR HEAD.
WHEN I GOT HERE YESTERDAY, I WAS
LITERALLY CRYING BECAUSE OF THE
PAIN, AND I HAVEN'T DONE THAT
EVER.
GOING RIGHT DOWN TO ABC, AND
THEN WE'VE GOT TWO DAYS HOLIDAY.
HOORAY!
>> AW, IT WAS ALL RIGHT -- A BIT
COLD IN THE NIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT IT ALWAYS IS, AND
SLEEPING PATTERN ON AND OFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME UP TO
NORTH COL -- SLEEPING, YOU
ALWAYS SUFFER.
>> Narrator: THE FIRST THING
MOGENS DOES IS VISIT THE KAZAK
CLIMBERS.
LIKE THEM, HE'S DETERMINED TO
SUMMIT EVEREST WITHOUT OXYGEN.
>> WHAT WAS THE MOST SCARY
MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED?
>> NO FOOD, NO GAS, NO STOVES,
NO MATCHES, NOTHING, TWO DAYS
WITHOUT WATER.
>> YEAH. WHEW.
>> Narrator: YET MOGENS IS STILL
OBSESSED WITH JOINING THIS ELITE
CLUB.
MEMBERSHIP IS LETHALLY
DANGEROUS, AS HE DISCOVERED LAST
YEAR, WHEN HE FAILED 3,000 FEET
FROM THE SUMMIT.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> [ SNIFFS ]
>> IT'S OKAY.
>> I WAS JUST FEELING REALLY
GOOD.
AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S
LIKE, "[BLEEP] I'M GONNA DIE
HERE."
>> DO YOU THINK RUSSELL'S TENT
BEING THERE MAYBE SAVED YOUR
LIFE?
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> SO HIGH.
>> YEAH, OF COURSE.
>> AND WITHOUT OXYGEN.
>> TAKE EVERYTHING.
JUST DON'T TOUCH OXYGEN BOTTLE.
>> NO, EXACTLY. NO OXYGEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> STRONG BOYS.
>> Narrator: BETSY FEELS AS
EXHAUSTED AS THE KAZAKS, AND
SHE'S ONLY BEEN HALFWAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
>> EVERY STEP YOU GO UP, IT GETS
WORSE AND WORSE AND MORE AND
MORE DIFFICULT, BUT I'M NOT
EXPECTING IT TO GET NICER.
>> Narrator: EVEREST IS A
MASSIVE CONTRAST TO LIFE BACK
HOME FOR THE CALIFORNIAN.
>> OH, IT WAS SO MISERABLE AND
COLD THERE AND WINDY.
OH, I HAVE SORES ALL OVER MY
LIPS AND SORES ALL OVER MY
FINGERS.
I'M GONNA BE SO UGLY WHEN I GET
HOME.
I DON'T WANT TO MARRY A DOCTOR
LIKE MY MOM SAID.
I NEED TO MARRY A PLASTIC
SURGEON SO THEY CAN PUT
HUMPTY DUMPTY BACK TOGETHER
AGAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH [BLEEP]
>> Narrator: BETSY'S A BIG
WORRY TO THE GUIDES, BUT RUSSELL
ADMIRES DETERMINATION, SO HE'S
DECIDED TO GIVE HER ONE MORE
CHANCE.
>> I'VE GOT TO GIVE HER THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT OF AT LEAST
GETTING TO NORTH COL.
>> Narrator: BUT EVEN BETSY GOT
BACK TO CAMP BEFORE BIKER TIM.
HE'S LAST AGAIN.
>> DID YOU FIND YOUR LITTLE SPOT
IN THE GLACIER AGAIN?
>> I ACTUALLY HAD A NICE LITTLE
NAP.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> I WAS GONNA CALL YOU ON THE
RADIO, BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT'D
WAKE YOU UP.
>> I'M JUST IN TIME FOR LUNCH.
>> OF COURSE.
COME ON. IT 12:30. COME ON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU THINK I'D BE LATE FOR LUNCH?
>> WOULD YOU MISS LUNCH?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Narrator: TIM HAS
CONSISTENTLY IGNORED ORDERS TO
BE ON TIME AND WORK WITH THE
REST OF THE TEAM.
RUSSELL'S ANGRY AT HIS LACK OF
RESPECT, AND AS FAR AS HE'S
CONCERNED, TIM STILL HAS A LOT
TO PROVE.
>> LAST YEAR, IF HE HAD LEFT ON
TIME, I SUSPECT THAT HE WOULD
HAVE REACHED THE SUMMIT ALONG
WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
IT WOULD TAKE A BIT LONGER TO
GET DOWN, BUT HE DIDN'T.
>> Narrator: AND NOW ANOTHER OF
RUSSELL'S TEAM IS IN TROUBLE.
DR. MONICA PIRIS HAS BEEN CALLED
TO AN EMERGENCY.
>> COLD.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> BETTER WITH OXYGEN.
>> BETTER WITH OXYGEN. YEAH?
>> Narrator: JAPANESE CLIMBER
WAKUI MASAJI GOT SICK ON A SHORT
TRAINING WALK.
>> HE LABORED AN AWFUL LOT --
IT TOOK HIM 2 1/2 HOURS -- AND
DIDN'T QUITE GET THERE, AND THEN
ANOTHER HOUR AND 3/4 TO COME
BACK.
HE WAS HAVING TO STOP EVERY 50
METERS TO CATCH HIS BREATH.
>> Narrator: MONICA SUSPECTS HE
HAS CEREBRAL EDEMA, SWELLING OF
THE BRAIN.
>> ONE FOOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF
THE OTHER.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
>> SIT HERE, AND I LISTEN TO HIS
CHEST.
>> YEAH.
>> ASK HIM TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS.
>> Narrator: AT SEA LEVEL, 100%
BLOOD OXYGEN IS NORMAL.
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP, 75% IS
COMMON.
ANYWHERE ELSE, THAT LEVEL WOULD
PUT YOU IN INTENSIVE CARE.
MASAJI HAS ONLY 50%.
HE HASN'T GOT ENOUGH RED BLOOD
CELLS TO CARRY THE OXYGEN HE
NEEDS AROUND HIS BODY.
>> HIS CHEST IS STILL OKAY.
THIS IS LOW.
BACK TO BED.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
THE UNSTEADINESS ON HIS FEET,
WHICH WE CALL ATAXIA, THAT'S --
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF
CEREBRAL EDEMA.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT
HIM.
>> Narrator: IF MASAJI DOES HAVE
CEREBRAL EDEMA, HIS DREAM OF
CLIMBING EVEREST WILL BE OVER.
>> THE DOCTOR WILL CHECK HIM
AGAIN LATER, AND, YEAH, IT'S A
DEFINITE CEREBRAL EDEMA.
FINISHED.
CAN NEVER COME BACK.
>> Narrator: IT'S A NEW DAY AT
ADVANCED BASE CAMP, BUT IT'S
LOOKING GRIM FOR JAPANESE
CLIMBER WAKUI MASAJI.
HE'S GOTTEN WORSE OVERNIGHT, AND
EXPEDITION DR. MONICA PIRIS
ORDERS HIM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
>> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE
HAS CEREBRAL EDEMA, AND THE ONLY
TREATMENT FOR CEREBRAL EDEMA IS
DESCENT.
HE DOES NOT HAVE PULMONARY
EDEMA.
HIS CHEST IS OKAY.
HE HAS ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
AND A LITTLE BIT OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
>> Narrator: IT'S THE END OF THE
ROAD FOR MASAJI.
ONLY ONE IN THREE CLIMBERS MAKES
IT TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.
HE WON'T BE ONE OF THEM.
>> OKAY.
BASE CAMP.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
>> OKAY.
>> Narrator: MONICA'S GOT HER
WORK CUT OUT FOR HER THIS
MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE FILM CREW ARE
ALSO REELING WITH SYMPTOMS OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
>> SORRY.
>> AT THIS ALTITUDE, PEOPLE
DON'T GET BETTER.
THEY GET WORSE.
ALMOST ALL CASES OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA FROM HIGH ALTITUDE ARE ON
THE BACK OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
SUFFERING FROM MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
AND HASN'T TREATED IT OR GONE
DOWN.
SO IT'S POTENTIALLY SERIOUS,
POTENTIALLY FATAL.
WE'VE GOT TO GO.
>> ARE YOU TELLING ME I'VE GOT
TO GO DOWN?
>> YEAH.
DON'T GET AGGRESSIVE.
>> I'M NOT GETTING AGGRESSIVE.
I'M GETTING SLIGHTLY ANNOYED.
I WALK, WHEN I'M TIRED, THAT
SAME WALK.
>> THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS --
HEADACHE PLUS NAUSEA AND
VOMITING OR POOR SLEEP OR
FATIGUE AND LETHARGY.
>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
YOU HAVE ACUTE MOUNTAIN
SICKNESS, JOHN.
YOU'RE TICKING ALL THE BOXES.
YOU'RE EVEN TICKING THE DENIAL
BOX.
>> YEAH.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
>> YOU'RE TICKING ALL THE BOXES.
>> Narrator: THE LAST THING THE
CREW FEELS LIKE IS A 14-MILE
HIKE BACK DOWN TO BASE CAMP, BUT
MONICA HAS NO CHOICE.
>> THEY'RE JUST NOT WELL, YOU
KNOW?
THEY'VE GOT BAD A.M.S., AND THE
TREATMENT FOR BAD A.M.S. IS
GO DOWN.
THERE'S JUST NO TWO WAYS ABOUT
IT.
>> Narrator: THOSE WHO REMAIN
FACE THE HARSHEST TEST YET -- A
GRUELING TREK TO CAMP 2 AT
24,500 FEET TO COMPLETE THEIR
ACCLIMATION.
ONLY THEN WILL RUSSELL PICK HIS
SUMMIT TEAM.
THE CLIMB WILL MAKE EXTREME
DEMANDS ON THE TEAM, SO THEY
HAVE TWO DAYS TO RELAX.
>> LET'S GET IT ON.
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ]
>> Narrator: BUT WHILE THE
CLIMBERS REST, THEIR BODIES ARE
PRODUCING THE EXTRA RED BLOOD
CELLS THEY'LL NEED WHEN THEY
CLIMB HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAINS.
SHERPAS ARE BETTER ABLE TO WORK
AT ALTITUDE BECAUSE THEY WERE
BORN AND RAISED IN THE
HIMALAYAS.
YOU WASH WHEN YOUR CONSCIENCE
DICTATES AT ABC.
ALL THE WATER COMES FROM ICE
HACKED OUT OF A GLACIER AND
HAULED TO THE COOK TENT.
>> I HAVEN'T WASHED MYSELF FOR
TWO WEEKS NOW.
>> Narrator: EVEN WHEN THE
CLIMBERS ARE CHILLING OUT, THEY
CAN'T RESIST A LITTLE FRIENDLY
COMPETITION.
>> IT'S NOT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
10 AND 10.
>> SO, WHAT HAPPENS?
>> SO, I WIN.
>> FAR FROM IT BEING ALTITUDE, I
THINK IT'S PERMANENT BRAIN
DAMAGE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
RE-ENERGIZE YOURSELF, YOUR
BEING, AND RELAX.
SO I QUITE LIKE DOWNTIME.
AND IT HELPS YOU ACCLIMATIZE, AS
WELL.
AND WITHOUT IT, THAT WOULD BE
DIFFICULT.
SO, YEAH, POWER TO DOWNTIME.
>> Narrator: THEY'LL NEED THEIR
REST.
THE CLIMB TO CAMP 2 WILL BE THE
HARDEST TEST YET.
>> I THINK WE'LL START WEEDING
OUT THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.
>> Narrator: GOOD FOOD IS VITAL
TO THE TEAM'S CHANCES OF
SUCCESS.
>> MY THEORY IS EAT AS MUCH AS
YOU CAN DOWN HERE, AND THEN
HOPEFULLY THOSE RESERVES WILL
GET YOU TO THE TOP.
>> YOU TRY TO, LIKE, ENJOY IT,
CONSIDERING THE TORTURE WE'RE
BEING PUT THROUGH.
>> I FEEL MUCH BETTER THAN I DID
A WEEK AGO, AND MAYBE BECAUSE
I'VE ACCLIMATIZED.
I'M HOPING IT IS BECAUSE LAST
TIME I WENT UP THERE IT WAS
PRETTY BAD.
FOR SOME REASON, THE HEADACHE'S
GONE, AND EVERYTHING'S GONE, SO,
YEAH.
SO I'M NOT TOO WORRIED.
>> Narrator: AS THE CLIMBERS SET
OFF, THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY FAIL
TO REACH CAMP 2, IT'S ALL OVER.
THEY WON'T BE ON THE SUMMIT
TEAM.
>> Narrator: THE TEAM HAS LEFT
ADVANCED BASE CAMP FOR THE
HIGHEST POINT YET -- CAMP 2 AT
24,500 FEET.
IT'S BETSY HUELSKAMP'S LAST
CHANCE TO CONVINCE RUSSELL SHE'S
GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE HIS SUMMIT
TEAM, AND HE'S RULED THAT SHE
MUST CLIMB WITHOUT THE HELP OF A
GUIDE.
ONCE AGAIN, MOGENS JENSEN HAS
BLAZED AN EASY TRAIL AND IS FAR
AHEAD OF THE OTHERS, DESPITE
BEING A CHRONIC ASTHMATIC.
>> I'M CONSERVING AS MUCH ENERGY
AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S A VIEW...TO DIE FOR...
ALMOST.
>> Narrator: ALREADY BETSY'S
STRUGGLING AND SHOWING NO SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT AFTER TWO DAYS
OFF.
>> I'M REALLY TIRED.
I'M WILLING TO PAY $50 FOR
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CARRY MY
BACKPACK.
>> Narrator: SO FAR, THE
MOUNTAIN GODS ARE SMILING ON
ENGLISHMAN ROD BABER.
>> THERE'S NO HEADACHES THIS
TIME.
WE'RE GOING AT A REASONABLE
PACE.
>> Narrator: THE WEATHER HAS
CLOSED IN.
BUT BIKER TIM IS A DRIVEN MAN.
>> YEAH!
>> Narrator: DRIVEN BY FAILURE.
IT'S ONE YEAR SINCE HE TURNED
BACK ONLY 320 FEET FROM THE TOP
OF THE WORLD.
>> JUST READY.
I'M STRONGER AND FASTER, KNOW
WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME, BEEN HERE
BEFORE, HUNGRY...REAL HUNGRY.
GOT TO SEE WHAT'S AROUND THAT
CORNER WHERE I GOT TURNED
AROUND.
IT'S BEEN EATING ME UP FOR A
YEAR.
I LOVE THIS, MAN.
IT'S SNOW, SPIKES ON MY FEET,
BACKPACK ON, GOT MY MUSIC, ICE
PICK.
THIS IS GREAT, MAN.
DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS.
COMES DOWN TO IT, MAN, THIS IS
LIVING.
SO, LET'S GET IT ON.
BAM!
>> Narrator: ALL THE TEAMS
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE FIRST
LEG OF THE CLIMB, WHERE THEY
ENDURE ANOTHER NIGHT IN SUB-ZERO
TEMPERATURES AT THE NORTH COL.
>> I HOPE THE WEATHER IS GONNA
BE FINE.
IT'S BEEN SNOWING A BIT DURING
THE NIGHT, SO WE'LL SEE.
>> Narrator: THE SECOND LEG OF
THE CHALLENGE -- THE CLIMB TO
CAMP 2 -- WILL PUSH THEM HARDER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> TODAY WE ARE GOING ALL THE
WAY UP THERE, TO CAMP 2.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT COULD TAKE NO MORE THAN AN
HOUR.
BUT IT'S VERY DECEIVING.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN
A TARGET TIME OF FIVE HOURS TO
REACH CAMP 2.
>> A BIG PART OF THIS MOUNTAIN
IS MENTAL, YOU KNOW?
A LOT OF TIMES, YOUR MIND'S
GONNA TELL YOU, "TURN AROUND.
TURN AROUND.
YOU CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER."
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY
GONNA BE THE OUTCOME TODAY FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T DIG DEEP, THEY AIN'T
GONNA MAKE IT.
>> Narrator: BETSY KNOWS IT'S
HER LAST TIME TO IMPRESS GUIDE
DEAN STAPLES AND SECURE A PLACE
ON THE SUMMIT TEAM.
>> SO, YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT'S
SLEEP THEN?
>> A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP?
>> WELL, RELATIVE FOR --
>> IS THAT AN OXYMORON? YEAH.
ONE-PIECE SUIT WEATHER OR --
>> DEFINITELY.
>> YOU HAVE YOURS TIED AROUND
YOUR WAIST.
>> YEAH, SO, ALWAYS PUT THE SUIT
ON BECAUSE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT
SHELTERED HERE.
IT FEELS QUITE WARM.
AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE
OVERHEATING, EVEN WITH YOUR SUIT
ON.
IF YOU'RE HOT, JUST TIE IT
'ROUND YOUR WAIST.
OFTEN YOU WALK ABOUT 50 METERS
HERE, YOU'RE IN THE COLD, WIND
COMES ACROSS.
AND THERE'S NO WAY -- IT'S A
QUITE A STEEP SLOPE TO TRY AND
CHANGE AND PUT A DOWN SUIT ON.
YOU LOSE A BOOT OR SOMETHING,
IT'S ALL QUITE SERIOUS.
>> Narrator: THE NORTH RIDGE IS
NOTORIOUS FOR SUDDEN WINDS THAT
CAN TURN SEARING HEAT TO SAVAGE
COLD IN SECONDS.
RUSSELL BRICE FORBIDS HIS
CLIMBERS TO STEP ONTO THE RIDGE
UNLESS THEY'RE WEARING A DOWN
SUMMIT SUIT.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> Narrator: IT'S THE HOTTEST
DAY OF THE YEAR ON EVEREST, AND
EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING IN THE
GRUELING CONDITIONS.
BUT THE HEAT, ALTITUDE, AND HER
LACK OF EXPERIENCE HAVE HIT
BETSY HARDEST OF ALL.
NONE OF THE CLIMBERS EXPECTED
THIS.
EVEN MOGENS JENSEN IS FINDING IT
HARD.
BUT BETSY ISN'T MOVING AT ALL.
DEAN STAPLES IS WORRIED AND
ALERTS THE OTHER GUIDES.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HEY, WOODY.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO DESCEND.
SHE'S BEEN LYING IN THE SNOW FOR
THE LAST 10, 15 MINUTES, SO I
DON'T KNOW.
I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN AND CHECK IT
OUT.
SO, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL. LATER.
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
>> Narrator: DEAN'S SCARED THAT
BETSY MIGHT BE IN SERIOUS
TROUBLE.
SHE MAY HAVE BEEN HIT BY HEAT
EXHAUSTION, ACUTE MOUNTAIN
SICKNESS, OR EVEN CEREBRAL
EDEMA, ANY OF WHICH COULD BE
FATAL.
NEXT TIME, HAS BETSY'S
DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED PUSHED
HER ONE STEP TOO FAR?
AND THE REST OF THE TEAM ARE
REELING AS THEY CONTINUE THE
FIGHT UP TO CAMP 2.
>> THE SUN WAS BEATING DOWN ON
US SO HARD, AND IT WAS KILLING
ME.
>> Narrator: JUDGMENT DAY LOOMS
FOR THE CLIMBERS...
>> WE'RE NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN
DO IT.
>> Narrator: ...AS RUSSELL
DECIDES WHO IS ON AND WHO IS OFF
THE TEAM.
WINDS, SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES,
MINIMAL OXYGEN.
IT'S NO WONDER EVEREST HAS
CLAIMED THE LIVES OF OVER 200
PEOPLE.
>> IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SURVIVE
THIS LONG, I SUPPOSE.
>> Narrator: YET THE
DETERMINATION OF THE HUMAN
SPIRIT HAS DRIVEN A TEAM OF
AMATEUR CLIMBERS TO CHALLENGE
THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH.
>> THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
TREAT IT AS DANGEROUS.
>> Narrator: BUT THE TEAM'S A
LONG WAY FROM CONVINCING
EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE THEY'VE GOT WHAT
IT TAKES.
BIKER TIM MEDVETZ IS DANGEROUSLY
ARROGANT.
>> OH, EASY, PIECE OF CAKE.
>> Narrator: AND NOVICE
BETSY HUELSKAMP HAS BEEN HIT BY
THE ALTITUDE.
>> GOD, I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA
THROW UP.
>> Narrator: HIGH ON THE
MOUNTAIN, TWO CLIMBERS ARE
MISSING.
A SEARCH PARTY'S ON ITS WAY, BUT
WILL THEY FIND THEM IN TIME?
>> COME TO EVEREST -- THE STRONG
SURVIVE.
THE WEAK WILL GET EATEN.
>> Narrator: DAWN AT ADVANCED
BASE CAMP -- THE START OF THE
MOST FRIGHTENING DAY YET FOR
RUSSELL BRICE'S TEAM.
THE TWO CLIMBERS ARE STILL
MISSING.
IT'S AN UNNERVING WAKE-UP CALL
FOR TEAM MEMBERS LIKE
BUSINESSMAN DAVID TAIT.
>> I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED FOR
THE KAZAK CLIMBERS BECAUSE
THEY'RE WITHOUT OXYGEN, AND IF
THEY ARE UP THERE WITHOUT
OXYGEN, AS THE RUMORS GO -- THE
BLOOD THICKENING, THE TIME, THE
CLOCK AGAINST YOU IS FAR MORE
DANGEROUS THAN GOING WITH
OXYGEN.
>> 10 HOURS, MINIMUM.
>> IT REMINDS ME THAT THESE GUYS
WERE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE.
>> Narrator: IF TWO HIGHLY
EXPERIENCED CLIMBERS MIGHT
ALREADY BE DEAD, WHAT HOPE FOR A
BUNCH OF AMATEURS?
>> PERFECT.
>> Narrator: TODAY IS THEIR
FIRST BIG TEST -- THE NORTH
COL.
THEY FACE AN EXHAUSTING GRIND UP
A 1,000-FOOT ICE CLIFF...
THEN A MISERABLE NIGHT TRYING TO
SLEEP AT 23,000 FEET.
IF THEY FAIL TO MAKE IT WITHIN
FIVE HOURS, THEY'RE OFF THE
TEAM AND ON THEIR WAY HOME.
>> [ COUGHS ]
OW.
>> Narrator: BIKER TIM IS GOING
NOWHERE.
>> I WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND
KIND OF HAD A STIFF BACK, AND
THEN I BENT OVER TO ADJUST MY
BOOT OR SOMETHING, AND I HEARD
SOMETHING KIND OF CRACK.
NOTHING'S WORKING.
OHH!
IT'S JUST MY BACK.
SOMETIMES IT JUST TIGHTENS UP,
ALL THE MUSCLES AROUND IT,
AROUND MY CAGE.
>> Narrator: HIS BODY'S FULL OF
METAL AFTER A NEAR-FATAL
MOTORCYCLE CRASH.
AND HIS SPINE IS SURROUNDED BY A
WIRE CAGE.
>> IS IT MUSCLE PAIN THAT YOU
GET?
>> IT TIGHTENS UP.
MY BACK TIGHTENS UP.
>> Narrator: THERE'S NOT MUCH
EXPEDITION DOCTOR MONICA PIRIS
CAN DO AT 21,000 FEET OTHER THAN
FIT TIM WITH A PAINKILLER PATCH.
>> I SLEEP ON THEM ROCKS.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: BUT HE'S NO
QUITTER.
>> AIN'T NO SHERPA GONNA CARRY
ME UP, AND AIN'T NO SHERPA GONNA
CARRY ME DOWN, PERIOD.
>> Narrator: TODAY'S CLIMB TO
THE NORTH COL IS A TIME TRIAL,
BUT IT'S ALSO VITAL ACCLIMATION
TRAINING.
EVERY TIME THE TEAM CLIMBS
HIGHER, THEIR BODIES ARE SHOCKED
INTO PRODUCING MORE RED BLOOD
CELLS.
THE MORE RED BLOOD CELLS YOU
HAVE, THE MORE OXYGEN YOUR LUNGS
CAN ABSORB.
AND UP HERE, EVERY OXYGEN
MOLECULE IS PRECIOUS.
>> [ Coughing ] GOT TO WAKE UP.
AAH!
>> Narrator: MONICA PIRIS IS A
SPECIALIST IN HIGH-ALTITUDE
MEDICINE.
SO SHE KNOWS THE DANGERS OF
GOING FURTHER WITHOUT
ACCLIMATING PROPERLY.
>> YOU'D INITIALLY FEEL SHORT OF
BREATH, AND THEN YOUR BRAIN
WOULD START TO SWELL.
YOUR LUNGS WOULD PROBABLY START
TO FILL WITH FLUID.
YOU'D LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND
YOU'D DIE.
>> JUST WALKING BACK FROM THE
TOILET MAKES YOU REALLY TIRED.
SO IMAGINE HOW TIRED IF YOU'RE
WALKING UP THERE.
EVEN THOUGH IT'S REALLY FAR AND
IT'S REALLY TIRING, I'M MORE
SCARED ABOUT THE COLD.
>> Narrator: CALIFORNIA
JOURNALIST BETSY HUELSKAMP
BEGGED RUSSELL FOR A PLACE ON
HIS EXPEDITION AFTER
INTERVIEWING BIKER TIM LAST
YEAR.
>> AS FAR AS PHYSICAL QUESTS IN
OUR WORLD GO, IT'S TAKING ON
SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY
MONUMENTOUS, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME
SKINNY LITTLE GIRL FROM
LOS ANGELES.
>> Narrator: BUT NOVICE BETSY
HAS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP
UP WITH THE OTHERS, AND
RUSSELL'S GUIDES ARE WATCHING
LIKE HAWKS.
>> I THINK SHE IS QUITE
UNDERPREPARED BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GETTING
HERSELF IN FOR.
YOU'VE GOT TO BASICALLY BE ABLE
TO GET TO THE NORTH COL IN FIVE
HOURS.
IF YOU CAN'T, THEN YOU'RE NOT ON
THE SUMMIT TEAM.
>> Narrator: RUSSELL IS STUNNED
TO FIND OUT BETSY DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO ATTACH CRAMPONS, THE
SPIKES USED TO CLIMB ON SNOW AND
ICE.
>> I'VE SEEN PEOPLE PUT THEIR
CRAMPONS ON UPSIDE DOWN BEFORE,
BUT NOT UPSIDE DOWN AND
BACKWARDS.
[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ]
>> MAYBE WE'LL REGRET IT, AND
MAYBE WE WON'T.
>> SHE NEEDS A LOT MORE
EXPERIENCE.
HER FOOTWORK WITH CRAMPONS IS
NOT GOOD ENOUGH, EVEN ON JUST
SNOW AND ICE THAT SHE'S WORKED
ON SO FAR.
IT'S BEEN SATISFACTORY ONLY.
AND ONCE YOU START GOING INTO
MIXED TERRAIN, IT DOESN'T WORK.
>> * JOY TO THE WORLD
* ALL
>> WE'RE NOT THE SAME, AMERICANS
AND ENGLISH PEOPLE, ARE WE?
THERE'S THIS BIG PIECE OF OCEAN
BETWEEN US.
HAVE YOU LOST IT?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> [ CHUCKLES ]
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO GET
OUT OF HERE.
>> Narrator: ROD BABER FIRST
DECIDED TO CLIMB EVEREST DURING
A DRINKING SESSION WITH HIS
BUDDIES.
BUT NO HANGOVER CAN COMPARE WITH
THE POUNDING HEADACHES HE'S
SUFFERED ON EVEREST.
>> I'VE HAD A FEW HANGOVERS
BEFORE, BUT NOW I CAN MIX DRINKS
AND DRINK AS MUCH AS I LIKE FOR
AS LONG AS I LIKE AND WAKE UP
THE NEXT DAY, AND IF I HAVE A
LITTLE HEADACHE, I GO, "OH!
OH, THAT'S NOTHING."
>> Narrator: ROD'S STRUGGLING TO
DEAL WITH THE HARDSHIPS OF
EVERYDAY LIFE AT ABC.
LAST NIGHT IT WAS MINUS 3
DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
>> THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR
DRINKING WATER WHEN IT'S INSIDE
YOUR JACKET, INSIDE YOUR
SLEEPING BAG, AT NIGHT.
>> Narrator: BUT FROZEN WATER
BOTTLES ARE NOTHING COMPARED
WITH THE DEVASTATING COLD
THEY'LL FACE HIGHER UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
[ WIND HOWLING ]
LAST YEAR FRENCHMAN
GéRARD BOURRAT TOOK HIS GLOVES
OFF TO TAKE PHOTOS...
AND LOST ALL HIS FINGERS TO
FROSTBITE.
THE TEAM IS READY TO START THEIR
FIRST SERIOUS CLIMB, AND THE
CLOCK IS TICKING.
THEY HAVE THE NEXT FIVE HOURS TO
REACH THE TOP OF THE NORTH COL
AND PROVE TO RUSSELL THEY HAVE
THE STRENGTH AND SKILL TO CLIMB
THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN.
>> [ SIGHS ]
>> Narrator: BIKER TIM HAS
CONVINCED THE DOCTOR HE'S GOOD
TO GO.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MAKE
THAT DEADLINE.
THEY JUST CAN'T WAIT TO KICK ME
OFF THE TEAM.
AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, THOUGH.
>> Narrator: EVERY ONE OF THEM
HAS GOT IT ALL TO PROVE.
IT'S 10:00 IN THE MORNING.
THE SHERPA RESCUE TEAM ARE
FIGHTING THEIR WAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN AS FAST AS THEY CAN TO
REACH THE MISSING CLIMBERS.
THE MEN ARE FROM KAZAKHSTAN AND
MADE FRIENDS WITH ANOTHER
EXPEDITION BEFORE THEY LEFT FOR
THE SUMMIT.
>> [ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
COPY ME? OVER.
>> THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THEM BY
YESTERDAY EVENING.
IT CERTAINLY ENTERED MY MIND
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING AMISS.
>> KAZAKHSTANS.
THIS IS MAXUT. HE'S 30 OR 31.
AND THIS HERE IS VASSILY.
>> THE TWO OF THEM HAVE CLIMBED
TOGETHER FOR MANY YEARS, SO THEY
KNOW EACH OTHER WELL.
[ STATIC CRACKLING ]
>> LAST YEAR, I THINK IT WAS,
THEY SPENT FOUR NIGHTS STRANDED
ON K2 AND GOT OUT OF THAT
SUCCESSFULLY.
>> THEY NEED TO RADIO FOR HELP.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY IN A BAD
POSITION.
I MEAN, THEY'RE NO DRAMA QUEENS.
>> Narrator: AFTER HOURS OF
SILENCE, THE RADIO FINALLY
CRACKLES TO LIFE.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> THIS IS RONNY IN ABC.
DO YOU COPY?
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> Narrator: THIS IS THE FIRST
NEWS OF THE MISSING MEN.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> THAT'S MAX.
>> THAT'S MAX.
>> THAT'S MAXUT.
>> YEAH.
>> Narrator: THE MISSING
CLIMBERS ARE ALIVE, BUT THEY'RE
REFUSING HELP.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> HE DOESN'T WANT TO USE THE
OXYGEN.
>> HE DOESN'T WANT TO USE IT?
>> YEAH.
>> ...CLIMBED 1,600 METERS
TODAY ALONE CARRYING OXYGEN.
>> AND NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO
TAKE IT.
>> THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS KNOW
THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF SUMMITING
WITHOUT OXYGEN WON'T BE
RECOGNIZED UNLESS THEY MAKE IT
BACK TO ADVANCED BASE CAMP
WITHOUT USING IT.
[ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS UNFAIR
BECAUSE THERE'S A BUNCH OF
SHERPAS UP THERE PUTTING THEIR
LIVES AT STAKE, AND THEY'RE NOT
PLAYING BALL.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS'
DETERMINATION GOT THEM TO THE
SUMMIT, BUT NOW IT'S THREATENING
TO BE THE DEATH OF THEM AND
THEIR RESCUERS.
>> Narrator: RUSSELL BRICE'S
TEAM ARE AT 21,750 FEET AND
HEADING FOR THE MASSIVE CLIFF OF
THE NORTH COL.
AS THEY CROSS THE EAST RONGBUK
GLACIER, EVERY STEP HURTS MORE
THAN THE LAST.
THEIR HEARTS ARE RACING OUT OF
CONTROL.
THEY'RE GETTING SEVERELY
DEHYDRATED, AND THEY'RE GASPING
FOR BREATH AS THE AIR GETS
THINNER AND THINNER.
>> I NEED SOME PILLS.
I NEED TO GET SOME PILLS AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE ROPE.
>> Narrator: ROD HASN'T EVEN
REACHED THE CLIMBING ROPES WHEN
HE'S HIT BY A SEARING
HEADACHE, A SIGN THAT SOMETHING
COULD BE SERIOUSLY WRONG.
AT THIS ALTITUDE, A HEADACHE
COULD BE CEREBRAL EDEMA, A
HIGH-ALTITUDE CLIMBER'S GREATEST
FEAR.
IT STRIKES SUDDENLY, AND VICTIMS
CAN BE DEAD IN MINUTES.
LIKE ROD, THIS CLIMBER WAS ON
HIS WAY TO THE NORTH COL.
>> COME ON. CALM DOWN.
CALM DOWN.
>> CEREBRAL EDEMA IS ONE OF THE
MOST DANGEROUS CONDITIONS, IF
NOT THE MOST DANGEROUS
CONDITION, RELATED TO BEING AT
HIGH ALTITUDE.
>> Narrator: THIS MAN WAS LUCKY
TO SURVIVE.
MANY OTHERS DON'T.
>> CEREBRAL EDEMA IS SWELLING OF
THE BRAIN.
IT HAPPENS AS A CONSEQUENCE OF
THE DECREASED OXYGEN THAT THERE
IS IN THE AIR.
YOU HAVE SEVERE BRAIN SWELLING.
YOU'RE IN A COMA, APPROACHING
DEATH.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING ]
[ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: ROD'S ANXIETY IS
MAKING THE SITUATION EVEN WORSE.
SCIENTISTS HAVE PROVED THAT
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRESSED ARE MORE
LIKELY TO GO DOWN WITH ACUTE
MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> IF IT DOESN'T GO, THEN I
HAVEN'T GOT A CHOICE.
I WON'T BE -- I WON'T BE -- I
WON'T BE ALLOWED TO CLIMB.
>> Narrator: FROM HIGH UP THE
MOUNTAIN, THE SHERPA RESCUE TEAM
RADIO THAT THE KAZAK CLIMBERS
ARE IN A BAD WAY.
>> AND IS IT ONE OF THEM OR BOTH
OF THEM?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> DON'T KNOW.
>> I MUST BE HONEST.
IT'S BLOODY SCARY, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, EVEN WITH HELP NOW, IF
YOU'VE GOT FROSTBITE, AND THIS
WEATHER'S COMING IN...
PHEW.
AND THE THING IS...
I MEAN, HOW MUCH DAYLIGHT HAVE
WE GOT LEFT?
WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT ABOUT
SIX HOURS OF TRYING TO HELP
PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY IMMOBILE
GET DOWN.
AND THAT'S PUSHING IT.
>> [ CLEARS THROAT ]
I'D TALK A LOT MORE IF THE
HEADACHE WASN'T HERE.
>> Narrator: ROD'S HEADACHE IS
GETTING WORSE, AND HE'S NOW
GAMBLING WITH HIS LIFE.
AS THE TEAM GET THEIR FIRST LOOK
AT THE NORTH COL, THEY'RE HIT BY
THE MASSIVE TASK AHEAD.
A 1,000-FOOT ICE CLIFF AWAITS --
HARD ENOUGH TO CLIMB AT SEA
LEVEL, AT FOUR MILES UP,
AGONIZING.
>> EACH STEP, YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE THAT CLOSE
TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH AIR,
PASSING OUT, AND FALLING DOWN
WHERE YOU STAND.
>> Narrator: BACK HOME, BETSY'S
A FIT WOMAN, A KARATE BLACK BELT
AND FITNESS INSTRUCTOR.
BUT FITNESS HAS NO BEARING ON
WHO CAN ACCLIMATE.
>> I FEEL SO TIRED.
IT'S JUST LACK OF OXYGEN IN THE
AIR THAT MAKES YOU THINK, "HOLY
CRAP, I CAN'T GO.
I CAN'T DO THIS."
>> Narrator: BUT DO THIS BETSY
MUST, OR RUSSELL WILL THROW HER
OFF THE TEAM.
22,300 FEET, AND ONE MOUNTAIN IS
TAKING ON ANOTHER.
BIKER MEDVETZ IS ON THE ROPES.
>> OHH.
I COULD USE A NEW BACK.
OTHER THAN THAT, I FEEL GREAT.
>> I'M GOING SLOWLY, BUT, YOU
KNOW -- SLOWLY BUT SURELY.
>> Narrator: THE FASTEST
CLIMBERS ARE 45-YEAR-OLD
ENGLISHMAN DAVID TAIT AND DANISH
TRIATHLETE MOGENS JENSEN, WHO IS
ON TARGET TO CUT THE FIVE-HOUR
DEADLINE IN HALF.
>> IT'S NICE.
BUT, YEAH, JUST DOING A STEADY
PACE, NOTHING CRAZY, CONSERVING
ENERGY.
>> Narrator: LOWER DOWN THE
ROPES, BETSY IS HITTING THE
WALL.
>> I'M GOING TO LET PEOPLE PASS.
>> Narrator: IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE
A NICE, SUNNY DAY, BUT IMAGINE
HAVING HALF AS MUCH AIR AS YOU
DO BACK HOME, A POUNDING HEAD,
AND FEELING UTTERLY EXHAUSTED.
WELCOME TO BETSY'S WORLD.
>> I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA THROW
UP.
>> Narrator: WHILE SHE SUFFERS,
MOGENS CRUISES OVER THE
FINISHING LINE, JUST 2 1/2 HOURS
AFTER LEAVING ADVANCED BASE CAMP
2,000 FEET BELOW.
HALFWAY UP THE ICE CLIFF,
ROD BABER IS STRUGGLING.
>> [ Breathing hard ] PRETTY
HARD.
WHAT TIME...
[ COUGHS ]
10 MINUTES.
FIRST TIME.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
>> Narrator: HE'S HIGHER THAN
HE'S EVER CLIMBED BEFORE, AND
HIS BODY IS SCREAMING OUT TO
STOP.
IF HE CAN'T KEEP GOING, HIS
DREAM OF CLIMBING EVEREST WILL
END BEFORE IT'S BEGUN.
>> Narrator: AMATEUR CLIMBER
ROD BABER GOT INTO
MOUNTAINEERING THROUGH A BET
WITH HIS DRINKING BUDDIES.
>> [ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BUT NOW HE'S IN
BIG TROUBLE HALFWAY UP
MT. EVEREST, ON THE NORTH COL,
AND THERE'S ONLY 50 MINUTES LEFT
BEFORE THE 5-HOUR DEADLINE
EXPIRES.
>> [ COUGHS ]
10 MINUTES.
FIRST TIMES.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
>> Narrator: ROD HAS A YOUNG
FAMILY AND KNOWS HE SHOULD BE
TURNING BACK AS HIS HEADACHE
GETS WORSE AND EVERY STEP
INCREASES THE RISK OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA.
>> I'VE GOT TWO KIDS -- FLASH
AND JAUNTY.
I'LL CERTAINLY BE CONSIDERING
THEM EVERY SINGLE MOVE I MAKE
UPWARDS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY
THEY'RE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
TO ME.
>> Narrator: ROD IS A CLIMBING
INSTRUCTOR BACK HOME, BUT THAT'S
NOTHING TO RUSSELL BRICE.
>> I'M NOT EVEN SURE HE'S
ACTUALLY FIT ENOUGH, FRANKLY.
SURE, HE RUNS A CLIMBING GYM,
BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MOUNTAIN
WINGS.
>> Narrator: BUT SHEER GRIT
COUNTS FOR A LOT ON EVEREST.
BIG TIM MEDVETZ HAS PUSHED ON
AND IS NOT FAR FROM THE END OF
THIS MONUMENTAL CLIMB.
>> I'M DOING GREAT, JUST HUNGRY,
HUNGRY AND BACK PAIN.
BUT I GOT MY MUSIC ON.
TRY NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.
>> Narrator: AFTER 4 1/2
PUNISHING HOURS, TIM MAKES IT --
A STAGGERING SUCCESS COMPARED TO
LAST YEAR, WHEN HE HAD A
MOTIVATION CRISIS AND WAS TOO
TIRED TO CARRY ON.
AND DESPITE HIS PAIN, ROD BABER
HAS MADE IT JUST INSIDE THE
FIVE-HOUR DEADLINE.
>> IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING PRETTY.
[ COUGHS ]
IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO THE
[ BLEEP ] TOP.
[ COUGHS ]
>> Narrator: BUT ROD'S SO
EXHAUSTED HE COLLAPSES INTO HIS
TENT RIGHT AWAY.
>> EACH TIME YOU GET TO THE TOP
OF THE ROPE AND YOU GET TO
SWITCH ROPES, IT'S LIKE SOME
KIND OF A LITTLE VICTORY IN YOUR
HEAD.
>> Narrator: THAT MAY BE SO, BUT
TIME'S UP.
AND RUSSELL'S HAWKS ARE
CIRCLING.
GUIDE DEAN STAPLES HAS BEEN
INSTRUCTED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE
ON BETSY.
THE FIVE-HOUR DEADLINE HAS
PASSED, AND SHE'S NOWHERE NEAR
THE TOP.
>> SO, HOW YOU FEELING,
HONESTLY, BETSY?
I THINK IT'S KIND OF A LITTLE
DECISION TIME FOR US.
>> [ COUGHS ] I'M FEELING FINE.
I'M JUST SLOW.
>> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
GOING UP, I'LL STAY WITH YOU.
BUT REALISTICALLY, AT THE SPEED
WE'RE GOING, WE'RE LOOKING AT
TWO HOURS MINIMUM, IF NOT MORE.
THE TERRAIN IS STEEPER, LITTLE
COLDER.
REALLY, I'D LIKE TO NOT HAVE TO
TURN BACK BETWEEN HERE AND
THERE.
SO, EITHER WE GET THERE, OR WE
TURN BACK HERE.
>> Narrator: BETSY'S HANDED DEAN
A DILEMMA.
HE'S IMPRESSED BY HER
DETERMINATION, BUT HE'S NOT SURE
SHE'LL MAKE IT.
>> YOU GOT TWO MORE HOURS IN
YOU?
>> YEAH.
I'M GOOD TO KEEP GOING.
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU GET WARMED
UP, THEN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> AND WE'LL CARRY ON.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> Narrator: UP AT THE NORTH COL
CAMP, THE OTHER CLIMBERS ARE
WORRIED ABOUT ROD BABER,
>> ROD DOESN'T LOOK GOOD -- JUST
EYES IS...
>> LYING DOWN?
>> YEAH.
YEAH, WE TOLD HIM NOT TO.
>> HE'S TAKEN PAINKILLERS.
HE'S TAKEN TOO MANY.
>> Narrator: ROD'S DOSING UP ON
PAINKILLERS, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE
CURE.
HE HAS THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> HE DON'T WANT TO EAT NOTHING.
HE'S JUST LYING AND...
>> HAS HE GOT ENOUGH WATER?
>> HE SAID HE HAD HALF A BOTTLE.
>> OKAY, A HALF A BOTTLE.
>> BRING HIM MORE LATER?
>> YEAH, MAYBE WE GET HIS BOTTLE
AND FILL IT UP.
>> Narrator: AFTER 7 1/4 PAINFUL
HOURS, BETSY ARRIVES AT CAMP 1,
HIGHER THAN ANY POINT ON EARTH,
OUTSIDE THE HIMALAYAS.
>> IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ME.
IT'S A SURPRISE TO EVERYBODY
ELSE.
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> Narrator: ESPECIALLY THE
GUIDES.
>> TAKE CRAMPONS OFF AND GET
WARM, OKAY?
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> OKAY? GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB.
>> Narrator: BUT RUSSELL WILL
DECIDE JUST HOW GOOD A JOB.
BETSY ARRIVED TWO HOURS LATE.
A PLACE ON THE SUMMIT TEAM IS
FAR FROM GUARANTEED.
UP HERE, THERE'S 44% OF THE
OXYGEN THERE IS AT SEA LEVEL.
IT'S A WRETCHED PLACE TO CAMP
AND ONLY HALFWAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
THE GUIDES ARE INCREASINGLY
WORRIED ABOUT ROD.
>> WHAT DO YOU RECKON, DEAN,
FROM THE BOTTLE -- HALF-LITER OR
SOMETHING?
>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS FOR A
MINUTE.
I RECKON GET SOME WATER INTO HIM
FIRST.
>> WELL, HE HAS BEEN HYDRATED.
>> IS HE?
>> Narrator: THEY'VE PERSUADED
ROD TO GET UP AND HAVE SOME TEA,
BUT HIS HEADACHE REMAINS.
[ COUGHS ]
BACK AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,
THERE'S STILL NO SIGHT OF THE
KAZAK CLIMBERS, BUT THE SHERPA
WHO LED THE RESCUE IS BACK AFTER
AN 18-HOUR MISSION.
>> YOU'VE HAD A LONG DAY.
>> YEAH.
[ SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE ]
YEAH.
YEAH.
>> PHEW, YEAH, SURE. WELL DONE.
>> Narrator: AND THEN, THE FIRST
SIGN OF THE MISSING CLIMBERS...
OR JUST ONE.
ONLY MAX HAS RETURNED.
>> IS THAT MAXUT I JUST SAW UP
THERE?
>> OH, MAXUT, YEAH.
>> IS THAT MAXUT?
>> [ COUGHS ]
>> [ EXHALES ]
>> Narrator: IT'S A HUGE RELIEF.
THE OTHER CLIMBER IS STILL
ALIVE.
>> OH, IS THIS VASSILY?
>> IT'S VASSILY?
>> Narrator: 29 HOURS AFTER HE
REACHED THE SUMMIT, VASSILY
ARRIVES BACK AT ADVANCED BASE
CAMP.
HE'S IN A BAD WAY COMPARED WITH
MAX.
THEIR CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE
WORLD WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN HAS
TAKEN THEM TO THE LIMITS OF
HUMAN ENDURANCE.
>> A LITTLE FROSTBITE?
>> DEFINITELY PUT THINGS INTO
PERSPECTIVE.
THESE ARE TOP ATHLETES, AND THIS
HAPPENED TO THEM.
>> WE HAVE A LONG, LONG DAY.
TWO DAYS WITHOUT WATER --
IT'S -- IT'S NO GOOD.
>> AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, TO
GET ONTO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST
WITHOUT OXYGEN -- I MEAN, A
HANDFUL OF PEOPLE HAVE DONE
THAT, AND THAT'S AMAZING.
>> Narrator: THE KAZAKS HAVE
LIVED TO TELL THE TALE, BUT UP
AT THE NORTH COL, ROD IS FACING
A GRIM NIGHT.
HIS EVEREST DREAM IS HANGING BY
A THREAD.
>> Narrator: DAWN AT 23,000
FEET, NEARLY 4 1/2 MILES ABOVE
SEA LEVEL.
RUSSELL BRICE'S CLIMBERS HAVE
SPENT THEIR FIRST NIGHT AT
EXTREME ALTITUDE.
ROD BABER BARELY SLEPT AND HATED
EVERY MINUTE.
>> THE WORST MOMENTS WERE HUGE,
MASSIVE, CHRONIC, SONIC, MEGA
HEADACHE.
IT'S LIKE A POUNDING
SLEDGEHAMMER CONTINUOUSLY
BANGING YOUR HEAD.
WHEN I GOT HERE YESTERDAY, I WAS
LITERALLY CRYING BECAUSE OF THE
PAIN, AND I HAVEN'T DONE THAT
EVER.
GOING RIGHT DOWN TO ABC, AND
THEN WE'VE GOT TWO DAYS HOLIDAY.
HOORAY!
>> AW, IT WAS ALL RIGHT -- A BIT
COLD IN THE NIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT IT ALWAYS IS, AND
SLEEPING PATTERN ON AND OFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, FIRST TIME UP TO
NORTH COL -- SLEEPING, YOU
ALWAYS SUFFER.
>> Narrator: THE FIRST THING
MOGENS DOES IS VISIT THE KAZAK
CLIMBERS.
LIKE THEM, HE'S DETERMINED TO
SUMMIT EVEREST WITHOUT OXYGEN.
>> WHAT WAS THE MOST SCARY
MOMENT YOU EXPERIENCED?
>> NO FOOD, NO GAS, NO STOVES,
NO MATCHES, NOTHING, TWO DAYS
WITHOUT WATER.
>> YEAH. WHEW.
>> Narrator: YET MOGENS IS STILL
OBSESSED WITH JOINING THIS ELITE
CLUB.
MEMBERSHIP IS LETHALLY
DANGEROUS, AS HE DISCOVERED LAST
YEAR, WHEN HE FAILED 3,000 FEET
FROM THE SUMMIT.
>> HOW YOU DOING?
>> [ SNIFFS ]
>> IT'S OKAY.
>> I WAS JUST FEELING REALLY
GOOD.
AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE IT'S
LIKE, "[BLEEP] I'M GONNA DIE
HERE."
>> DO YOU THINK RUSSELL'S TENT
BEING THERE MAYBE SAVED YOUR
LIFE?
>> YEAH, SURE.
>> SO HIGH.
>> YEAH, OF COURSE.
>> AND WITHOUT OXYGEN.
>> TAKE EVERYTHING.
JUST DON'T TOUCH OXYGEN BOTTLE.
>> NO, EXACTLY. NO OXYGEN.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> STRONG BOYS.
>> Narrator: BETSY FEELS AS
EXHAUSTED AS THE KAZAKS, AND
SHE'S ONLY BEEN HALFWAY UP THE
MOUNTAIN.
>> EVERY STEP YOU GO UP, IT GETS
WORSE AND WORSE AND MORE AND
MORE DIFFICULT, BUT I'M NOT
EXPECTING IT TO GET NICER.
>> Narrator: EVEREST IS A
MASSIVE CONTRAST TO LIFE BACK
HOME FOR THE CALIFORNIAN.
>> OH, IT WAS SO MISERABLE AND
COLD THERE AND WINDY.
OH, I HAVE SORES ALL OVER MY
LIPS AND SORES ALL OVER MY
FINGERS.
I'M GONNA BE SO UGLY WHEN I GET
HOME.
I DON'T WANT TO MARRY A DOCTOR
LIKE MY MOM SAID.
I NEED TO MARRY A PLASTIC
SURGEON SO THEY CAN PUT
HUMPTY DUMPTY BACK TOGETHER
AGAIN.
[ LAUGHS ]
OH [BLEEP]
>> Narrator: BETSY'S A BIG
WORRY TO THE GUIDES, BUT RUSSELL
ADMIRES DETERMINATION, SO HE'S
DECIDED TO GIVE HER ONE MORE
CHANCE.
>> I'VE GOT TO GIVE HER THE
BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT OF AT LEAST
GETTING TO NORTH COL.
>> Narrator: BUT EVEN BETSY GOT
BACK TO CAMP BEFORE BIKER TIM.
HE'S LAST AGAIN.
>> DID YOU FIND YOUR LITTLE SPOT
IN THE GLACIER AGAIN?
>> I ACTUALLY HAD A NICE LITTLE
NAP.
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> I WAS GONNA CALL YOU ON THE
RADIO, BUT I THOUGHT THAT IT'D
WAKE YOU UP.
>> I'M JUST IN TIME FOR LUNCH.
>> OF COURSE.
COME ON. IT 12:30. COME ON.
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU THINK I'D BE LATE FOR LUNCH?
>> WOULD YOU MISS LUNCH?
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> Narrator: TIM HAS
CONSISTENTLY IGNORED ORDERS TO
BE ON TIME AND WORK WITH THE
REST OF THE TEAM.
RUSSELL'S ANGRY AT HIS LACK OF
RESPECT, AND AS FAR AS HE'S
CONCERNED, TIM STILL HAS A LOT
TO PROVE.
>> LAST YEAR, IF HE HAD LEFT ON
TIME, I SUSPECT THAT HE WOULD
HAVE REACHED THE SUMMIT ALONG
WITH EVERYONE ELSE.
IT WOULD TAKE A BIT LONGER TO
GET DOWN, BUT HE DIDN'T.
>> Narrator: AND NOW ANOTHER OF
RUSSELL'S TEAM IS IN TROUBLE.
DR. MONICA PIRIS HAS BEEN CALLED
TO AN EMERGENCY.
>> COLD.
>> HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
>> BETTER WITH OXYGEN.
>> BETTER WITH OXYGEN. YEAH?
>> Narrator: JAPANESE CLIMBER
WAKUI MASAJI GOT SICK ON A SHORT
TRAINING WALK.
>> HE LABORED AN AWFUL LOT --
IT TOOK HIM 2 1/2 HOURS -- AND
DIDN'T QUITE GET THERE, AND THEN
ANOTHER HOUR AND 3/4 TO COME
BACK.
HE WAS HAVING TO STOP EVERY 50
METERS TO CATCH HIS BREATH.
>> Narrator: MONICA SUSPECTS HE
HAS CEREBRAL EDEMA, SWELLING OF
THE BRAIN.
>> ONE FOOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF
THE OTHER.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
[ MONITOR BEEPING ]
>> SIT HERE, AND I LISTEN TO HIS
CHEST.
>> YEAH.
>> ASK HIM TO TAKE DEEP BREATHS.
>> Narrator: AT SEA LEVEL, 100%
BLOOD OXYGEN IS NORMAL.
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP, 75% IS
COMMON.
ANYWHERE ELSE, THAT LEVEL WOULD
PUT YOU IN INTENSIVE CARE.
MASAJI HAS ONLY 50%.
HE HASN'T GOT ENOUGH RED BLOOD
CELLS TO CARRY THE OXYGEN HE
NEEDS AROUND HIS BODY.
>> HIS CHEST IS STILL OKAY.
THIS IS LOW.
BACK TO BED.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
THE UNSTEADINESS ON HIS FEET,
WHICH WE CALL ATAXIA, THAT'S --
IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF
CEREBRAL EDEMA.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M WORRIED ABOUT
HIM.
>> Narrator: IF MASAJI DOES HAVE
CEREBRAL EDEMA, HIS DREAM OF
CLIMBING EVEREST WILL BE OVER.
>> THE DOCTOR WILL CHECK HIM
AGAIN LATER, AND, YEAH, IT'S A
DEFINITE CEREBRAL EDEMA.
FINISHED.
CAN NEVER COME BACK.
>> Narrator: IT'S A NEW DAY AT
ADVANCED BASE CAMP, BUT IT'S
LOOKING GRIM FOR JAPANESE
CLIMBER WAKUI MASAJI.
HE'S GOTTEN WORSE OVERNIGHT, AND
EXPEDITION DR. MONICA PIRIS
ORDERS HIM DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
>> AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE
HAS CEREBRAL EDEMA, AND THE ONLY
TREATMENT FOR CEREBRAL EDEMA IS
DESCENT.
HE DOES NOT HAVE PULMONARY
EDEMA.
HIS CHEST IS OKAY.
HE HAS ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
AND A LITTLE BIT OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
>> Narrator: IT'S THE END OF THE
ROAD FOR MASAJI.
ONLY ONE IN THREE CLIMBERS MAKES
IT TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.
HE WON'T BE ONE OF THEM.
>> OKAY.
BASE CAMP.
>> [ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]
>> OKAY.
>> Narrator: MONICA'S GOT HER
WORK CUT OUT FOR HER THIS
MORNING.
MEMBERS OF THE FILM CREW ARE
ALSO REELING WITH SYMPTOMS OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS.
>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
>> SORRY.
>> AT THIS ALTITUDE, PEOPLE
DON'T GET BETTER.
THEY GET WORSE.
ALMOST ALL CASES OF CEREBRAL
EDEMA FROM HIGH ALTITUDE ARE ON
THE BACK OF SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN
SUFFERING FROM MOUNTAIN SICKNESS
AND HASN'T TREATED IT OR GONE
DOWN.
SO IT'S POTENTIALLY SERIOUS,
POTENTIALLY FATAL.
WE'VE GOT TO GO.
>> ARE YOU TELLING ME I'VE GOT
TO GO DOWN?
>> YEAH.
DON'T GET AGGRESSIVE.
>> I'M NOT GETTING AGGRESSIVE.
I'M GETTING SLIGHTLY ANNOYED.
I WALK, WHEN I'M TIRED, THAT
SAME WALK.
>> THE DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA OF
ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS --
HEADACHE PLUS NAUSEA AND
VOMITING OR POOR SLEEP OR
FATIGUE AND LETHARGY.
>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
>> ALL OF THE ABOVE.
YOU HAVE ACUTE MOUNTAIN
SICKNESS, JOHN.
YOU'RE TICKING ALL THE BOXES.
YOU'RE EVEN TICKING THE DENIAL
BOX.
>> YEAH.
[ BOTH LAUGH ]
>> YOU'RE TICKING ALL THE BOXES.
>> Narrator: THE LAST THING THE
CREW FEELS LIKE IS A 14-MILE
HIKE BACK DOWN TO BASE CAMP, BUT
MONICA HAS NO CHOICE.
>> THEY'RE JUST NOT WELL, YOU
KNOW?
THEY'VE GOT BAD A.M.S., AND THE
TREATMENT FOR BAD A.M.S. IS
GO DOWN.
THERE'S JUST NO TWO WAYS ABOUT
IT.
>> Narrator: THOSE WHO REMAIN
FACE THE HARSHEST TEST YET -- A
GRUELING TREK TO CAMP 2 AT
24,500 FEET TO COMPLETE THEIR
ACCLIMATION.
ONLY THEN WILL RUSSELL PICK HIS
SUMMIT TEAM.
THE CLIMB WILL MAKE EXTREME
DEMANDS ON THE TEAM, SO THEY
HAVE TWO DAYS TO RELAX.
>> LET'S GET IT ON.
[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ]
>> Narrator: BUT WHILE THE
CLIMBERS REST, THEIR BODIES ARE
PRODUCING THE EXTRA RED BLOOD
CELLS THEY'LL NEED WHEN THEY
CLIMB HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAINS.
SHERPAS ARE BETTER ABLE TO WORK
AT ALTITUDE BECAUSE THEY WERE
BORN AND RAISED IN THE
HIMALAYAS.
YOU WASH WHEN YOUR CONSCIENCE
DICTATES AT ABC.
ALL THE WATER COMES FROM ICE
HACKED OUT OF A GLACIER AND
HAULED TO THE COOK TENT.
>> I HAVEN'T WASHED MYSELF FOR
TWO WEEKS NOW.
>> Narrator: EVEN WHEN THE
CLIMBERS ARE CHILLING OUT, THEY
CAN'T RESIST A LITTLE FRIENDLY
COMPETITION.
>> IT'S NOT!
[ LAUGHTER ]
10 AND 10.
>> SO, WHAT HAPPENS?
>> SO, I WIN.
>> FAR FROM IT BEING ALTITUDE, I
THINK IT'S PERMANENT BRAIN
DAMAGE.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO
RE-ENERGIZE YOURSELF, YOUR
BEING, AND RELAX.
SO I QUITE LIKE DOWNTIME.
AND IT HELPS YOU ACCLIMATIZE, AS
WELL.
AND WITHOUT IT, THAT WOULD BE
DIFFICULT.
SO, YEAH, POWER TO DOWNTIME.
>> Narrator: THEY'LL NEED THEIR
REST.
THE CLIMB TO CAMP 2 WILL BE THE
HARDEST TEST YET.
>> I THINK WE'LL START WEEDING
OUT THE MEN FROM THE BOYS.
>> Narrator: GOOD FOOD IS VITAL
TO THE TEAM'S CHANCES OF
SUCCESS.
>> MY THEORY IS EAT AS MUCH AS
YOU CAN DOWN HERE, AND THEN
HOPEFULLY THOSE RESERVES WILL
GET YOU TO THE TOP.
>> YOU TRY TO, LIKE, ENJOY IT,
CONSIDERING THE TORTURE WE'RE
BEING PUT THROUGH.
>> I FEEL MUCH BETTER THAN I DID
A WEEK AGO, AND MAYBE BECAUSE
I'VE ACCLIMATIZED.
I'M HOPING IT IS BECAUSE LAST
TIME I WENT UP THERE IT WAS
PRETTY BAD.
FOR SOME REASON, THE HEADACHE'S
GONE, AND EVERYTHING'S GONE, SO,
YEAH.
SO I'M NOT TOO WORRIED.
>> Narrator: AS THE CLIMBERS SET
OFF, THEY KNOW THAT IF THEY FAIL
TO REACH CAMP 2, IT'S ALL OVER.
THEY WON'T BE ON THE SUMMIT
TEAM.
>> Narrator: THE TEAM HAS LEFT
ADVANCED BASE CAMP FOR THE
HIGHEST POINT YET -- CAMP 2 AT
24,500 FEET.
IT'S BETSY HUELSKAMP'S LAST
CHANCE TO CONVINCE RUSSELL SHE'S
GOOD ENOUGH TO MAKE HIS SUMMIT
TEAM, AND HE'S RULED THAT SHE
MUST CLIMB WITHOUT THE HELP OF A
GUIDE.
ONCE AGAIN, MOGENS JENSEN HAS
BLAZED AN EASY TRAIL AND IS FAR
AHEAD OF THE OTHERS, DESPITE
BEING A CHRONIC ASTHMATIC.
>> I'M CONSERVING AS MUCH ENERGY
AS POSSIBLE.
THAT'S A VIEW...TO DIE FOR...
ALMOST.
>> Narrator: ALREADY BETSY'S
STRUGGLING AND SHOWING NO SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT AFTER TWO DAYS
OFF.
>> I'M REALLY TIRED.
I'M WILLING TO PAY $50 FOR
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO CARRY MY
BACKPACK.
>> Narrator: SO FAR, THE
MOUNTAIN GODS ARE SMILING ON
ENGLISHMAN ROD BABER.
>> THERE'S NO HEADACHES THIS
TIME.
WE'RE GOING AT A REASONABLE
PACE.
>> Narrator: THE WEATHER HAS
CLOSED IN.
BUT BIKER TIM IS A DRIVEN MAN.
>> YEAH!
>> Narrator: DRIVEN BY FAILURE.
IT'S ONE YEAR SINCE HE TURNED
BACK ONLY 320 FEET FROM THE TOP
OF THE WORLD.
>> JUST READY.
I'M STRONGER AND FASTER, KNOW
WHAT'S IN FRONT OF ME, BEEN HERE
BEFORE, HUNGRY...REAL HUNGRY.
GOT TO SEE WHAT'S AROUND THAT
CORNER WHERE I GOT TURNED
AROUND.
IT'S BEEN EATING ME UP FOR A
YEAR.
I LOVE THIS, MAN.
IT'S SNOW, SPIKES ON MY FEET,
BACKPACK ON, GOT MY MUSIC, ICE
PICK.
THIS IS GREAT, MAN.
DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THIS.
COMES DOWN TO IT, MAN, THIS IS
LIVING.
SO, LET'S GET IT ON.
BAM!
>> Narrator: ALL THE TEAMS
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE FIRST
LEG OF THE CLIMB, WHERE THEY
ENDURE ANOTHER NIGHT IN SUB-ZERO
TEMPERATURES AT THE NORTH COL.
>> I HOPE THE WEATHER IS GONNA
BE FINE.
IT'S BEEN SNOWING A BIT DURING
THE NIGHT, SO WE'LL SEE.
>> Narrator: THE SECOND LEG OF
THE CHALLENGE -- THE CLIMB TO
CAMP 2 -- WILL PUSH THEM HARDER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
>> TODAY WE ARE GOING ALL THE
WAY UP THERE, TO CAMP 2.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT LOOKS LIKE
IT COULD TAKE NO MORE THAN AN
HOUR.
BUT IT'S VERY DECEIVING.
>> Narrator: THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN
A TARGET TIME OF FIVE HOURS TO
REACH CAMP 2.
>> A BIG PART OF THIS MOUNTAIN
IS MENTAL, YOU KNOW?
A LOT OF TIMES, YOUR MIND'S
GONNA TELL YOU, "TURN AROUND.
TURN AROUND.
YOU CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER."
AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY
GONNA BE THE OUTCOME TODAY FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY DON'T DIG DEEP, THEY AIN'T
GONNA MAKE IT.
>> Narrator: BETSY KNOWS IT'S
HER LAST TIME TO IMPRESS GUIDE
DEAN STAPLES AND SECURE A PLACE
ON THE SUMMIT TEAM.
>> SO, YOU HAD A GOOD NIGHT'S
SLEEP THEN?
>> A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP?
>> WELL, RELATIVE FOR --
>> IS THAT AN OXYMORON? YEAH.
ONE-PIECE SUIT WEATHER OR --
>> DEFINITELY.
>> YOU HAVE YOURS TIED AROUND
YOUR WAIST.
>> YEAH, SO, ALWAYS PUT THE SUIT
ON BECAUSE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT
SHELTERED HERE.
IT FEELS QUITE WARM.
AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE
OVERHEATING, EVEN WITH YOUR SUIT
ON.
IF YOU'RE HOT, JUST TIE IT
'ROUND YOUR WAIST.
OFTEN YOU WALK ABOUT 50 METERS
HERE, YOU'RE IN THE COLD, WIND
COMES ACROSS.
AND THERE'S NO WAY -- IT'S A
QUITE A STEEP SLOPE TO TRY AND
CHANGE AND PUT A DOWN SUIT ON.
YOU LOSE A BOOT OR SOMETHING,
IT'S ALL QUITE SERIOUS.
>> Narrator: THE NORTH RIDGE IS
NOTORIOUS FOR SUDDEN WINDS THAT
CAN TURN SEARING HEAT TO SAVAGE
COLD IN SECONDS.
RUSSELL BRICE FORBIDS HIS
CLIMBERS TO STEP ONTO THE RIDGE
UNLESS THEY'RE WEARING A DOWN
SUMMIT SUIT.
>> [ INDISTINCT SPEAKING OVER
RADIO ]
>> Narrator: IT'S THE HOTTEST
DAY OF THE YEAR ON EVEREST, AND
EVERYBODY IS STRUGGLING IN THE
GRUELING CONDITIONS.
BUT THE HEAT, ALTITUDE, AND HER
LACK OF EXPERIENCE HAVE HIT
BETSY HARDEST OF ALL.
NONE OF THE CLIMBERS EXPECTED
THIS.
EVEN MOGENS JENSEN IS FINDING IT
HARD.
BUT BETSY ISN'T MOVING AT ALL.
DEAN STAPLES IS WORRIED AND
ALERTS THE OTHER GUIDES.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> GO AHEAD.
>> HEY, WOODY.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO DESCEND.
SHE'S BEEN LYING IN THE SNOW FOR
THE LAST 10, 15 MINUTES, SO I
DON'T KNOW.
I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN AND CHECK IT
OUT.
SO, I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL. LATER.
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE.
>> Narrator: DEAN'S SCARED THAT
BETSY MIGHT BE IN SERIOUS
TROUBLE.
SHE MAY HAVE BEEN HIT BY HEAT
EXHAUSTION, ACUTE MOUNTAIN
SICKNESS, OR EVEN CEREBRAL
EDEMA, ANY OF WHICH COULD BE
FATAL.
NEXT TIME, HAS BETSY'S
DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED PUSHED
HER ONE STEP TOO FAR?
AND THE REST OF THE TEAM ARE
REELING AS THEY CONTINUE THE
FIGHT UP TO CAMP 2.
>> THE SUN WAS BEATING DOWN ON
US SO HARD, AND IT WAS KILLING
ME.
>> Narrator: JUDGMENT DAY LOOMS
FOR THE CLIMBERS...
>> WE'RE NOT SURE THAT YOU CAN
DO IT.
>> Narrator: ...AS RUSSELL
DECIDES WHO IS ON AND WHO IS OFF
THE TEAM.