Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Judgement Day - full transcript

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.

Monica: PHYSIOLOGICALLY,

WE'RE NOT MEANT TO BE
AT THIS ALTITUDE,

AND THINGS CAN GO WRONG.



Narrator:
NOVICE BETSY HUELSKAMP

HAS COLLAPSED
HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN.

SHE'S BEEN LYING IN THE SNOW
FOR THE LAST 10, 15 MINUTES.

Narrator: AND EVEREST
IS TESTING TIM MEDVETZ

TO HIS BREAKING POINT.

THE SUN WAS BEATING DOWN ON US
SO HARD,

AND IT WAS JUST KILLING ME.

Narrator:
IT'S JUDGMENT DAY...

WE'RE NOT SURE
THAT YOU CAN DO IT.

...AS EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE DECIDES

WHO GETS TO GO FOR THE SUMMIT
AND WHO GOES HOME.

PUT YOUR CRAMPONS ON BACKWARDS
AND YOU'VE NEVER CLIMBED BEFORE,

YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS
ON THE MOUNTAIN WHATSOEVER.

Narrator:
DAY 26 ON EVEREST.



4 1/2 VERTICAL MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL,

JUST BELOW THE DEATH ZONE,

11 CLIMBERS ARE FIGHTING FOR
THEIR PLACE ON THE SUMMIT TEAM.

THEY'VE BEEN GIVEN 5 HOURS
TO CLIMB FROM NORTH COL CAMP 1

TO HIGH CAMP 2
AT A LUNG-BUSTING 24,500 FEET.

WE'VE GOT A CURFEW ON THIS STAGE
OF THE CLIMB.

WE HAVE TO GET UP TO CAMP 2
WITHIN 5 HOURS.

OTHERWISE,
WE'RE OFF THE TEAM.

Narrator:
IT'S A GRUELING TEST,

AND EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE

IS WATCHING THEIR EVERY STEP.

Russell:
WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE.

IF YOU CAN'T GET TO CAMP 2
IN 5 HOURS,

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
TO THE SUMMIT.

Narrator: AT CAMP 2, GUIDE WOODY
IS WATCHING THE CLOCK,

AND THEY'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

Woody:
IT SHOULDN'T BE TAKING MORE
THAN 5 HOURS TO GET HERE.

WE SET THESE DEADLINES
IN TERMS OF THE TIME FRAME

BECAUSE THEN HIGHER
ON THE MOUNTAIN

THE PROBLEM COMPOUNDS ITSELF

Narrator: THE CLIMBERS ARE
BARELY HALFWAY TO THE SUMMIT,

AND ENGLISHMAN ROD BABER
IS STRUGGLING.

AT THIS ALTITUDE, THE AIR HAS
LESS THAN HALF THE OXYGEN

HE'S USED TO AT SEA LEVEL.

Rod: I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I PLAN ON DOING NOW.

[ COUGHING ]

I'VE BEEN COUGHING BLOOD,
BY THE WAY.

AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET
HARDER NOW.

WE'RE PRETTY MUCH
JUST BELOW THE LEVEL

WHERE WE HAVE TO START
TAKING ON OXYGEN.

Narrator:
AT 23,000 FEET,

TEMPERATURES CAN DROP
TO MINUS 40.

BUT TODAY, THE MOUNTAIN
HAS THROWN A CURVE BALL.

WITH THE SNOW REFLECTING
90% OF THE SUN'S HEAT,

IT'S A SWELTERING 85 DEGREES.

THE CLIMBERS
ARE DEHYDRATING FAST.

Monica:
THEY'RE AT HIGH ALTITUDE,

THEY DON'T WANT TO CARRY
TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

AT MOST, EACH OF THEM
WAS CARRYING A LITER OF WATER.

THEY WOULD HAVE LOST
A LITER OF WATER

IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF HOURS
OF WALKING.

Narrator: FOR L.A. JOURNALIST
BETSY HUELSKAMP,

THIS IS THE HIGHEST
SHE'S EVER BEEN.

Betsy: I DREAM BIG.

I GO OUT AND I TRY THINGS
THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT.

YOU HAVE A DREAM.
YOU HAVE A VISION.

YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF
ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Narrator: SHEER DETERMINATION
HAS GOTTEN HER THIS FAR,

BUT NOW HER LACK OF EXPERIENCE
IS HAVING SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

SHE'S BURNT HER FACE
IN THE INTENSE SUN,

SHE'S NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER,
AND SHE'S CLOSE TO EXHAUSTION.

I'M TRYING MY BEST.

I'M DOING MY BEST.

WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO?

Narrator: THE GRINDING CLIMB
AND THIN AIR

HAS BROUGHT HER
TO A STANDSTILL.

THERE'S JUST NO AIR.

WITHOUT AIR,
YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T WORK.

Narrator: AFTER 4 1/2 HOURS
OF CLIMBING,

BETSY IS LESS THAN HALFWAY
TO CAMP 2.

HIGHER UP THE SLOPE,

GUIDE DEAN HAS SPOTTED
SHE'S IN TROUBLE.

WOODY, WOODY, FROM DEAN,
COPY.

Go ahead, man.

BETSY HASN'T MOVED
FOR A LONG TIME.

WOODY, I'VE BEEN SITTING
IN THE SNOW

FOR THE LAST THREE-QUARTERS
OF AN HOUR WATCHING BETSY.

SHE'S ABOUT 100 METERS
BELOW ME,

PROBABLY ONLY
HALFWAY UP THE SLOPE.

Narrator: DEAN DECIDES THE
SITUATION IS BECOMING CRITICAL.

Dean:
I'M GOING TO 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.

Narrator:
HIGH ABOVE THEM,

EVEN THE FITTEST CLIMBERS

ARE STRUGGLING
IN THE SWELTERING HEAT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,

DANISH TRIATHLETE MOGENS JENSEN
IS FAILING A TIME TRIAL.

NORMALLY, I CAN GO UP TO CAMP 2
IN A LEISURELY PACE

IN 3, 3 1/2 HOURS.

AND WITH THE INTENSITY TODAY,

IT'S GOING TO BE
PROBABLY 5 1/2 HOURS.

IT'S WAY TOO SLOW.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Narrator: AS DEAN REACHES BETSY,
SHE STILL HASN'T MOVED.

I JUST CAN'T BREATHE
GOING UP HERE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'M GOING TO PASS OUT.

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO
LIE DOWN IN THE SNOW,

IT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.

IN THE THIN AIR,
BETSY'S HEART AND LUNGS

ARE STRUGGLING TO FUEL HER BODY
AND BRAIN.

SHE'S EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS
OF HYPOXIA.

Monica: IF YOU'RE VERY SEVERELY
HYPOXIC, YOU'D BE VERY UNWELL.

PEOPLE'S JUDGMENT
BEGINS TO GET AFFECTED --

MAYBE SIT DOWN, ACT DROWSY,

OR PROGRESS TO INACTIVITY,
CONFUSION,

SLURRED SPEECH, COMA.

Narrator: DEAN MUST CONVINCE
BETSY TO GO DOWN

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

I KNOW YOU'RE
A VERY DETERMINED PERSON.

BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT TURNING AROUND?

I DON'T WANT TO TURN BACK.

I THINK
YOU'VE COME 4 1/2 HERE,

AND IT'S THE EASIER
HALF OF THE JOURNEY.

IF YOU SAY IT'S AS FAR
AS I'VE ALREADY COME?

YES.

I WOULD SAY
YOU'RE HALFWAY,

AND THE HARDEST PART
IS TO COME.

BETSY KNOWS
IF SHE CAN'T MAKE CAMP 2,

SHE MAY BE THROWN
OFF THE SUMMIT TEAM,

BUT IT'S CLEAR TO DEAN
SHE'S ALREADY BEYOND THE LIMIT.

FOR BETSY, THIS COULD BE AS HIGH
AS SHE EVER GETS.

I DON'T WANT TO HURT MYSELF
OR ANYBODY ELSE.

I DON'T.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING
TO THAT POINT.

Narrator: THE HARSH REALITY
OF HER SITUATION

IS FINALLY DAWNING
ON BETSY.

I'LL TURN AROUND.

100.

Narrator: DEAN CALLS RUSSELL
AT BASE CAMP WITH THE NEWS.

Dean: JUST HAVING A CHAT
WITH BETSY NOW.

SHE'S GOING TO DESCEND.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

YEAH, OKAY.
WELL, SHE KNOWS THE RULES.

Narrator: IS THIS THE END OF
THE EVEREST JOURNEY FOR BETSY?

AND IS IT THE END
FOR THE REST OF THE CLIMBERS?

THEY'VE ALL REACHED CAMP 2,

BUT MOST HAVE MISSED
THE TIME CUT.

LAST HOUR AND A HALF, 2 HOURS
WERE DEFINITELY PRETTY TOUGH.

THAT SUN JUST BEATING DOWN,
AND THE SUIT IS SO HOT,

WHICH WOULD BE GREAT
WHEN I'M UP TOP,

BUT, OHH,
IT WAS JUST KILLING ME.

AND THEN I RAN OUT OF WATER.
I WAS DEHYDRATED.

THAT DEFINITELY ADDED
TO SLOWING ME DOWN FOR SURE.

Narrator:
THE UNEXPECTED HEAT WAVE

HAS MERCIFULLY EXPOSED
THEIR WEAKNESSES,

AND NONE OF THE CLIMBERS
CAN BE CONFIDENT

OF THEIR PLACE ON THE TEAM.

Narrator: BETSY HUELSKAMP HAS
BEEN FORCED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN

AFTER COLLAPSING WITH HYPOXIA.

SHE'S MADE IT TO CAMP 1,

BUT THE LACK OF OXYGEN
IS STILL HITTING HER HARD.

I'M SO EXHAUSTED.

I JUST WANT TO LAY DOWN
RIGHT HERE.

RIGHT HERE WOULD BE FINE --
THIS LITTLE SPOT.

AND HAVE A LITTLE NAP.

THIS IS HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW.

YEAH, THIS IS OKAY.
THIS IS NICE.

OKAY.
BYE-BYE.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW GOOD THIS FEELS,

NO IDEA HOW BEAUTIFUL
MY LITTLE DOG'S FACE IS.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA
HOW BEAUTIFUL MY LIFE IS.

I APPRECIATE MY LIFE.

I'M SORRY THAT I TOOK IT ALL
FOR GRANTED.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
OH, MY GOD.

Narrator:
BUT SHE CAN'T STAY HERE.

SHE MUST DESCEND TO THE THICKER
AIR OF ADVANCED BASE CAMP

IF SHE'S TO RECOVER.

BETSY'S EVEREST DREAM
MAY BE OVER.

EXPEDITION LEADER RUSSELL BRICE
MUST DECIDE

IF SHE'S STRONG ENOUGH
TO MAKE IT TO THE SUMMIT

OR SEND HER HOME.

Russell: SHE TOLD ME THAT
SHE'D DONE A GOOD MORE TREKKING

AND TREKKING PEAKS.

IF SHE DID, SHE'S FORGOTTEN
EVERYTHING THAT SHE LEARNED.

Betsy: I WAS SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT
IN 5 HOURS.

I DIDN'T.

IN 5 HOURS, I WAS HALFWAY.

BUT I AM SUCH A STRONG,
ADVENTUROUS PERSON

THAT I NEVER GIVE UP.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW.

Narrator: AS THE REST
OF THE TEAM ARRIVED

BACK AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

THE SCALE OF THEIR FAILURE
BECOMES CLEAR.

IT TOOK ME 6 HOURS, 15 MINUTES
TO COVER 2 MILES,

WHICH SOUNDS PATHETIC.

[ COUGHING ]

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

EVERYTHING'S ACCENTUATED
10, 20 TIMES.

EVEN SUPER MOGENS COULDN'T DO IT
IN UNDER 5 HOURS.

Mogens: IT WAS LIKE WALKING
IN A SAUNA

AND WEARING A DOWN SUIT,
TOO.

IF YOU CAN'T BREATHE,
YOU CAN'T WALK.

IT'S QUITE SIMPLE.

IT'S JUST TERRIBLE
ALL THE WAY UP.

NORMALLY, I CAN GO THERE
IN A BIT MORE THAN 3 HOURS.

AND I WAS ALMOST 6 HOURS
THIS TIME.

THAT PUTS IT INTO PERSPECTIVE.

Narrator: 48-YEAR-OLD
BRITISH CLIMBER DAVID TAIT

IS ONE OF THE ONLY TEAM MEMBERS
TO PASS THE FIVE-HOUR TEST.

David: IT DOES
WHAT IT'S DESIGNED TO DO.

IT WHITTLES OUT PEOPLE

WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
HIGHER UP.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
IN FIVE.

I SUPPOSE HE'S RIGHT.

FIVE IS GOOD,
BUT ANYTHING OVER THAT

IS, I THINK, PRETTY RISKY
WHEN YOU GO HIGHER.

I'VE KNOWN DAVID FOR A WHILE,
AND HE TRAINS HARD --

DETERMINED MAN,

VERY ASTUTE ABOUT WHAT HE KNOWS
ABOUT HIMSELF.

Narrator: IN 2005,

DAVID CONQUERED EVEREST
ON RUSSELL'S TEAM.

David: IT WAS THE HARDEST
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CHALLENGE

I'VE EVER PUT MYSELF THROUGH.

WHEN I ACHIEVED IT,

IT WAS AN AMAZINGLY
SATISFYING FEELING.

BUT NOT SATISFYING ENOUGH.

Narrator: NOW HE'S BACK TO TAKE
ON A CHALLENGE SO DARING,

NO ONE'S EVEN THOUGHT
OF DOING IT BEFORE --

A DOUBLE TRAVERSE OF EVEREST.

HE PLANS TO SUMMIT
FROM THE NORTH SIDE

AND DESCEND THE SOUTH
INTO NEPAL.

IF HE MAKES IT, HE PLANS TO
CLIMB BACK UP TO THE SUMMIT

AND RETURN TO RUSSELL'S CAMP
ON THE NORTH SIDE IN TIBET.

David: THEN WE WOULD HAVE
ACHIEVED A WORLD'S FIRST.

Narrator: HE HAS HIS OWN
VERY PERSONAL REASONS

FOR TAKING ON
SUCH IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO

IS TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE
TO OTHER ABUSED CHILDREN,

BECAUSE I WAS ABUSED AS A CHILD
AS WELL,

THAT THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

AND THAT YOUR LIFE DOESN'T COME
TO A GRINDING HALT

WHEN SOMEONE DECIDES TO TRY
AND RUIN IT FOR YOU.

YOU FEEL PRETTY SECOND-RATE.

AND I HOPE TO ACHIEVE THIS

AND FEEL EVEN BETTER
ABOUT MYSELF.

Narrator:
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

TIM MEDVETZ ARRIVES BACK

5 HOURS BEHIND THE REST
OF THE TEAM.

Tim:
I ALWAYS TAKE MY TIME.

I'M ALWAYS THE LAST MAN BACK,

BUT I'M PAYING RUSSELL $50,000
TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST.

YOU KNOW, RELAX.
ENJOY IT, YOU KNOW?

Narrator: BUT HE, TOO, FAILED
THE TIME TRIAL BY A FULL HOUR.

HELLO.
[ SPEAKING TIBETAN ]

THAT MEANS "LITTLE MAN."

LAST YEAR, TIM'S BAD
TIMEKEEPING COST HIM HIS SUMMIT.

HE IGNORED RUSSELL'S ORDER
TO LEAVE TOP CAMP EARLY

AND WAS CAUGHT
IN A HUMAN TRAFFIC JAM.

IT ALMOST COST TIM HIS LIFE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Russell: WE'LL HAVE TO SEE
WHETHER HE LEAVES ON TIME,

WHETHER HE CAN ACTUALLY GET
HIMSELF TO DO LIKE WE SAY.

WE KEEP TELLING HIM,
"COME ON, GUY."

"STOP ALL THE BULL [BLEEP]

AND GET ON WITH CLIMBING THE
MOUNTAIN PROPERLY FOR YOURSELF."

Narrator:
BUT TIM'S STILL GOT ATTITUDE...

WHAT'S THE RUSH?

YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S DEFINITELY
DEADLINES GOING UP,

BUT COMING DOWN, NO.

Narrator: ...AND THE REST OF THE
TEAM ARE BEGINNING TO NOTICE.

Russell: IF TIM GOES
WITH OUR SUMMIT TEAM

AND WE'VE GOT ALL THIS EVIDENCE

THAT TIM DOESN'T GET OUT OF BED
FOR US,

HE DOESN'T DO THIS, DOESN'T DO
IT, ENJOYS BEING LAST --

WE GET TO CAMP 4
ON OUR SUMMIT BIT,

AND, SUDDENLY,
THERE'S TIM LYING THERE

LOOKING UP AT ME GOING,
"HELP ME, HELP ME,"

WHO'S PROBLEM IS IT?

PERSONALLY, I'D STEP OVER HIM
AND CARRY ON, DO MY JOB.

OH, A LOVELIER SIGHT
I'VE NEVER SEEN.

Narrator:
TIM, BETSY, ROD, AND MOGENS

HAVE ALL FAILED THE FINAL TEST.

THEY'RE ALL CANDIDATES
TO BE SENT HOME EARLY.

Russell:
WITHOUT DRAMATIZING IT,

I'D SAY ANYBODY WHO LETS SOMEONE
WHO CAN'T GET TO CAMP 2

INSIDE OF A CERTAIN PERIOD
OF TIME,

WHICH IS THE ARGUABLE CUTOFF
WE HAD,

YOU'RE ASKING
FOR A DEAD PERSON.

YOU'RE ASKING
FOR SOMEONE TO DIE.

Narrator:
IN THE MORNING,

ALL THE CLIMBERS WILL HEAD
BACK DOWN TO BASE CAMP,

WHERE RUSSELL WILL DECIDE
THEIR FATE.

Narrator: THE CLIMBERS
HAVE SPENT 2 GRUELING WEEKS

AT 21,000 FEET,

CONDITIONING THEIR BODIES
TO COPE IN THE THIN AIR.

AND AFTER FAILING
THE FINAL TIME TRIAL,

MORALE IS LOW.

BUT TIM, BETSY, MOGENS,
AND THE OTHERS

ARE ABOUT TO GET
A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK.

PACKING DOWN TO GO TO B.C.

I'M READY FOR KICKING BACK
AND RELAXING.

Narrator: TODAY,
THE TEAM WILL TREK 14 MILES

AND DROP 4,000 FEET DOWN
TO BASE CAMP.

BEFORE THEY RETURN
FOR THE SUMMIT PUSH,

THE CLIMBERS MUST REST AND
RECUPERATE LOW ON THE MOUNTAIN.

Tim:
SEE YOU BEFORE THE SUMMIT.

WE'LL ALL NEED THE REST,
COME BACK UP,

AND TAKE HER TO THE SUMMIT.

I'M OFF.
SEE YOU LATER.

BASE CAMP.

Narrator:
THEY WILL STILL BE HIGHER

THAN ANY POINT
IN THE ROCKIES,

BUT THE THICKER AIR AT BASE CAMP
WILL FEEL LIKE SEA LEVEL.

PEOPLE, GENERALLY,
AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AT ABC

WILL START
TO DETERIORATE.

THEY'RE NOT SLEEPING.

THEY'RE NOT EATING
QUITE AS MUCH.

THEY'RE GETTING LITTLE WOUNDS
AND THINGS THAT AREN'T HEALING.

IT'S A HARSH ENVIRONMENT.

Narrator:
THE WHOLE CAMP IS ON THE MOVE...

DOWNWARDS.

WITH EACH STEP THE CLIMBERS TAKE
TOWARDS BASE CAMP,

THE RISE IN OXYGEN FUELS
THEIR TIRED MUSCLES.

Monica:
COMING DOWN TO BASE CAMP

JUST ENABLES EVERYONE TO REST.

YOU GET A FULL NIGHT'S SLEEP.

YOUR APPETITE
COMES ROARING BACK.

PEOPLE ARE EATING WELL.
PEOPLE FEEL BETTER.

I CAN SEE IT IN EVERYBODY.

EVERYONE IS SO MUCH MORE
COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY.

Narrator:
FINALLY, AT BASE CAMP,

IT'S TIME FOR SOME R&R.

OH,
LOOK AT ALL THAT BEER!

WHOO!

OH, YEAH.

OKAY.

IN A FEW DAYS,

THE CLIMBERS WILL TAKE ON
THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST,

BUT NOT EVERYONE
WILL BE GOING BACK UP.

DAY 28.

EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE

CALLS AN URGENT MEETING
WITH HIS GUIDES.

HE NEEDS TO KNOW
HOW HIS CLIENTS HAVE PERFORMED.

ONE WEAK CLIMBER CAN PUT
THE WHOLE TEAM IN DANGER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE COMING HERE NOW,

THEY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH EXPERIENCE

TO GET THEMSELVES
OUT OF TROUBLE.

SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO BE
SO CAREFUL

ABOUT THE DAYS
THAT WE CHOOSE,

THE TEAMS THAT WE CHOOSE,

AND THE SHERPAS
THAT WE PUT WITH THESE PEOPLE

AND THE GUIDES
THAT WE PUT WITH THESE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF
THAT THINKING FOR THEM

AND TRY AND ALLEVIATE
SOME OF THAT RISK FACTOR

FOR THESE PEOPLE.

Narrator:
TOP OF RUSSELL'S HIT LIST

IS ASTHMATIC MOGENS,

WHO STILL WANTS TO TRY
FOR THE SUMMIT

WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN.

MOGENS SEEMS TO BE GETTING
WEAKER EVERY YEAR.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING
TO SEE WHERE HE HITS THE WALL.

HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING
STRONGER OR LEARNING ANYTHING.

THIS YEAR,
HE'S STRUGGLING AT 7.5.

LAST YEAR,
STRUGGLING AT 7.9.

THE YEAR BEFORE,
HE WAS STRUGGLING AT 8.3.

HE SEEMS TO BE
GETTING WORSE.

Narrator:
LAST YEAR, MOGENS COLLAPSED
3,000 FEET FROM THE SUMMIT.

Mogens: I'M HIT BY WHAT FELT
LIKE LIGHTNING, YOU KNOW.

THE NEXT MINUTE, IT'S LIKE
[BLEEP] "I'M GOING TO DIE HERE."

I WAS SO SCARED.

Narrator:
BUT EVEN A NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

HASN'T STOPPED HIS OBSESSION.

I DON'T THINK HE'LL EVER MAKE IT
WITHOUT OXYGEN.

YOU WANT TO REACH THIS GOAL,
HE'S GOT TO PUT HIS EGO ASIDE.

Narrator: THIS YEAR,
HE STRUGGLED TO REACH CAMP 2 --

BARELY HALFWAY TO THE TOP.

WE GOT A BLOKE
THAT'S GONNA MESS US UP.

I'M SURE IT'S POSSIBLE I'M GOING
TO PULL IT OFF THIS YEAR.

I'M A BIT WORRIED ABOUT IT,
FRANKLY.

Narrator:
THE SUMMIT TEAM

MUST BE ABLE TO RELY
ON EACH OTHER.

OKAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE KID?

BILLY THE KID.

YOU PUT ME ANYWHERE
IN THE WORLD,

AND I WILL ALWAYS FIND
A MOTORCYCLE.

Narrator:
RUSSELL NEEDS TO KNOW

HE CAN TRUST EVERY MEMBER
OF THE TEAM.

Russell: I LIKE TIM,
BUT HE REALLY ANNOYS ME.

'CAUSE HE SORT OF PORTRAYS

THAT HE'S GOT THIS HUGE AMOUNT
OF EXPERIENCE.

MATTER OF FACT, HE'S NOT BETTER
THAN THE BLOODY KID LAST YEAR.

BEER, BEER.

YEAH.

[ SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Man:
HE'S STILL VERY SLOW.

HE STILL NEEDS A KICK
IN THE [BLEEP] EVERY MORNING.

LIKE PICKING THE SHERPAS POCKETS
ALL THE TIME,

TRYING TO GET THAT AMBIENCE
WITH THE SHERPAS.

...TOWN.

GET ME AN ICE-COLD BEER.

Narrator:
TIM'S MAVERICK ATTITUDE

HAS GOT THE GUIDES NERVOUS.

I'M SCARED
HE PUSHES TOO HARD.

HE GETS TO THE TOP,

AND THEN WE GET THE CALL
FROM THE SUMMIT,

GOING "I'M IN TROUBLE."

HE IS GOING TO BE A HANDFUL
ON THE RETURN FROM THE SUMMIT.

Tim:
I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING,

I WILL CLIMB THE BIGGEST,
BADDEST MOUNTAIN IN THE WORLD.

I'LL BE ON THE SUMMIT
THIS YEAR.

YOU CAN PUT THAT
IN YOUR BOOK.

UH, BETSY.

WOW.

YEAH, REALLY?
[ CLEARS THROAT ]

Narrator: THE TEAM'S
WEAKEST CLIMBER IS BETSY.

SHE'S SLOW.

WHEN WE MEET TO GO
TO CAMP 2,

IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY,

BUT MOST PEOPLE MADE IT.

SHE WAS JUST STOPPING,
LYING DOWN IN THE SNOW.

WE GOT TO BE A LITTLE BIT
LENIENT ON THE 5 HOURS TO CAMP 2

ON THAT REALLY HOT DAY.

Betsy:
DO I STILL THINK I CAN DO IT?

IF YOU WOULD HAVE ASKED ME THAT

BETWEEN NORTH COL
AND THE SECOND CAMP,

I MIGHT HAVE SAID,
"I DON'T THINK I CAN.

"I DON'T THINK I CAN GO
ANOTHER STEP,"

BUT THEN YOU COME DOWN HERE

AND YOU START TO GET
REHABILITATED

AND FEEL LIKE EACH DAY,

I'M GETTING BACK TO MORE
FEELING LIKE MYSELF AGAIN.

I CERTAINLY
DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP.

SHE HAS RECOVERED QUITE WELL.

JUST A FEW DAYS HERE,

SHE'S ACTUALLY LOOKED
MUCH BETTER.

Narrator: HER DETERMINATION
HAS IMPRESSED DEAN.

SHE'S CERTAINLY
TRIES HARD.

SHE'S VERY,
VERY DETERMINED.

MORE DETERMINED THAN PROBABLY
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

Narrator:
JUDGMENT DAY IS LOOMING,

AND BETSY STILL HAS REASON
TO HOPE.

I'M NOT GETTING THE FEELING

THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ASK ME
TO LEAVE.

Narrator:
BRITISH CLIMBER DAVID TAIT

STANDS APART FROM THE CROWD
OF EVEREST DREAMERS.

THE 48-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN

IS ABOUT TO ATTEMPT SOMETHING
NEVER DONE BEFORE.

David:
ACCORDING TO THE GUIDES,

IT TURNS OUT THAT I MIGHT BE
THE FIRST WESTERNER

TO CROSS
FROM THE NORTH-SOUTH TRAVERSE.

I MIGHT BE THE FIRST PERSON
TO DO TWO SUMMITS IN A SEASON,

WESTERN PERSON, I MEAN.

I MIGHT ALSO BE THE FIRST --

I DEFINITELY WILL BE THE FIRST
PERSON TO DOUBLE TRAVERSE EVER

ALL IN ONE GO.

IT SHOULD BE QUITE FUNNY FOR
A BLOKE WHO SITS IN AN OFFICE.

Narrator: DAVID WANTS TO CLIMB
OVER THE MOUNTAIN TWICE

FROM NORTH BASE CAMP TO SOUTH
BASE CAMP AND BACK AGAIN,

REACHING THE HIGHEST POINT
ON EARTH TWICE IN 10 DAYS.

HELLO.

90 KILOGRAMS.

BEFORE HE LEAVES,

HE MUST GET THE FINAL ONCE-OVER
FROM DR. MONICA PIRIS.

THERE'S SKIN COMING OFF
EVERYWHERE.

HE MUST BE IN PEAK
PHYSICAL CONDITION.

WE CAN ALL ALWAYS BE
IN BETTER PHYSICAL SHAPE.

BUT DAVID'S IN GOOD SHAPE.
HE'S STRONG.

Narrator: ALSO GOOD TO GO
IS DAVID'S CLIMBING PARTNER,

SHERPA PHURBA TASHI.

WITH THE HELP
OF RUSSELL BRICE,

THESE TWO MEN WILL SEEK
GREATNESS AGAINST ALL ODDS.

DO YOU THINK
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE

TO DESCEND THE OTHER SIDE
ON THAT DAY?

LAST YEAR,
THE CHINESE WERE HERE.

THEY CAN'T CLIMB UP.

BUT NEITHER MAN
HAS EVER STEPPED FOOT

ON THE SOUTH SIDE
OF THE MOUNTAIN.

IF YOU AND PHURBA LEAVE
TOP CAMP

AND YOU'RE ON TOP AT 6:00,

MAYBE YOU'RE DOWN AT
THE SOUTH COL BY 10:00, 10:30.

THERE MIGHT BE NOTHING THERE.

THERE MIGHT BE A TENT,
AND THAT'S ALL.

WE WANT TO AIM TO GET DOWN
TO CAMP 2.

Narrator: FIERCE WINDS AND
AVALANCHES HAVE STOPPED ANYONE

SUMMITING FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
THIS SEASON,

SO THERE ARE NO SAFETY ROPES
IN PLACE.

LIKE THE FIRST EXPLORERS HERE,

DAVID AND PHURBA WILL HAVE TO
BREAK TRAIL IN DEEP SNOW

IN UNKNOWN TERRITORY.

Russell:
SO YOU COME DOWN THE SUMMIT.

YOU COME OVER THE HILLARY STEP
DOWN TO THE BALCONY.

BUT YOU NEED TO BE SAFE.

BECAUSE, FOR SURE, THIS ROPE'S
NOT GOING TO BE HERE.

IT GOES DOWN
TO THE CREVICE HERE.

Narrator: ONE EXPERIENCED SHERPA
HAS ALREADY DIED

ON THE SOUTH SIDE THIS YEAR.

Russell: YOU NEED TO TAKE
A COUPLE OF PICKETS AND SPURS.

Narrator:
IF THEY SURVIVE THIS FAR,

DAVID AND PHURBA MUST NEGOTIATE
THE NOTORIOUS KHUMBU ICEFALL.

YOU'VE GOT TO ROPE UP
CONVENTIONAL CREVICE STYLE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT
FALLING DOWN A CREVICE.

YOU'D NEED TO ROPE UP FOR THAT

FROM THE BOTTOM
OF THE HEAD WALL.

Narrator: MORE PEOPLE
HAVE DIED IN THE ICEFALL

THAN ON ANY OTHER SECTION
OF EVEREST.

LAST YEAR ALONE,
IT CLAIMED FOUR LIVES.

THIS IS WHERE
THE BIG CRACK IS?

IT'S THE PLACE
SHERPAS FEAR THE MOST.

WE HAVE TO GO THIS SIDE
A LITTLE BIT,

THEN WE'RE CLOSE TO HERE.

DAVID WANTED TO CLIMB ALONE...

STRAIGHT, YES.

...BUT WAS PERSUADED BY RUSSELL
TO TAKE PHURBA TASHI WITH HIM.

HE'S A LIVING LEGEND

WITH 12 EVEREST SUMMITS
TO HIS NAME.

AND HE'S ALREADY BEEN UP
ONCE THIS YEAR,

FIXING 3 MILES OF SAFETY ROPE
ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

TRY TO...

HE'S A LEADER, A GUIDE,

AND TO SOME, A SAVIOR.

PHURBA, UNBELIEVABLE.

IN 2006, HE CARRIED
DOUBLE AMPUTEE MARK INGLIS

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

Russell:
HE'S SO SPECIAL,

AND EVEN AMONGST THE OTHER
SHERPAS, HE'S SPECIAL.

HE HAS A CERTAIN AMBIENCE
AROUND HIM.

HE'S A VERY,
VERY GOOD LEADER,

VERY GOOD TACTICIAN.

HE'S VERY CLEVER
WITH LOGISTICS

AND TECHNICALLY
SOUND AND SAFE.

Narrator: EVEN PHURBA
CAN'T GUARANTEE SAFE PASSAGE

ON THIS EXPEDITION.

YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO WORK CLOSE
AS A TEAM, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE WE CAN'T
MAKE A DISASTER

OUT OF THIS WHOLE THING EITHER,
YOU KNOW.

Narrator: FOR HIS CLIMBERS
TO MAKE IT OVER AND BACK ALIVE,

RUSSELL MUST ACCURATELY PREDICT

EVEREST'S HELLISH
WEATHER PATTERNS.

HE MUST FIND
TWO GOOD SUMMIT DAYS

ON A MOUNTAIN
WHERE ONE IS A BLESSING.

BUT...

FROM THE...

THE SMALLEST ERROR
CAN PROVE FATAL.

IN 1996,
12 CLIMBERS WERE TRAPPED

ON THE SOUTH FACE OF EVEREST

IN A STORM
THAT CLAIMED EIGHT LIVES.

AMONG THE DEAD WERE RESPECTED
MOUNTAIN GUIDE SCOTT FISCHER

AND RUSSELL'S FRIEND ROB HALL.

Russell: ROB HALL
COULD TALK TO HIS WIFE

BACK HOME IN NEW ZEALAND,

BUT HE DIED.

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

Narrator:
THE '96 DISASTER

REVOLUTIONIZED RUSSELL'S
COMMUNICATION STRATEGY.

EVERY MEMBER OF HIS TEAM
NOW CARRIES A RADIO.

BUT ONCE DAVID AND PHURBA
STEP OFF THE SUMMIT

AND START DOWN
THE SOUTH SIDE,

THEY'LL BE IN A RADIO DEAD SPOT
AND COMPLETELY ON THEIR OWN.

DECIDING WHEN TO SEND THEM
IS A BIG CALL.

RUSSELL'S DECISION COULD MEAN
THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH
FOR THE TWO CLIMBERS.

THE WIND'S COME TODAY.

THAT WAS FORECAST
TO COME THIS AFTERNOON.

TO GET THEM OVER AND BACK,

RUSSELL IS FORCED TO GAMBLE
ON A MAMMOTH 12-DAY FORECAST.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE WINDY
UNTIL THE 14th OR 15th.

SO I THINK YOU SHOULD BE
ON UP

IN THAT FIRST WAVE

WHEN THE WIND'S
GOING DOWN.

IT'S A 5-DAY CLIMB
FROM BASE CAMP TO THE TOP.

COUNTING BACK, HE MUST WORK OUT
WHEN DAVID AND PHURBA MUST LEAVE

TO HIT THE BEST WEATHER
ON SUMMIT DAY.

SO WE GO FOR 15 --
15 SUMMIT.

14.

TWO YEARS OF PLANNING
ARE OVER.

13.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH
HAS ARRIVED.

YOU SHOULD BE GOING
TODAY.

Narrator: 48-YEAR-OLD
BRITISH BUSINESSMAN DAVID TAIT

IS ABOUT TO TEST HIMSELF
TO BREAKING POINT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS
FOR A LONG TIME.

SUDDENLY, IT'S HERE.

IT'S LIKE, "WHOOPS.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?" YOU KNOW.

NOW I'VE JUST GOT TO GO OUT,
GET ON, AND DO IT.

Narrator: HIS CLIMBING PARTNER,
PHURBA TASHI,

WILL FOLLOW IN A FEW HOURS.

GOOD LUCK.

SO DAVID WILL START ALONE.

AND YOU, ALL RIGHT?

BYE. TAKE CARE.

I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL
FROM THE SUMMIT.

NO ONE KNOWS WHEN, OR IF,
THEY WILL SEE HIM AGAIN.

DAVID'S LIKE 007.

I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

THAT DAVID'S GOING TO DO
WHAT HE SET OUT TO DO.

Kuraoka: FOR ME,
HE'S A KIND OF CRAZY.

GO OVER ICEFALL TWICE?

MANY PEOPLE KILLED THERE,
DANGEROUS PLACE.

HE'S DEFINITELY THE MAN
FOR IT.

HE'S MENTALLY STRONG.
HE'S PHYSICALLY STRONG.

BUT FOR GETTING
TO THE SOUTH SIDE,

WELL, IT'S ONLY HALFWAY THERE
FOR HIM.

HE'S STILL GOT TO GET BACK UP
AND OVER.

David: IN A PECULIAR SENSE, I
QUITE LIKE BEING OUT ON MY OWN,

BUT IT IS A BIT INTIMIDATING
AT THE SAME TIME

TO BE DISAPPEARING BY YOURSELF,
YEAH.

Russell: EVERY TIME
I PUT PEOPLE UP HIGH,

I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THEIR SAFETY.

IT'S A GAMBLE.

FOR EVEN
THE VERY, VERY BEST PEOPLE,

IT'S A GAMBLE.

Narrator: AT BASE CAMP,
RUSSELL HAS WEIGHED UP THE ODDS.

THE CLIMBERS ARE ABOUT TO LEARN
WHO'S ON THE SUMMIT TEAM

AND WHOSE LIFELONG DREAMS
ARE OVER.

Tim:
I WILL SUMMIT, PERIOD.

I VISUALIZED IT.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IT,
BREATHING IT, EATING IT

FOR THE LAST YEAR.

I WILL SUMMIT.

Betsy: I DON'T KNOW IF
I'M STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I'M NOT.

BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE

THAT ARE VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE,

AND GOD FORBID YOU GET
IN ANYBODY'S WAY HERE.

EVERYBODY'S GOT
A SERIOUS AGENDA.

I WOULD GO HOME

IF HE SAID I COULDN'T GO
UP THERE WITHOUT OXYGEN

AND HAVE A GO AT IT.

BECAUSE HE KNEW MY INTENTIONS
BEFORE I EVEN CAME HERE.

I'M HERE TO REDEEM MYSELF
TO MYSELF PRIMARILY,

AND THEN I'M GOING TO SHOW HIM
THAT I CAN DO IT.

BECAUSE I'M AS STRONG
AS HE EVER WAS.

YOU SEEM TO BE DOING WORSE
EVERY YEAR

THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

I WOULDN'T SAY THAT.

DID IT STILL BOTHER YOU
WHEN YOU GOT TO CAMP 2?

NO. IT FELT ALL RIGHT

WHEN I GOT IN THE TENT
AND RELAXED MY LUNGS.

DAVID TOLD ME THAT YOU
HAD TO TAKE YOUR BOOTS OFF

AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I KNOW MY SYMPTOMS.

I KNOW WHEN MY ASTHMA
IS TROUBLING.

Russell:
THE MORE MOGENS COMES BACK,

THE LESS HE SEEMS TO ACHIEVE.

Man: HE'S GOT TO PUSH HIMSELF
BEYOND SOME LIMIT?

YEAH, BUT IS HE GOING TO PUSH
HIMSELF TO THE LIMIT

THAT HE CAN'T GET DOWN?

IT'S A DANGEROUS GAME
TO BE DOING.

I'M FEELING STRONGER
THAN EVER.

THE GUIDES AND MYSELF WOULD
URGE YOU TO BE TAKING OXYGEN,

AND WE'RE NOT SURE
THAT YOU CAN DO IT WITHOUT IT.

I AM.

WE ARE CONCERNED
THAT YOU PUSH TOO HARD.

I WON'T DO THAT.
I HAVE A GOOD MARGIN OF...

Narrator:
MOGENS MUST PERSUADE RUSSELL

HE'S NOT ON
A SUICIDE MISSION.

IT'S NOT THE DO-ALL TO ME
TO DO IT.

MY LIFE DOESN'T END
IF I DON'T SUMMIT.

SO...

YEAH. OKAY.

MOGENS HAS MADE IT ON THE TEAM,

AND DESPITE RUSSELL'S ADVICE,

HE'S STILL DETERMINED TO SUMMIT
WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN.

HE'S NOT OVERLY CONFIDENT
I CAN DO IT,

AND, OF COURSE, I DISAGREE
WITH HIM ABOUT THAT ONE

BECAUSE I'M SURE I CAN.

BUT IT'S HIS JOB TO WORRY.

IF HE DIDN'T CARE, WE'D HAVE
MUCH MORE HAVOC ON THE MOUNTAIN.

[ GASPING ]

Narrator:
TIM'S MAVERICK ATTITUDE

HAS BROUGHT HIS SUMMIT PLACE
INTO QUESTION.

MY GAME PLAN IS,
IF ALL RIGHT WITH YOU,

IS WHATEVER
THE CALL TIME IS,

I'M GOING TO GET OUT

AT LEAST 30 MINUTES
BEFORE EVERYBODY

AND GET A JUMP
ON EVERYBODY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT

BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CALL
IS DESIGNED FOR THE WEATHER

AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO GET
TO THE SUMMIT,

BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO
TAKE A LONG TIME TO COME DOWN,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP
IN THE MORNING.

GET YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER,
MAN.

THE PROBLEM IS WITH ME,

GETTING OUT OF THE TENT
IN THE MORNING

WITH ALL MY METAL IN MY BODY
AND ALL THE COLD,

MY BODY'S PRETTY MUCH
TIGHTENED UP.

DON'T BE TOO CONFIDENT

JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN
90% OF THE WAY SO FAR.

HE'S RIGHT.
I'M OVERCONFIDENT.

I'M DEFINITELY CONFIDENT.
I'M NOT GOING TO DENY THAT.

THE SAME THING LAST YEAR,
AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

YOU GOT LEFT BEHIND.

IF YOU'RE NOT CONFIDENT,
YOU'RE NEGATIVE.

YOU CAN'T PLAY GAMES.

GOT TO BE SOLID, OKAY?

GET OUT OF HERE.

THAT'S IT?
YEAH.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator:
FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING,

TIM WILL GET A SHOT
AT THE SUMMIT.

OLD GLORY GOING TO THE TOP.

TO THE TOP! SUMMIT!

Narrator:
NEXT INTO THE HOT SEAT IS BETSY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?
GOOD.

AFTER NOT MAKING IT
TO CAMP 2,

ALL SHE CAN DO
IS PROMISE TO TRY HARDER.

Betsy:
I'M UP FOR IT, YOU KNOW.

AND I WILL BE UP FOR IT
UNTIL I MEET A BRICK WALL.

LOOKING AT YOUR CRAMPONING
ABILITY AND EVERYTHING --

Narrator:
BUT CAN BETSY'S DETERMINATION

GET HER PAST RUSSELL?

Narrator: AT BASE CAMP,
IT'S JUDGMENT DAY FOR BETSY.

I'VE BEEN TALKING
WITH THE OTHER GUIDES

BEFORE I LEFT
TO COME DOWN HERE.

SHE HAS ONE LAST CHANCE

TO PERSUADE EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE

THAT SHE'S GOOD ENOUGH
FOR THIS YEAR'S SUMMIT TEAM.

GOING UP TO NORTH COL,

THE FIRST TIME,
I DID OKAY.

THE SECOND TIME WHEN WE WENT UP,
I SPENT THE NIGHT.

I DID OKAY.

THEN THE THIRD TIME,
I WAS REALLY FATIGUED AND HOT.

ON THAT HOT DAY, WE WOULDN'T
HAVE EXPECTED EVERYONE

TO GET TO CAMP 2
IN 5 HOURS.

BUT YOU DIDN'T MAKE IT.

IF YOU DON'T
MAKE IT THERE,

REALLY,
IT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE

TO BE GOING HIGHER.

THE 46-YEAR-OLD JOURNALIST
HAS COME TO EVEREST

WITH A BURNING AMBITION.

Betsy: I DREAM BIG.

I GO OUT, AND I TRY THINGS
THAT ARE VERY DIFFICULT.

Narrator: HER QUEST TO MAKE IT
TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD

HAS PUSHED HER ABILITIES
TO THE LIMIT.

EVERYTHING THAT'S IN MY HEART

THAT I'VE EVER WANTED TO DO
IN MY LIFE,

I GO OUT AND I TRY IT.

LEAVE THAT ALONE, BETSY.

Narrator: SHEER WILLPOWER
GOT HER TO 23,500 FEET --

HIGHER THAN ANY MOUNTAIN
OUTSIDE THE HIMALAYAS.

YOU HAVE A DREAM.
YOU HAVE A VISION.

YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF
ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

Narrator: BUT SUCH DETERMINATION
CAN BE DEADLY

ON A MOUNTAIN
THAT'S CLAIMED 210 LIVES.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANY TRICKS
UP YOUR SLEEVE.

YOU DON'T HAVE
ANY RESERVE THERE.

WE JUST THINK
YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOURSELF

IN MORE DANGER
ALL THE TIME.

OKAY.

REALLY, WE'RE SAYING
THAT WE DON'T THINK

YOU'VE GOT THE STRENGTH
TO GO FOR THE SUMMIT.

FOR BETSY, THE EVEREST DREAM
IS FINALLY OVER.

SORRY, SWEETHEART.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU TAKE CARE.

UH-HUH.

OKAY.

THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.

YOU KNOW,
THEY WANTED ME TO DO THINGS

IN A CERTAIN TIME LIMIT,

AND I DIDN'T GET IT DONE, SO...

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE
THEY CAN'T GO TO THE SUMMIT?

IT'S NOT VERY EASY.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S
CERTAIN PEOPLE

THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T WANT ME
TO DO THIS FROM KATHMANDU.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ALSO MY JOB
TO LOOK AFTER PEOPLE,

TO MAKE SURE
THAT THEY STAY ALIVE.

Tim: I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF
BETSY'S NOT ON THE SUMMIT TEAM.

SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN HERE
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Mogens: IF YOU PUT
YOUR CRAMPONS ON BACKWARDS

AND YOU'VE NEVER CLIMBED BEFORE,

YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS
ON THE MOUNTAIN WHATSOEVER.

ANYBODY THAT COMES HERE

WITHOUT ANY RESPECT
FOR THIS MOUNTAIN,

I DON'T HAVE RESPECT FOR.

Betsy:
EVEREST IS A BLEAK PLACE.

AND IT'S COLD AND IT'S DIRT
AND IT'S ROCKS.

IT'S A COLD PLACE,

AND I'M NOT EVEN TALKING
ABOUT THE WEATHER ANYMORE.

IT'S A COLD PLACE.

YOU DON'T COME HERE PREPARED,

THE MOUNTAIN WILL CHEW YOU UP
AND SPIT YOU OUT.

THAT'S WHAT IT DID WITH HER.

Betsy:
I'M NOT A COLD PERSON.

I'M A WARM PERSON,
AND THIS PLACE...

...SCARES ME
ON MORE THAN ONE LEVEL.

IT REALLY DOES.

Narrator:
BETSY CAN NOW ONLY WATCH

AS THE REST OF THE TEAM GO
FOR THE SUMMIT.

Betsy:
I CAN'T HELP BUT LOOK AROUND.

I THINK,
"IN A COUPLE WEEKS' TIME,

"SOME OF THESE PEOPLE
AREN'T GOING TO BE THE SAME.

SOMETHING BAD'S GOING TO HAPPEN
TO SOME OF THESE CHARACTERS."

EVEN THE ONES THAT I THOUGHT
I WOULDN'T CARE ABOUT --

I'M STARTING TO CARE
ABOUT EVERYBODY.

AND I THINK...

"I DON'T WANT TO SEE
ANY OF THESE PEOPLE HURT.

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR

THAT DAVID TAIT
DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK."

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: NEXT TIME
ON "EVEREST: BEYOND THE LIMIT,"

THE SUMMIT IS FINALLY OPEN
FOR BUSINESS

AND THE CLIMBERS
ARE ON THEIR WAY.

EVEREST'S VIOLENTLY
UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER

PUTS DAVID TAIT'S
WORLD-RECORD BID IN JEOPARDY,

AND THE MOUNTAIN CLAIMS
ITS FIRST VICTIMS.

YOU MAYBE LOSE SOME TOES
ANYWAY.

[ COUGHING ]

Rod: IT'S THE FEAR
OF THE UNKNOWN.

IF YOU'RE NOT SCARED, THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU.