Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - Long Way Down - full transcript

Narrator: LAST TIME ON
"EVEREST: BEYOND THE LIMIT"...

THE EXPEDITION'S FIRST CLIMBERS
ARE ON THE SUMMIT...

...BUT THE CASUALTIES
ARE STACKING UP...

[ COUGHING ]

I KNOW HE CAN WALK,

BUT IF HE WALKS,
HE'LL MAYBE LOSE SOME TOES.

...AND THE CRACKS
ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW.

Rod: I HAVEN'T SLEPT
FOR THE LAST TWO NIGHTS.

EVEREST KEEPS ON FLASHING UP
IN MY HEAD

EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES.

Narrator:
NOW THE TRAINING'S OVER.



YOU LOSE ONE GLOVE,
YOU LOSE ONE HAND.

Narrator:
THE SUMMIT ASSAULT HAS BEGUN.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

BUT AT 23,000 FEET, ALTITUDE
AND ATTITUDE SUDDENLY COLLIDE.

Russell: If you want to get
to the summit,

YOU GOT TO GET
YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER, MAN.

BACK IN L.A.,
HE'D BE ON THE GROUND.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: ON THE SUMMIT
OF THE WORLD'S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN,

DAVID TAIT AND PHURBA TASHI
ARE ATTEMPTING A WORLD FIRST --

A DOUBLE TRAVERSE OF EVEREST.

[ CHEERING ]

TO SET THE RECORD, BRITISH
CLIMBER DAVID AND SHERPA PHURBA

HAVE TO CLIMB
THE MOUNTAIN TWICE --



ONCE FROM TIBET,
AND ONCE FROM NEPAL.

SUMMIT.

CONGRATULATIONS
FOR YOUR 12th SUMMIT,

AND, DAVID,
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SECOND.

THEY REACH THE SUMMIT

FROM THE TIBETAN NORTH SIDE
OF THE MOUNTAIN.

NOW THEY'RE ABOUT TO STEP
OVER THE TOP

AND DESCEND THE SOUTH SIDE
INTO NEPAL.

AFTER A FEW DAYS' REST,

THEY'LL HEAD BACK
THE WAY THEY CAME --

AN INCREDIBLE 2 SUMMITS
IN 10 DAYS.

PHURBA TASHI, DO YOU COPY?

Narrator:
PHURBA KNOWS THE NORTH SIDE
LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND,

BUT HE'S NEVER BEEN
ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

HE'S FILMING ON SHERPA CAM,
AND DOESN'T LIKE WHAT HE SEES.

PHURBA CAN'T SEE ANYONE
COMING UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

Narrator: PHURBA HAD RELIED
ON SAFETY ROPES BEING IN PLACE

TO GUIDE HIM DOWN,

BUT BAD WEATHER ON THE SOUTH
SIDE HAS PINNED CLIMBERS DOWN,

AND THE ROPES AREN'T THERE.

HE'S HAVING TO ASK DIRECTIONS.

FIRST THEY MUST DESCEND
200 VERTICAL FEET

TO THE HILLARY STEP,

THE MOST DANGEROUS AND TECHNICAL
PART OF THEIR CLIMB,

THEN CREEP ALONG THE KNIFE-EDGE
RIDGE TO THE SOUTH SUMMIT

AND CLAMBER DOWN TO THE BALCONY
ON THEIR WAY TO HIGH CAMP 4.

Phurba:
ALL RIGHT, DAVID.

Narrator: THEY'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO ROPE THEMSELVES TOGETHER

FOR THE DESCENT.

IF ONE FALLS,
THE OTHER MUST TRY TO SAVE HIM.

[ COUGHING ]

IT'S OLD-FASHIONED CLIMBING --

TWO MEN, A COIL OF ROPE,
AND THE MOUNTAIN.

THANK YOU.

8,000 FEET BELOW THEM
AT ADVANCE BASE CAMP,

THE REST OF RUSSELL'S CLIMBERS
ARE ON EDGE.

PERFECT.

THANK YOU.

I'M HEARING A LOT OF BELLS
GOING OFF THIS MORNING.

EVERYBODY YELLING AND SCREAMING
"SUMMIT!"

I MEAN, IT KIND OF
MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD INSIDE

THAT OTHER PEOPLE
ARE SUMMITING UP THERE,

BUT A HUGE SIDE OF ME
JUST WANTS TO BE UP THERE.

Narrator: THE FIRST TEAM
OF CLIMBERS LEAVE FOR THE SUMMIT

IN 24 HOURS.

I JUST CAN'T WAIT.

JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET UP THERE

AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY,
GET BACK DOWN IT.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABOVE
7,500 METERS.

IN FACT, ALL THESE GUYS
HAVE BEEN ABOVE 8,000 METERS.

THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY
IS WE'RE ALL PRETTY,

I THINK,
IN TERMS OF HEALTH, 100%.

YEAH?

YEAH, MAYBE.

100%?

I DON'T THINK WE COULD BE

IN A BETTER POSITION
FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT ATTEMPT.

Tim: IT'S LIKE THE DAY BEFORE
WE'RE LEAVING --

IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE CALM
BEFORE THE STORM.

Narrator: ON THE SUMMIT,
THE TIME HAS COME.

DAVID AND PHURBA
ARE GOING OVER THE TOP,

INTO THE UNKNOWN
AND OUT OF RADIO CONTACT.

PHURBA TASHI?
PHURBA TASHI, DO YOU COPY?

Narrator:
IT'S NOW HIT OR MISS

IF ANYONE PICKS UP
THEIR TRANSMISSIONS.

PHURBA,
PHURBA, DO YOU COPY?

[ STATIC ]

Narrator: THEY NO LONGER
HAVE RUSSELL ON THEIR SIDE.

DAVID, DO YOU COPY?

[ STATIC ]

Narrator: DAVID AND PHURBA
HAVE BEEN IN THE DEATH ZONE

SINCE YESTERDAY MORNING.

THEY'VE BEEN IN RADIO CONTACT
WITH RUSSELL

EVERY INCH OF THE WAY,

BUT NOW THEY'RE IN A RADIO
SHADOW BEHIND THE MOUNTAIN.

ON ALL RUSSELL'S EXPEDITIONS,

RADIO COMMUNICATION
IS A VITAL LIFELINE,

AND NOW HE CAN'T CONTACT
THE TRAVERSE TEAM.

AT ADVANCE BASE CAMP,
RUSSELL IS WORKING BLIND.

HE'S FORCED TO RELY ON THE
SOUTH SIDE EXPEDITION LEADERS

FOR NEWS OF HIS MEN.

SOUTH SIDE, SOUTH SIDE?
DO YOU COPY?

Narrator: BUT SOUTH BASE CAMP
COMMUNICATIONS

ARE NOTORIOUSLY BAD.

[ STATIC ]

YEAH, SORRY, SUSIE,
I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

BUT I WILL CALL YOU AGAIN
IN MAYBE ONE HOUR'S TIME.

HIS MEN ARE SOMEWHERE
ON EVEREST.

HE CAN'T WAIT.

RUSSELL TRIES ANOTHER EXPEDITION
LEADER HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAIN.

NO ONE CAN REACH THEM.

IF THEY'RE STILL ALIVE,

PHURBA AND DAVID SHOULD BE

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE
HILLARY STEP AND THE BALCONY,

WHERE THIS YEAR'S
FIXED ROPES START.

IT'S THE DEADLIEST STRETCH
OF THE SOUTH ROUTE ON EVEREST.

[ INDISTINCT
RADIO CONVERSATION ]

IT'S TAKING TOO LONG.

YEAH, KENTON.

THEY'RE ON THE NEW ROPE.

Narrator: AFTER 12 HOURS
OF NONSTOP CLIMBING,

DAVID AND PHURBA
HAVE FINALLY REACHED

THIS YEAR'S SAFETY ROPES.

TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENTHUSIASM

FROM OTHER COMMERCIAL OPERATORS
ON THE SOUTH SIDE

TO BE PASSING ON COMMUNICATIONS
AND HELPING US FOR THIS PROJECT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

Narrator: DAVID AND PHURBA
ARE ON THE ROPES,

BUT STILL FAR FROM SAFETY.

THEY'RE ENTERING THE SOUTH COL,

A BARREN EXPANSE OF ROCK
SURROUNDED BY VERTICAL DROPS.

THE SOUTH COL TAKES LIVES.

DAVID AND PHURBA
ARE WALKING INTO A GRAVEYARD.

IN THE WORST CLIMBING DISASTER
ON EVEREST,

EIGHT PEOPLE DIED HERE
ON ONE DEADLY DAY.

THIS IS NO PLACE TO BE CAUGHT
OUT IN THE OPEN.

THEY'VE GOT TO FIND SHELTER
AT THE FIRST CAMP

AND GET OUT OF THE DEATH ZONE.

Narrator:
DAVID TAIT AND PHURBA TASHI

ARE ON TARGET TO ACHIEVE

A WORLD-FIRST DOUBLE TRAVERSE
OF EVEREST.

THEY'VE SPOTTED HIGH CAMP 4.

FINALLY THEY FIND THE FIRST OF
THIS YEAR'S SOUTH SIDE CLIMBERS,

TRAPPED HERE BY BAD WEATHER
AT 26,000 FEET.

ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE MOUNTAIN,

RUSSELL BRICE IS IMPATIENT
FOR NEWS.

JUST SAY AGAIN.

Narrator:
IT'S A MONUMENTAL ACHIEVEMENT

FOR PHURBA AND DAVID
TO MAKE IT OVER THE MOUNTAIN.

Man: HELLO.

Phurba: HELLO.

BUT IN THE DEATH ZONE,
THERE'S NO FANFARE,

JUST HOT WATER.

THANK YOU.

HOW YOU DOING?

GOOD.
GOOD.

YOU GOING TO CAMP 3,
OR YOU STAY HERE?

CAMP 2, OKAY.

Narrator:
CAMP 4 IS NO PLACE TO LINGER.

DAVID AND PHURBA MUST GET DOWN
TO A SAFE ALTITUDE BY NIGHTFALL.

NEWS OF THEIR SAFE ARRIVAL
IS RELAYED TO THE NORTH SIDE.

DAVID AND PHURBA
ARE A STEP CLOSER

TO A SUCCESSFUL FIRST TRAVERSE.

ALL RIGHT, I DIDN'T COPY THAT,

BUT I UNDERSTAND
PHURBA'S GOING TO CALL

WHEN HE'S LEAVING
SOUTH COL, OVER.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

Man:
CONGRATULATIONS, GOOD JOB.

Phurba: YES, YES.

PHURBA.

[ PHURBA SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

YEAH, PHURBA.

I CAN HEAR YOU,
BUT NOT VERY WELL.

BUT I UNDERSTAND
YOU'RE AT SOUTH COL,

AND THAT YOU'LL CALL
WHEN YOU'RE LEAVING, OVER.

PHURBA, AT CAMP 3
I CAN TALK TO YOU.

I WAS TALKING TO KENTON THERE,

SO HE SAID HE'LL HAVE DRINKS
WAITING FOR YOU

AND WE CAN TALK TO YOU THERE,
OVER.

Phurba: THANK YOU.

YOU TOO.

NOW THERE'S MANY MORE PEOPLE,

AND THEY'LL DROP DOWN NOW
TO CAMP 3,

WHICH IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THEM
VERY LONG.

AND THEY'LL COME TO KENTON.

EVERYONE'S CHIPPING IN
AND HELPING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

I'M SURE DAVE'S APPRECIATING IT.

[ INDISTINCT
RADIO CONVERSATION ]

Narrator: BETWEEN THEM
AND THEIR NEXT CHECKPOINT

IS THE LHOTSE FACE...

A TREACHEROUS WALL
OF ICE-GLAZED ROCK.

THEY MUST GRIND
THEIR WAY DOWN IT

TO THE WESTERN CWM
AND THE NEXT CAMP.

ON THE NORTH SIDE,

THE REST OF THE EXPEDITION
ARE MAKING FINAL PREPARATIONS

FOR THEIR OWN SUMMIT ATTEMPTS.

TEAM 1 LEAVES TOMORROW.

WE CAN DO IT!

YEAH!

[ LAUGHS ]

COMRADE.
WE CAN DO IT!

RRR.

WHATEVER HAPPENS,
WHEREVER YOU GO IN THE WORLD,

YOU'LL ALWAYS NEED A PEE,
WON'T YOU?

WHOEVER YOU ARE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK THE FIRST SIGNS OF
MADNESS ARE COMING IN, ACTUALLY.

Narrator:
IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG,

ROD'S VIDEO DIARY HOME COULD BE
HIS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.

HI. ROD.
IT'S ROD AGAIN.

VIDEO DIARY.

THIS IS A QUICK,
TEMPORARY FAREWELL.

GOT FIVE DAYS AHEAD OF US,
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY DIFFICULT,
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY,

BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY
TO YOU GUYS, SASHA, JOHN T.,

LOVE YOU LOADS.

LOVE YOU MORE THAN
THIS MOUNTAIN.

IN FACT, I LOVE ALL OF YOU
MORE THAN THIS MOUNTAIN.

AND I'M JUST DOING IT BECAUSE
I'M HERE, IT'S THERE.

NOT SO MUCH THE MATTER
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

BETTER TAKE SOME...

Narrator: ROD'S CLIMBING PARTNER
IS DARIUS VAICIULIS,

A BUSINESSMAN FROM LITHUANIA.

I AM WITH ROD --
TEAMMATE IN THE TENT,

SO WE'RE ORGANIZING THE FOOD
FOR OUR COMING SIX DAYS.

[ SPEAKING LITHUANIAN ]

Narrator:
TIM CAN'T FOCUS ON HOME.

HE'S ONLY GOT EYES
FOR THE MOUNTAIN.

SO NOW THIS YEAR, GOING UP,

I'M DEFINITELY STRONGER, FASTER,
AND MORE MENTALLY PREPARED,

SO DON'T, UH...

DON'T WORRY.

I'M NOT INTO THIS!
I'M DOING THIS [BLEEP]

Narrator: ON THE SOUTH SIDE,

DAVID AND PHURBA ARE INCHING
THEIR WAY DOWN THE LHOTSE FACE

TO THE WESTERN CWM.

THEY'VE REACHED CAMP 3,

AND HELP FROM MOUNTAIN GUIDE
KENTON COOL.

YEAH, ROGER.

THEY DON'T WANT TO STOP
ANYWHERE,

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THAT, OVER.

ROGER.

[ OXYGEN HISSING ]

THEY STOPPED, HAD WATER
WITH KENTON AND GONE.

SO THAT MEANS NOT EXHAUSTED AND
STILL STRONG AND RUNNING HARD.

THAT'S GOOD.

Narrator:
FROM BEING LOST IN THE DEATH
ZONE WITH NO ROPES OR RADIOS,

DAVID AND PHURBA
ARE NOW CLOSE TO SAFETY.

SOON THEY'LL REACH CAMP 2
AT 21,000 FEET,

THE SAME HEIGHT AS RUSSELL BRICE

AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP
ON THE NORTH SIDE.

THEY'RE ON SCHEDULE.

THIS IS PRETTY GOOD.

THEY'RE PROBABLY ANOTHER HOUR
AND A HALF, TWO HOURS TO CAMP 2,

AND THEN THEY CAN RELAX.

Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE
THE DOUBLE-TRAVERSE TEAM

IS ON TARGET
FOR WORLD-RECORD SUCCESS.

Narrator: AFTER 18 HOURS
OF CLIMBING,

THE DOUBLE-TRAVERSE TEAM
HAS FINALLY MADE IT TO SAFETY.

THEY'RE JUST ABOVE CAMP 2.

THIS MAN
JUST SAVED OUR LIFE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

DRINKS AND BISCUITS.

HALF AN HOUR OUT OF CAMP.
JUST WHAT WE NEEDED.

SO WHICH CAMP
ARE YOU GOING DOWN?

UH, WE'RE GOING DOWN
TO THE SECOND --

CAMP 2 ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND I DIDN'T BELIEVE
IT WAS SUCH A LONG ROUTE.

SINCE SUMMITING
AT 6:00 THIS MORNING,

PHURBA AND DAVID HAVE DESCENDED
1 1/2 VERTICAL MILES

DOWN THE TOUGHEST PART
OF THE SOUTH-SIDE ROUTE.

IT WAS A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE
FOR ME.

FIRST FROM THE SUMMIT,
WE HAD NO ROPES.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY
I FELT SOME NERVES THERE.

HONESTLY SAY.

Narrator: THEY'VE BURNED
MORE THAN 15,000 CALORIES --

FOUR TIMES AS MUCH
AS A MARATHON RUNNER.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR LEGS,

BUT MY LEGS DON'T FEEL LIKE
THEY BELONG TO ME ANYMORE.

I DIDN'T BELIEVE
IT WAS SUCH A LONG ROUTE.

Phurba: WANT TO SAY ANYTHING
TO BIG BOSS?

[ CHUCKLES ]
DON'T TEMPT ME.

Narrator: TOMORROW, THEY'LL MAKE
THEIR WAY DOWN TO BASE CAMP,

WHERE THEY'LL REST
FOR THREE DAYS

BEFORE TURNING AROUND
AND DOING IT ALL AGAIN.

TONIGHT,
THEY'LL SLEEP AT CAMP 2.

SO ALL I KNOW IS
WE'VE WORKED 6...

12, 18, 19 HOURS.

Phurba:
19 HOURS. OHH.

THAT'S A LOT.

THAT'S A LOT.

[ COUGHS ]

Narrator: IT'S RUSSELL'S
FIRST CHANCE TO SPEAK TO DAVID

AND ASSESS HIS PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL STATE,

BUT DAVID'S ABOUT TO DROP
A BOMBSHELL.

WITHOUT WARNING,
DAVID'S DECIDED TO GIVE UP.

THE DOUBLE TRAVERSE
LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER.

YEAH, OKAY,

BUT, UH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT

WHEN YOU GET DOWN
TO BASE CAMP, OVER.

Narrator: RUSSELL SIMPLY DOESN'T
BELIEVE WHAT HE'S HEARD.

SOUNDS LIKE DAVE'S
NOT THAT KEEN TO BE COMING BACK,

BUT THEN AGAIN,
LAST NIGHT HE WASN'T THAT KEEN

TO BE GOING OVER THE OTHER SIDE.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS,

AND CERTAINLY
I NEED PHURBA BACK HERE,

SO I THINK HE'LL BE KEEN
TO COME BACK.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

Narrator: MAY 16th.

THE FIRST TEAM OF CLIMBERS
LEAVES TODAY,

AND DANISH ASTHMATIC
MOGENS JENSEN, ON TEAM 2,

IS JUST AN OBSERVER.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING NERVOUS,
PEOPLE ARE HAVING DOUBTS,

AND THEN
THEY HAVE TO BALANCE THAT

WITH THE BELIEF, THE MOTIVATION,
JUST SHEER WILLPOWER.

SO YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING.

IF YOU CAN LOOK INSIDE OF
PEOPLE HEADS -- PEOPLE'S HEADS,

YOU GET A LOT OF INTERESTING
SCENARIOS GOING ON FOR SURE.

Rod: I HAVEN'T SLEPT
FOR THE LAST TWO NIGHTS

BECAUSE EVEREST KEEPS ON
FLASHING UP IN MY HEAD

EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES.

I WANT TO GO AS FAST AS POSSIBLE
RIGHT NOW.

SO EVERYTHING IS PACKED, ALMOST.

I DO NOT WANT TO STAY HERE
TO THINK.

Tim: ONE YEAR WAITING, MAN.
THIS IS IT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING A YEAR
FOR THIS DAY.

Narrator: ON THE SOUTH SIDE,
DAVID'S MADE HIS DECISION.

HE'S NOT COMING BACK.

ALL THAT'S LEFT NOW
IS TO ORGANIZE HIS TRIP HOME.

David: YEAH,
YOU KEEP BREAKING UP, TOO.

THERE'S JUST STUFF IN MY TENT
AT ABC.

I'D BE GRATEFUL.

Russell: Yeah, David,

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK
IT'LL TAKE YOU

TO GET DOWN TO BASE CAMP?

ANOTHER TWO HOURS MAYBE.

WE'LL HAVE BETTER COMMUNICATION
IF YOU GO TO BASE CAMP,

AND THEN WE CAN TALK
ON THE TELEPHONE, OVER.

WILL DO, MATE.
SEE YOU IN A WHILE.

DAVE'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK
OVER THE TRAVERSE.

FEELS AS THOUGH HE'S TOO TIRED,
AND SO WE JUST NEED TO SORT OUT

HOW WE'RE GONNA DEAL WITH
THE PERMITS AND BITS AND BOBS.

SO I'LL TALK TO HIM ON THE PHONE
WHEN HE GETS TO BASE CAMP.

IT WAS ALWAYS ON THE CARDS
SO, YOU KNOW,

AND UNTIL A PERSON DOES THIS,
YOU DON'T KNOW.

SO THAT'S UP TO HIM.

WE'LL TALK LATER.

Narrator: NO REASONS,
NO EXPLANATION,

BUT THE WORLD'S FIRST
DOUBLE TRAVERSE IS OFF.

AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,
ZERO HOUR APPROACHES.

BUT BEFORE TEAM 1 LEAVES
FOR THE SUMMIT,

RUSSELL BREAKS THE NEWS
ABOUT DAVID.

DAVID AND PHURBA DECIDED
NOT TO COME BACK ON TRAVERSE,

SO PHURBA
WILL COME BACK BY ROAD,

AND DAVID WILL GO HOME.

Rod: FOR ME, I'M SHOCKED,

BECAUSE DAVID'S VERY ORGANIZED.

HE'S VERY DIRECTED IN EVERY
SINGLE DECISION HE MAKES.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE HE
PROBABLY HAD A VERY GOOD CHAT

WITH HIS WIFE AND HIS FAMILY
ON THE SUMMIT,

AND HE SUDDENLY THOUGHT,
"IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK.

NO MOUNTAIN'S WORTH
RISKING YOUR LIFE."

MY FIRST REACTION WAS LIKE,

"AT LEAST GIVE IT
A COUPLE DAYS," YOU KNOW,

"WAIT TWO, THREE DAYS,
THEN SEE HOW YOU FEEL,

"AND THEN COME BACK.

"STICK TO THE PLAN.

YOUR PLAN WAS ALWAYS
TO GO OVER AND COME BACK,"

AND HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

SO FOR ME,
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SWALLOW.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU WAIT?

David:
THE REASON I'VE DECIDED NOT
TO GO BACK UP AGAIN WITH PHURBA

WAS I WAS CONTINUALLY BEING
CONFRONTED WITH EVIDENCE

THAT HE WAS SUPERIOR
IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY WAY.

WE'D DONE THE TRAVERSE EQUALLY,

BUT FROM THAT POINT ON,

IF WE HAD GONE BACK
FOR A SECOND TIME,

HE WOULD'VE HAD TO DEFER TO ME
AT SOME POINT

SIMPLY BECAUSE I PAY FOR IT.

EVERYTHING ACHES.

Narrator:
WHEN THEY WOKE UP AT CAMP 2,

PHURBA WAS FULLY RECOVERED,
BUT DAVID WAS STILL EXHAUSTED.

OH, WHAT A LONG WAY THAT WAS.

Phurba: YEAH.

SOME DRINK.
YEAH.

THEN YOU'LL GO DOWN?

YEAH, LET ME GO DOWN THEN.

THANK GOD.

IF WE'D REACHED THE SUMMIT,

I COULD SEE THE SITUATION
HYPOTHETICALLY IN MY MIND.

I'D TAP HIM ON THE SHOULDER,
HE'D STAND BACK,

I'D STAND ON THE SUMMIT,

AND THEN I'D SAY, "YEAH,
I WAS THE FIRST PERSON."

BUT IT WOULDN'T BE
A LEGITIMATE FIRST PERSON.

IT'S NOT REALLY AUTHENTIC.

IT WOULD'VE BEEN A FRAUD,
FRANKLY,

BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT PHURBA'S THE BEST SHERPA,

ONE OF THE STRONGEST MEN
OUT THERE.

EVERYBODY WOULD'VE KNOWN

HE WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE
LET ME GO FIRST.

I GAVE UP ON IT
WHEN HE STARTED TO LEAD.

Narrator: IT'S AN ELITE GROUP
THAT SUMMITS EVEREST,

BUT AN EVEN MORE EXCLUSIVE CLUB
THAT MAKES IT TWICE.

NOBODY COULD TAKE AWAY FROM HIM

THAT THAT WAS
HIS SECOND SUMMIT, YOU KNOW?

HE SUMMITED EVEREST
FOR THE SECOND TIME.

YOU KNOW, MY HAT'S OFF TO HIM.

Narrator: NOW IT'S TIME
FOR MOUNTAIN MAVERICK TIM

TO CONFRONT HIS OWN DEMONS.

I CAN DEAL WITH
SO MUCH [BLEEP]

AND I'M NOT PAYING HIM $42,000
TO BE MY FRIEND.

DO THINGS AS WE [BLEEP]
TELL YOU, OVER.

Narrator:
THE FIRST CLIMBERS LEAVE FOR
THE SUMMIT IN LESS THAN AN HOUR,

AND THE ENTIRE EXPEDITION
GATHERS

FOR RUSSELL'S FINAL BRIEFING.

YOU LOSE ONE GLOVE,
YOU LOSE ONE HAND.

I GUESS YOU WANT TO CALL IT
A PEP TALK.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY
QUITE THE OPPOSITE.

ABOVE 8,000 METERS,

WE HAVE VERY LIMITED TIME
TO SURVIVE.

THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TREAT IT AS DANGEROUS.

PEOPLE DIE UP THERE,

PEOPLE LOSE FINGERS,
PEOPLE LOSE TOES,

AND NOW'S YOUR CHANCE
TO TURN AROUND.

Narrator: IT'S CRUNCH TIME
FOR THE CLIMBERS.

HAVE THE COURAGE TO GO ON,
OR THE WISDOM TO GO HOME.

IF THEY ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE,

TEAM 1 WILL LEAD THE WAY
UP TO NORTH COL AT 23,000 FEET.

THEY'LL SPEND THE NIGHT HERE

BEFORE HEADING UP
THROUGH CAMPS 2, 3, AND 4.

IT'S A FIVE-DAY TREK
TO THE SUMMIT.

THERE'S ONE SHERPA
WITH EACH PERSON.

THE SHERPA WILL STAY WITH YOU,

BUT IT'S NOT THE SHERPA'S JOB --

IF YOU WANT TO GO AND DIE
ON THE MOUNTAIN,

IT'S NOT THE SHERPA'S JOB
TO DIE WITH YOU.

I'M SITTING AT NORTH COL
TO BE WATCHING, CALCULATING.

CALCULATING OXYGEN,
CALCULATING TIME.

YOU PAID ME A LOT OF MONEY
TO LOOK AFTER YOUR LIFE.

LAST YEAR,
A BIG ARGUMENT WITH TIM --

ONE AND A HALF HOUR
ARGUING WITH ARROGANT MAN...

...AND DOESN'T WANT TO COME
BACK, MAKES A BIG PROBLEM.

Tim:
YOU KNOW, HE THINKS THAT I WAS
ARROGANT AND DIDN'T TURN AROUND,

AND HE'S GOT EVERY RIGHT
TO THINK THAT.

YEAH, I PUSHED MY LUCK
FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF.

Russell:
DON'T ARGUE WITH ME AGAIN, TIM.

IF I SAY NO, IT'S NO.

YOU KNOW?

I DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE.

Tim: I'M NOT PAYING RUSSELL TO
BE MY BUDDY OR BE MR. NICE GUY.

I'M PAYING HIM TO GET ME UP
THAT MOUNTAIN AND GET ME DOWN.

Russell:
I'M GONNA SAY GOOD LUCK,

GOOD MOUNTAINEERING,

BE SAFE, BE STRONG,

AND LET'S COME HOME
AND CELEBRATE.

"NOW THE TIME HAS COME,"
THE WALRUS SAID.

[ CHUCKLES ]

[ SPEAKING
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]

NUMBER 3.

OKAY.

STRENGTHEN ON UP.

Narrator: YEARS OF TRAINING AND
A LIFETIME OF DREAMING ARE OVER.

STAY STRONG.

IT'S TIME TO CLIMB.

SEE YOU.
THANKS.

TEAM 1 IS HEADING UP
TO THE NORTH COL.

AFTER 8 WEEKS
OF LIVING AT ALTITUDE,

IT SHOULD BE AN EASY FIVE HOURS.

BUT TIM'S WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE
BEFORE HE'S EVEN LEFT.

HE'S TAKEN TIME TO EAT LUNCH

AND SAY FINAL FAREWELLS
TO THE KITCHEN STAFF AND TEAM 2.

OKAY.

KONICHIWA.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

THE NEXT TIME HE'LL SEE MOGENS

IS IF THEY BOTH
MAKE IT BACK ALIVE.

LET'S DO IT, BRO.

YEAH.

LET'S GET IT ON.

YEAH.

BARELY OUT
OF ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

TIM BUMPS INTO A CLIMBER
HE MET EARLIER THIS YEAR

ON ANOTHER MOUNTAIN.

WHEN'D YOU SUMMIT?
THIS MORNING?

NO, I SUMMITED
THREE DAYS AGO.

AND THEN PULLED OUR CAMPS
THE OTHER DAY.

AND WENT UP TO THE NORTH COL
WITH THE SHERPAS

TO GET THE LAST CAMP TODAY.

RIGHT ON, MAN.

HE'S COME WITH THE LATEST NEWS
FROM THE SUMMIT.

A GUY DIED
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

LIKE WITHIN FIVE MINUTES.

WE WERE COMING DOWN
THAT SUMMIT SNOW SLOPE, AND --

THE CZECH?

NO, I THINK
HE WAS JAPANESE.

OH, YEAH, WE HEARD.

AND I JUST --
I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU DO?

THEY WERE TRYING TO GET HIM
DOWN, AND IT'S LIKE --

IT'S LIKE 11:00
IN THE AFTERNOON --

11:00 IN THE DAY,

AND WE JUST, LIKE,
WALKED OVER,

AND WE'RE LIKE, "DUDES,
YOU GOT TO ABANDON YOUR FRIEND,

OTHERWISE YOU'RE GONNA BE
SIX MORE LIKE THAT."

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME
AND DAVID SHARP LAST YEAR.

IT'S A TOUGH CALL.

I FELT LIKE A [BLEEP]
JUST WALKING OVER,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN GET
A BODY DOWN FROM THAT HEIGHT.

THE REST OF TEAM 1
IS MAKING GOOD TIME.

[ LAUGHS ]

Narrator: THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY
TO NORTH COL,

AND MILES AHEAD OF TIM.

I'M NOT WORRIED.

I'LL BE THERE BY DINNER.
I'M NEVER LATE FOR DINNER.

I JUST FEEL LIKE
I'M OFF THE MARK.

Narrator: BUT IT'S NOT LONG
BEFORE HE'S IN TROUBLE.

IT'S BACK
TO YOUR OLD TRICKS.

GET YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER, MAN.
BE ON TIME.

[ COUGHING ]

Narrator: L.A. BIKER TIM MEDVETZ
IS ON HIS WAY TO THE NORTH COL,

BUT HE'S FINDING IT MUCH HARDER
THAN HE EXPECTED.

MY HEART RATE
IS JUST PUMPING SO HARD.

I MEAN, YOU CAN FEEL IT
HITTING YOUR RIB CAGE,

IT'S HITTING SO HARD.

IT'S LIKE HITTING A RED LINE
ON A MOTORCYCLE.

Narrator:
HE'S HIT THE WALL.

Tim:
THE MOTORS ARE SCREAMING,

AND THOSE PISTONS ARE JUST
SLAPPING UP AGAINST CYLINDERS,

BAM, BAM, BAM,
HITTING THE HEADS.

THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
WITH MY HEART.

YOU GOT TO STOP,
LET IT SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT,

THEN MOVE A LITTLE BIT MORE.

[ PANTING ]

Narrator: THE REST OF TIM'S TEAM
ARRIVED AT CAMP 1

WELL BEFORE HIM

AND ARE PREPARING FOR
THE NEXT LEG OF THE SUMMIT PUSH

TOMORROW MORNING.

[ COUGHING ]

THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH.

KEEP ONE
AND JUST THROW UP ONE RED BAG.

FOR TOMORROW?

TOMORROW WE NEED
4 LITERS AT LEAST.

[ COUGHING ]

I'M DREADING THAT TOMORROW.

YOU CAN SEE OUR TENTS
RIGHT AT THE TOP.

EACH STEP
IS A STEP TOWARDS THE SUMMIT.

WE NEED AS MUCH SNOW
AS POSSIBLE.

DON'T EAT YELLOW SNOW!

REMEMBER THAT.

THE BEAUTIFUL VIEWS HERE.

YOU SEE?

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

Narrator: TIM'S BEEN STRUGGLING
ON THE NORTH COL ICE CLIFF

FOR NEARLY FIVE HOURS.

MAKE SURE HE STEPS
ON THIS RED ROPE.

NOW HIS ROUTE UP HIS BLOCKED.

A TEAM OF CLIMBERS ARE MAKING
THEIR WAY SLOWLY DOWN.

Man: OKAY?
KEEP GOING.

GET IN ACROSS.
THAT WAS THE BIG HURDLE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE GOT THAT
ON FILM.

Narrator:
ONE OF THE TEAM IS SNOW-BLIND.

THEY'RE LOWERING HIM DOWN
STEP BY STEP.

GOOD.
LEFT FOOT STEP.

RIGHT FOOT STEP.

YOU LOOK AROUND
AT YOUR TEAMMATES,

AND YOU BETTER HOPE
YOU CAN COUNT ON THEM

BECAUSE YOU MIGHT NEED THEM
UP TOP.

YOU KNOW?

EVEN THE BEST CLIMBERS
IN THE WORLD

CAN'T CLIMB THIS THING ALONE.

YEAH, LET'S GO.

Narrator: BUT TIM'S TEAM
IS WAY AHEAD OF HIM,

AND NOW HIS ABSENCE IS NOTICED.

TIM, TIM?
YOU GOT A RADIO?

SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED
TO DRIFT AWAY,

AND HAVING YOUR MUSIC
IN ONE EAR.

LEAVE THE OTHER EAR OPEN
SO YOU CAN HEAR THE RADIO.

IT'S TAKING
MORE THAN FIVE HOURS,

AND I ALREADY TOLD TIM
BEFORE HE LEFT,

PLEASE GET HIS ACT TOGETHER.

I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH THAT.

YOU KNOW, TIM'S BEEN WALKING
AROUND BEING THE BIG SUPERHERO

BECAUSE HE WAS HERE LAST YEAR.

HE'S VERY RELAXED.

ALL-TIME NUMBER ONE?

I HAVE TO SAY EMINEM.

EMINEM, "LOSE YOURSELF."

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

HE KIND OF SINGS ABOUT
HIS ONE OPPORTUNITY,

HIS ONE BREAK
TO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.

SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY.

HE'S NOT PERFORMING,
AND I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THAT.

THIS IS MY SHOT, MAN.

HE CAN COME HOME.
I DON'T MIND.

LET'S GET IT ON.
BAM!

[BLEEP]

Darius: THIS OKAY?

THAT WAS CLOSE.
VERY COZY IN HERE NOW.

IT'S GETTING DARK NOW.

WE CAN SEE
THE DARKNESS COMING IN.

SO TIM'S NOT HERE YET.

THAT'S A BIT OF A WORRY,
ISN'T IT?

TIM SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE
BY NOW, YOU KNOW?

HE'S [BLEEP] GETTING THERE
AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT

AND WHEN THE SUN'S GONE,
AND HE SHOULD HAVE LEFT EARLIER.

I TOLD HIM THAT.

NO SYMPATHY AT ALL.
I DON'T CARE.

I DON'T CARE FOR HIM AT ALL.

[ CHUCKLES ]

HE JUST MAKES IT HARDER
FOR HIMSELF ALL THE TIME.

STUPID, STUPID MAN.

YEAH.

[ BELCHING ]

[ HEAVING ]

Narrator:
TIM'S IN ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE.

IT'S TAKEN HIM
MORE THAN THE ALLOTTED TIME

TO REACH THE NORTH COL.

[ COUGHING ]

[ PANTING ]

THE SECOND HALF
JUST WIPED ME OUT.

THAT'S THE HARDEST NORTH COL
PUSH SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

[ SNIFFLES ]

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK I JUST NEED SOME FOOD
OR SOMETHING.

I JUST FELT NAUSEOUS ALL DAY.

[ COUGHING ]

TOO SLOW.

TOO INTERESTED IN FOOD.

STEWED DUMPLINGS?

Tim: LEAVE IT IN THERE
A LITTLE BIT MORE, PLEASE.

SURE.

I NEVER LOSE MY APPETITE.
IT'S A GOOD THING.

YOU KNOW, TO GET --

YOU'RE A LUCKY MAN.

TO GET A 250-POUND BODY
UP THAT HIGH, I NEED FUEL.

MAYBE YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
SLOWS DOWN

SO ALL THAT STUFF
JUST SITS IN YOUR GUT.

TAKES THAT MUCH LONGER
TO WORK ITS WAY THROUGH.

TRUE.

TIM, TIM, DO YOU COPY?

THE DISAPPEARING TIM.

ONLY HE'S NOT TAKING
MUCH NOTICE, IS HE?

WHAT DO YOU THINK
HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT?

HE WANTS TO CHASTISE YOU.

MAN, HE'D BETTER GET OFF
MY BACK, MAN.

WELL...

HE'S ABOUT TO GET ON IT,
I THINK.

WANT TO DO IT NOW
AND GET IT OVER AND DONE WITH?

YEAH, GIVE ME THE RADIO.

[ COUGHING ]

UH, TIM TO RUSS AT ABC.

TIM TO RUSS.

Narrator:
THE FIRST CLIMBING TEAM

ARE ON THEIR WAY
TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

NOW AT 23,000 FEET,

WITH FOUR DAYS OF BRUTAL
CLIMBING AHEAD OF THEM,

THEY'RE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT CONQUERING EVEREST
IS ALL ABOUT.

GETS HARDER NOW.

EVERY DAY GETS HARDER AND HIGHER
AND TOUGHER AND ROUGHER.

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

UH, TIM TO RUSS AT ABC.

TIM TO RUSS.

IN THE MESS TENT,
THE PRESSURE IS MOUNTING.

TIM MEDVETZ CAN'T AVOID
RUSSELL BRICE ANY LONGER.

YEAH, WOODY AND DEANO
WANTED ME TO CALL YOU.

IS THAT TIM?

YEAH, GO AHEAD.
10-4. IT'S ME.

YEAH, I'M NOT SO IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE TODAY.

YEAH, NEITHER AM I.

BUT I STILL MADE
YOUR FIVE-HOUR MARK.

I DON'T THINK SO.

We told you to go
earlier today,

and you wanted to just sit here
and eat food and stuff,

and then you're making late.

I'M PRETTY [BLEEP] OFF,
ACTUALLY.

[ CLEARS THROAT ]

I HAD A LITTLE ROUGH DAY TODAY,
BUT IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'LL BE
ON THE MARK TOMORROW.

Don't worry.

WELL, YOU BETTER TALK
TO DEAN AND WOODY ABOUT THAT.

I warned you.

If you want to get
to the summit,

YOU'VE GOT TO [BLEEP] GET
YOUR [BLEEP] TOGETHER, MAN.

YEAH, 10-4, RUSS.

You can't just continue to try
and be arrogant

and think that it's all
going to happen naturally.

So you talk to Dean and Woody.

THEY CAN MAKE THE DECISION
WHETHER YOU GO UP TOMORROW

OR WHETHER YOU COME DOWN,
OVER.

Woody:
WE'RE OPEN TO BRIBES.

Y-YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?
YOU'RE TURNING ME AROUND?

OR YOU'RE LEAVING THIS DECISION
TO WOODY AND DEAN?

Tim, what I'm telling you

is to get
your bloody act together

AND STOP BLOODY
[BLEEP] AROUND, YOU KNOW?

You have to do things
like everyone else.

Stop being arrogant
about it.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT,
THEN YOU GOT TO GET --

get out of the game.

SO, YOU LEFT LATE AND THEN YOU
GOT CAUGHT IN A TRAFFIC JAM.

You know, do things as we
bloody well tell you, over.

YEAH, OVER.
OKAY, 10-4.

You talk to Dean and Woody.

They're the ones
that are going with you.

I'M [BLEEP] OFF WITH IT, MAN.

AND I DON'T MIND
TO BRING YOU DOWN

IF YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO PERFORM, OVER.

Dean: TIM, I THINK WOODY
MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE,

9:00 TOMORROW, OKAY?

FROM NOW ON,
THE GROUP MOVES TOGETHER.

THE FURTHER THE GROUP
GETS SPREAD OUT,

YOU KNOW, BY LEAVING LATER,
IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR US

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
OR WHATEVER.

YEAH, RUSS, WOODY HERE.

WE'LL CHASTISE HIM

AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT
HE PERFORMS BETTER TOMORROW.

OTHERWISE, WE WILL BE
TURNING HIM AROUND, OVER.

I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO IT
OVER THE RADIO, MAN,

BUT HE'S GOT TO GET OFF
MY [BLEEP] CASE.

ALL DAY TODAY, CALLING ME
AN ARROGANT [BLEEP]

"I DON'T CARE IF YOU DIE."

IT'S GETTING
A LITTLE [BLEEP] OVERBOARD.

I MEAN, COME ON.
[BLEEP]

I LEFT AN HOUR AFTER LUNCH.

I HAD TWO PIZZAS,
LETTING THEM DIGEST.

I LEFT.
I MADE HIS FIVE-HOUR MARK.

I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

I'M DRY-HEAVING.
I'M GASPING FOR AIR.

I'M OFF THE MARK TODAY.

YOU KNOW, WHATEVER,
IT'S NORMAL.

YEAH, I'M SORRY, GUYS.

BUT, YOU KNOW,

HE HAS TO FIT IN WITH EVERYONE
ELSE'S TIME SCHEDULE

and get on with the job.

YEAH, COPY THAT, RUSS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME DINNER,

AND I THINK TIM
WILL MULL OVER THAT ONE, OVER.

Okay, I'll talk to you
about 7:00 in the morning.

CIAO.

OKAY, NORTH COL,
OVER AND OUT.

WHAT'S THIS KID'S PROBLEM,
MAN?

HE'S RIDING ME JUST TOO MUCH.
YOU KNOW?

I LIKE THE IDEA
OF HAVING HIM IN MY CORNER

AND HAVING HIM PUSH ME HARD,

BECAUSE I DO HAVE A PROBLEM
GETTING GOING IN THE MORNING.

THAT IS MY PROBLEM.
I'LL ADMIT TO IT.

BUT COME ON, TODAY, HE'S GETTING
A LITTLE OUT OF HAND, MAN.

HE'S RIDING YOU HARD,
BUT, YOU KNOW,

JUST PERFORM
IS ALL I CAN SAY, MAN.

JUST PULL IT OUT OF THE BAG.
DO IT.

ANYBODY TALKED TO ME
THE WAY HE TALKS TO ME

LIKE HE DID THIS MORNING,

BACK IN L.A.,
HE'D BE ON THE GROUND.

PERIOD.

ISN'T IT GOOD
YOU PAID MONEY FOR THIS?

AND I PAY FOR THIS.

[ LAUGHS ]

I FEEL LIKE [BLEEP]
I DON'T NEED THIS [BLEEP]

IT'S NOT EASY
CLIMBING EVEREST, MATE.

Narrator: NEXT TIME
ON "EVEREST"...

THE CLIMBERS
ENTER THE DEATH ZONE...

YOU MAY NOT SURVIVE THE NIGHT.

Narrator: BIG TIM MEDVETZ
DEFIES THE ODDS...

GOING UP!

Narrator: ...BUT MOGENS IS
STARING AT A FOURTH FAILURE.

MY ASTHMA JUST WENT
[BLEEP] HAYWIRE.

Narrator: THE BRUTAL REALITY OF
CLIMBING EVEREST HITS THEM HARD.

OH, NO.
I'VE JUST SEEN A BODY.

IT JUST KIND OF PUTS
A BAD OMEN OVER THE CAMP.

Narrator:
AND THE DOUBTS CREEP IN.

IF HE CAN DIE, WE CAN DIE.