Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Death Zone - full transcript

Narrator:
LAST TIME ON "EVEREST"...

THE CLIMBERS
ARE ON THEIR WAY...

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.

BUT TIM MEDVETZ
ISN'T PLAYING BY THE RULES,

AND EXPEDITION LEADER
RUSSELL BRICE

THREATENS TO PULL HIM
OFF THE TEAM.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT,
THEN YOU GET OUT OF THE GAME.

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

Narrator: NOW THE CLIMBERS ENTER
THE DEATH ZONE.

FOR TWO EVEREST VETERANS,
IT'S A PAINFUL REUNION.



IT'S DEFINITELY KICKED MY BUTT.

MY ASTHMA JUST WENT
[BLEEP] HAYWIRE.

Narrator: AND NEWBIE ROD BABER
COMES FACE-TO-FACE

WITH THE HORRORS OF EVEREST.

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

Tim: WELL,
IT'S CLIMBING EVEREST, MAN.

PEOPLE DIE.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: IT'S DAY 38
OF THE EXPEDITION.

TODAY, THE MISSION TO SUMMIT
EVEREST FINALLY BEGINS.

THE TEAM SPEARHEADING
THE ASSAULT

SPENT THE NIGHT AT CAMP 1,

23,000 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

IN JUST 72 HOURS,
IF ALL GOES TO PLAN,



THEY WILL BE STANDING AT THE
HIGHEST POINT ON THE PLANET.

RUSSELL BRICE CALLS CAMP 1

TO CHECK THAT HIS TEAM ARE READY
FOR THE SUMMIT PUSH.

Russell:
NORTH COL, NORTH COL.

HOW'S EVERYONE DOING
THIS MORNING?

[ STATIC ]

Narrator: YESTERDAY, RUSSELL
ALMOST THREW TIM OFF THE TEAM.

HE'S HIGH ON THE AGENDA.

YEAH.
DID YOU GIVE BIG BOY A KICK?

OKAY, LET'S KEEP AN EYE
ON HIM TODAY.

Narrator:
THE PREVIOUS NIGHT'S ULTIMATUM

IS STILL RATTLING
THROUGH TIM'S HEAD.

Tim: HE'S NOT THE NICEST GUY
ON THE MOUNTAIN,

THAT'S FOR SURE.

BUT I'M NOT PAYING $42,000
TO HAVE SOMEBODY BE NICE TO ME.

ANYBODY TALKED TO ME LIKE THAT
IN LOS ANGELES,

IT'D BE A DIFFERENT STORY.

Narrator: TIM KNOWS TODAY
HE MUST SHOW HIS TEAM LEADER

HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES.

THE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR

ARE STILL BURNED DEEP
IN RUSSELL'S MEMORY.

ON SUMMIT DAY LAST YEAR,

TIM WAS SO SLOW
UP THE MOUNTAIN

THAT HIS OXYGEN LEVELS
REACHED CRITICAL.

FOR ONE HOUR, RUSSELL
TRIED TO TURN HIM AROUND.

TIM, WHY DON'T YOU JUST START TO
PLEASE COME BACK?

Narrator: TIM REFUSED.

JUST 328 FEET
SHORT OF THE SUMMIT,

HE FINALLY GAVE UP.

THAT MOMENT HAS STAYED WITH HIM
EVER SINCE.

LAST 100 METERS,
WHERE I GOT TURNED AROUND --

THAT'S THE ONLY THING
I CAN THINK ABOUT.

IT JUST HAUNTS ME EVERY DAY --
EVERY DAY --

WHAT'S AROUND THAT CORNER.

AND I WAS RIGHT THERE
LOOKING AT IT,

AND I FEEL A LITTLE MORE
HUNGRIER NOW.

I'M READY.

Narrator: CLIMBING ALONGSIDE TIM
IS ANOTHER EVEREST VETERAN,

CALIFORNIAN PHYSICIAN
FRED ZIEL.

BUT THE REST OF THE TEAM
ARE NEW TO THE MOUNTAIN --

BRITISH CLIMBER ROD BABER
AND LITHUANIAN DARIUS VAICIULIS.

Rod: THIS IS MY TENTMATE,
DARIUS.

HE'S FROM LITHUANIA.

HE DOESN'T COOK.

I FOUND OUT HE CAN'T COOK
OR BOIL WATER.

WOMEN COOK
IN OUR COUNTRY.

YEAH, IN HIS COUNTRY,
WOMEN COOK.

SO I HAD TO DO ALL THE COOKING
AND THE BOILING.

I AM JUST RELAXING.

FIVE CLIMBERS HAVE ALREADY DIED
ON EVEREST THIS YEAR,

AND THE DANGERS THAT LIE AHEAD
ARE PREYING ON EVERYONE'S MIND.

Rod:
AND I HAVEN'T SLEPT FOR NIGHTS

BECAUSE EVEREST KEEPS ON
FLASHING UP IN MY HEAD

EVERY TIME I CLOSE MY EYES.

IT'S THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

WHICH IS PROBABLY
WHAT'S REVEALING ITSELF TO US

AT THE MOMENT.

Narrator: THE CLIMBERS FACE
A GRUELING 6,000-FOOT CLIMB.

THEY'LL OVERNIGHT
IN THE THREE HIGH CAMPS

BEFORE ENTERING THE DEATH ZONE
TO MAKE THEIR SUMMIT ATTEMPT

AND JOIN THE FEW
WHO CAN TRULY SAY

THEY HAVE STOOD
ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

IT'S THE BEST WEATHER ON EVEREST
ANYONE CAN EVER REMEMBER.

AND RUSSELL'S GOT THE FORECAST
JUST RIGHT.

BUT THE CLIMBERS ARE WEARING
THICK DOWN SUITS,

READY FOR SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES
ON THE SUMMIT.

AND AS THE SUN BURNS DOWN,
THEY START TO FEEL THE HEAT.

CLIMBING ISN'T ALWAYS COLD.

Narrator: WHILE TEAM 1 STRUGGLE
THROUGH THE OPPRESSIVE HEAT

ON THEIR WAY TO CAMP 2...

AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

THE SECOND CLIMBING TEAM PREPARE
FOR THEIR OWN SUMMIT ATTEMPT.

WANT SOME CREAM?

YEAH. 'CAUSE YOU GET HOT,
AND YOU GO PKK!

YEAH.
YEAH.

FIVE DAYS AGO, RUSSELL SPLIT
THE EXPEDITION INTO TWO GROUPS

BASED ON THEIR STRENGTH
AND SPEED.

FAST GROUP
AND THE SLOW GROUP.

IN TEAM 2 IS DANISH CLIMBER
MOGENS JENSEN,

AN ASTHMATIC WHO'S TRYING TO
SUMMIT WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN.

JOINING HIM
IS A GROUP OF JAPANESE,

INCLUDING 24-YEAR-OLD KOBE
AND 71-YEAR-OLD YANAGI.

IF YANAGI SUCCEEDS,

HE'LL BECOME THE OLDEST PERSON
TO REACH THE SUMMIT.

FOR GUIDE HIRO,
IT'S A TOUGH ASSIGNMENT.

AND HOW LONG
IS IT GONNA TAKE YOU

TO GET YOUR WAY
UP TO CAMP 1?

BUT YANAGI IS NO NOVICE.

A HIGHLY RESPECTED MOUNTAINEER
IN JAPAN,

HE CLIMBED CHO OYU
JUST LAST YEAR.

HE PROMISED HIS FAMILY
IT WOULD BE HIS LAST CLIMB.

BUT AS HE STOOD AT 26,000 FEET,

HE SAW EVEREST TOWERING IN THE
DISTANCE AND KNEW HE'D BE BACK.

[ SPEAKING JAPANESE ]

[ LAUGHING ]

YEAH, YEAH.

LAST CHANCE, THIS.

OKAY, NOW WE GO.

Narrator: BUT WILL EVEREST BE
A MOUNTAIN TOO FAR

FOR SOMEONE SO OLD?

TEAM 1 ARE NOW AT 23,500 FEET.

THEY'VE BEEN GOING
FOR TWO HOURS,

STEP BY PAINFUL STEP.

TIM'S DESPERATE TO SHOW RUSSELL
HE CAN MAKE THE SUMMIT,

BUT HE'S PUSHING TOO HARD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ COUGHING ]

KICKING MY BUTT.

DEFINITELY KICKING MY BUTT.

Narrator: THE BIG MAN
IS STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS.

JUST MAKE IT
IN AN ACCEPTABLE TIME.

RUSSELL MAY CAN HIM.

Narrator: THIS MORNING,

THE TEAM SPEARHEADING THE SUMMIT
ATTEMPT LEFT FOR CAMP 2.

THEY'VE GOT FIVE HOURS
TO GET THERE

OR THEY'RE OFF THE SUMMIT TEAM.

AND TIM'S ON A MISSION
TO PROVE HE HAS WHAT IT TAKES.

[ COUGHS ]

BUT HE'S GONE TOO FAST.

NOW HE'S PAYING THE PRICE.

FELT NAUSEA...

DIZZY.

THE WORST I FELT
THE WHOLE TRIP.

AND NOT A GOOD TIME
TO FEEL BAD.

Narrator: RUSSELL
HAS INSTRUCTED HIS GUIDES

TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON TIM.

[ COUGHING ]

HE KNOWS HE MUST STEP IN NOW
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Dean: I'D PROBABLY TRY TO MAKE
A SLIGHTLY SLOWER PACE

AND STOP LESS.

FOR ME, THAT'S MUCH MORE
ENERGY-EFFICIENT, BUT...

THERE ARE SHERPAS
DO WHAT YOU DO.

AS I GET UP HIGHER,
THEN I START DOING THAT...

BOOM. BOOM.

IT JUST WORKS FOR ME.

Narrator: IT'S VITAL
TIM LEARNS TO PACE HIMSELF.

WHAT WORKS FOR THE SHERPAS

WILL NEVER WORK
FOR THE BIG WESTERNER.

SOMEONE LIKE TIM,
WHO'S VERY TALL --

HE'S GOT MORE BULK
TO MOVE UP THAT MOUNTAIN.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL
HIGH-ALTITUDE PEOPLE,

SHERPAS OR TIBETANS --

THEY'RE SMALL, THEY'RE WIRY,
THEY DON'T WEIGH A LOT.

PHYSICALLY, FOR HIM,
I THINK IT WILL BE MORE EFFORT.

[ SIGHS ]

NOT GOOD FOR ME.

[ SPITS ]

REALLY BAD.

Narrator:
HUNDREDS OF CLIMBERS

HAVE ALREADY CONQUERED EVEREST
THIS SEASON,

BUT SOME HAVE PAID
A HEAVY PRICE.

AS TEAM 1 CLIMB HIGHER,

THEY PASS THE WALKING WOUNDED
ON THEIR WAY DOWN.

AN IRISHMAN WHO SUMMITED
IS SNOW-BLIND.

HE'S LOST ALL VISION.

I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.

NOT QUITE HOW I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE ON MOUNT EVEREST.

Narrator:
IT'S TAKEN HIS TEAMMATES HOURS,

BUT THEY'VE GOT HIM DOWN
4,500 FEET FROM CAMP 4.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEAT
OF ENDURANCE

THAT HAS SAVED HIS LIFE.

SEVERAL TIMES,
I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER,

PASSED A FEW DEAD BODIES,

ROLLED OVER A FEW, ACTUALLY,
BELIEVE IT OR NOT,

'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE THEY WERE.

I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D COME DOWN THIS WAY.

Narrator: THE INJURED CLIMBER
NEEDS URGENT TREATMENT.

BUT EVACUATION BY HELICOPTER
TO A HOSPITAL IS NOT AN OPTION.

HIS ONLY HOPE
IS RUSSELL'S MEDICAL FACILITIES

AND EXPEDITION DOCTOR
MONICA PIRIS.

I NEED EYEDROPS AND BITS
AND PIECES TO PATCH HIS EYES UP.

WELL, ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES --
WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

VOLTAREN, IBUPROFEN, BRUFEN.

Narrator:
AS MONICA ORGANIZES SUPPLIES,

MOGENS PREPARES TO LEAVE
ADVANCED BASE CAMP

FOR HIS OWN SUMMIT ATTEMPT.

HE MAKES AN OFFERING
TO THE MOUNTAIN GODS

TO GRANT HIM SAFE PASSAGE
TO THE SUMMIT AND A SAFE RETURN.

HIS THOUGHTS TURN TO HOME
IN DENMARK.

MY FIANCéE, CHRISTINA --

SHE'S WITH ME ALL THE WAY,

IN SPIRIT,
AND, OF COURSE, ON THIS PICTURE,

AND THAT GIVES ME STRENGTH.

WHENEVER THE GOING GETS TOUGH,

I'LL JUST THINK ABOUT HER
AND KEEP ON GOING.

LUCKY NUMBER 7.

7 IS MY FIANCéE'S LUCKY NUMBER.

YEAH.

IT'S TIME.

Narrator: AS MOGENS LEAVES,
THE SNOW-BLIND CLIMBER ARRIVES.

HE CAN'T SEE A THING.

BUT THERE MAY BE WORSE TO COME.

STRUCK DOWN BY AGONIZING PAIN,

HE WAS FORCED TO HOLE UP
AT CAMP 4 DURING HIS DESCENT,

SUBJECTING HIS BODY TO AN EXTRA
NIGHT IN THE DEATH ZONE.

JUST TELL ME --
TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

I HAD A REALLY BAD EXPERIENCE
COMING DOWN OFF THE SECOND STEP,

WHICH CAUSED ME
TO LOSE MY GLASSES.

AND I PRACTICALLY KILLED MYSELF,
ACTUALLY, COMING OFF THE LADDER.

HOW LONG WERE YOU
WITHOUT GLASSES FOR?

20 MINUTES, MAYBE.

IF THAT.
NOT SURE.

JUST 20 MINUTES
WITHOUT GLASSES.

I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT,
YEAH.

WITH EVERY 1,000 FEET,

ULTRAVIOLET RAYS INCREASE
BY 5%.

AT THE SECOND STEP,
WHERE HE LOST HIS GLASSES,

THE CLIMBER WAS BEING HIT

BY U.V. LEVELS 15 TIMES
OVER THE SAFE LIMIT.

I WAS CONCERNED
THAT AN ELEMENT OF THIS

WAS GONNA BE
CEREBRAL EDEMA,

BUT I DON'T --
I'M NOT GETTING THAT FEELING.

YOU SEEM FAIRLY DEXTEROUS,

DESPITE THE FACT
THAT YOU CAN'T...

SEE.
SEE.

OKAY, I'M GONNA TAKE
YOUR GLASSES OFF.

YEAH, JUST PUT YOUR HEAD BACK.
IT'S OKAY.

CAN YOU OPEN THEM
AT ALL?

YOURSELF?

THEY'RE STUCK.

OKAY. OKAY.

GET SOME WARM WATER.

REST YOUR HEAD BACK.
THAT'S GOOD.

IT'S SUNBURN OF YOUR CORNEA,
OKAY?

THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT.

IT CAN BE
EXQUISITELY PAINFUL.

SUNBURNT, THE OUTER LAYER
OF THE EYE BLISTERS.

THE INTENSE PAIN
AND SEVERE SWELLING

MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR VICTIMS
TO OPEN THEIR EYES.

POP THE OINTMENT IN.

SAVE MY EYESIGHT.

IN EXTREME CASES,
THE BLINDNESS CAN BE PERMANENT.

DARK TENT, DARK GLASSES,
PADS.

YEAH.

MONICA, HOPEFULLY, I'LL GET TO
SEE YOU BEFORE I GO.

YEAH.

[ LAUGHING ]

IT WILL COME BACK.
DON'T BE FRIGHTENED.

AS THE INJURED MAN RECOVERS
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

TEAM 1 ARE FIGHTING THEIR WAY
TO CAMP 2.

THEY'VE BEEN CLIMBING
FOR OVER FOUR HOURS.

RUSSELL'S FIVE-HOUR DEADLINE
DRAWS EVER CLOSER.

BUT FOR ROD,
THE END IS IN SIGHT.

[ COUGHS ]

IT'S STILL -- IT'S STILL
ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY.

THAT'S THE [BLEEP] MAD THING
ABOUT IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE A MINUTE AWAY.

I'M JUST VERY HAPPY
TO BE HERE.

Narrator:
PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED,

THE TEAM STARTS TO ARRIVE
IN CAMP.

THEY RETREAT TO THE RELATIVE
COMFORT OF THEIR TENTS

TO RECOVER.

BUT THEY'RE ONE MAN DOWN.

IT'S TIM.

EVEREST IS SMOTHERED
IN A WHITEOUT.

HE'S OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

BUT WHERE?

Narrator:
TEAM 1 ARE AT CAMP 2,

24,500 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL

ON THEIR WAY
TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.

BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF TIM,

AND RUSSELL'S DEADLINE
IS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

FINALLY, A FIGURE APPEARS
OUT OF THE MIST.

IT'S TIM.

HE'S MADE IT...

JUST.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

LAST HOUR,
THERE WAS A [BLEEP] WHITEOUT.

TAKE FOUR STEPS,
FALL BACK TWO.

Narrator: FOR NOW,
HE CAN STAY ON THE TEAM.

Tim: DOES IT BOTHER ME BEING
THE SLOWEST GUY ON THE TEAM? NO.

YOU COME TO MOUNT EVEREST,

YOU GOT TO THROW YOUR PRIDE
OUT THE WINDOW.

BELL DIDN'T RING.
I'M GOING UP.

BAM!

Narrator:
RUSSELL'S SUMMIT PLAN

HAS THE TEAM GOING ON OXYGEN
TOMORROW NIGHT.

BUT TIM HAS ARRANGED TO START
ON OXYGEN A DAY EARLY.

IT'S AN EXPENSIVE REQUEST.

FROM KATHMANDU,
HALFWAY UP EVEREST BY YAK,

AND, ULTIMATELY,
ON A SHERPA'S BACK,

IT COST $650
TO GET THIS TANK HERE.

TIM THINKS IT'S WORTH
EVERY PENNY.

NOW THAT I'M HERE,

PROBABLY GONNA SUCK ON
A LITTLE BIT OF O's

MAYBE FOR ABOUT A HALF-HOUR.

AND THEN IN THE MORNING, I'LL
CRANK THIS UP AND PUSH UP TO 3.

Woody: YEAH, BILL.
VERY GOOD.

EVERYBODY'S SETTLED IN.

TIM'S HAPPILY SUCKING OXYGEN,
SO HE'S A HAPPY MAN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YEAH, BIG BABY,
BIG BLUE BOTTLE.

Narrator: WITH A NEW DAY COMES
A NEW CHALLENGE.

TEAM 1 MUST CLIMB 1,400 FEET
TO CAMP 3,

JUST BELOW THE DEATH ZONE.

IT WILL STRETCH THEM
TO THE LIMIT

AS THE LACK OF OXYGEN STARTS TO
TAKE ITS TOLL ON THEIR BODIES.

I HAD A HORRENDOUSLY
[BLEEP] NIGHT LAST NIGHT.

Rod: YEAH,
I THINK EVERYBODY DID.

IT WAS LIKE BEING
IN A BAD DREAM,

THIS KIND OF STATE
OF DELIRIUM.

MY HANDS ARE FREEZING NOW.

I'VE GOT A BIG HEADACHE.
I FEEL NAUSEOUS.

Narrator: THE ENTIRE TEAM
ARE SUFFERING, EVEN THE GUIDES.

BUT AFTER A NIGHT ON HIS BABY
BOTTLE, TIM IS READY TO GO.

SUMMIT'S THAT WAY.

GOING UP.

PACK YOUR BABY BOTTLE UP?
HUH?

TAKING
YOUR BABY BOTTLE UP?

GO [BLEEP] YOURSELF.

Narrator: YESTERDAY,
TIM WAS LAST INTO CAMP.

THIS MORNING,
HE'S FIRST MAN OUT.

USING THE BOTTLE,

TIM'S BREATHING
THE SAME LEVEL OF OXYGEN

AS HE WOULD 3,000 FEET BELOW.

AS FAR AS
HIS BODY'S CONCERNED,

IT'S STILL
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP.

HE FLIES UP.

Rod: NEVER SEEN ANYONE LIKE THIS
IN MY LIFE,

AND TO SEE TIM DO THAT,
IT'S JUST AMAZING.

SO WHY AREN'T WE ON OXYGEN?

THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.

Narrator: THE REST OF THE TEAM
FOLLOW IN TIM'S FOOTSTEPS.

AS THEY STRUGGLE
FOR EVERY BREATH,

THE SUMMIT SEEMS
A LONG WAY AWAY.

AT CAMP 1,
TEAM 2 ARE READY TO LEAVE.

MOGENS JENSEN'S SUMMIT BID
IS STILL ON SCHEDULE.

BUT 71-YEAR-OLD YANAGI,
WHO WILL GO ON OXYGEN TODAY,

HAS A PROBLEM WHICH MAY FORCE
HIM OFF THE MOUNTAIN.

[ COUGHING ]

AT THIS ALTITUDE, THE MILDEST
ILLNESS CAN BE A KILLER.

IN THE DEATH ZONE,

AN INFECTION COULD BE FATAL
FOR A YOUNG MAN,

LET ALONE A 71-YEAR-OLD.

[ COUGHS ]

HIRO WILL HAVE TO KEEP
A CLOSE EYE ON YANAGI.

[ COUGHS ]

2,000 FEET BELOW
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP...

AN ITALIAN GROUP ASK RUSSELL
FOR HELP.

THEY'VE RECEIVED AN S.O.S. CALL

FROM ANOTHER ITALIAN EXPEDITION
IN TROUBLE UP THE MOUNTAIN.

[ SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

A CLIMBER CALLED ITALY
ON A SATELLITE PHONE.

THE MESSAGE HAS TRAVELED BACK
ACROSS THE GLOBE TO ABC.

HIS TEAM HAVE BECOME SPLIT UP,
AND SEVERAL ARE MISSING.

THE DETAILS ARE SKETCHY.

[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]

Kari: THEY DON'T KNOW EVEN
WHO IS MISSING,

AND SOME OF THEM
ARE CLIMBING ON 17,

TODAY THERE'S 19, SO THEY'RE
MISSING 10 FOR TWO DAYS.

CAMP 3, CAMP 3,
DO YOU COPY?

Narrator: EVERY MEMBER
OF RUSSELL'S EXPEDITION

CARRIES A RADIO.

THEY CAN CALL FOR HELP
AT ANY TIME.

BUT THE MAN WHO MADE THE
DISTRESS CALL HASN'T GOT ONE.

RUSSELL HAS NO WAY
TO CONTACT HIM.

HE CAN --
HE HAVE MASK OR NOT?

ON THE SUMMIT,
HE HAD MASK AND OXYGEN.

I GOT ONE BOTTLE.

Russell: THEY'RE WANTING US
TO SEND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

UP THE MOUNTAIN
TO FIND THEIR PEOPLE.

HE HAS A SAT PHONE UP THERE
BUT NO RADIOS.

WITH A SAT PHONE,
YOU COULD TALK TO MUM AT HOME,

BUT YOU CAN'T TALK
TO ANYONE DOWN HERE

TO TELL THEM WHERE YOU ARE.

THEY CAN TALK
WITH THE WHOLE WORLD

BUT NOT WITH THE BASE CAMP.

Narrator:
RUSSELL CALLS UP THE MOUNTAIN

TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS PASSED
THE MISSING CLIMBERS.

TEAM 1 GUIDE DEAN
TAKES THE CALL.

DEAN, DO YOU COPY?

YEAH, GO AHEAD, RUSS.
JUST HAVING A WEE BREAK.

IT'S KIND OF WALKING THROUGH

A BIT OF AN EMPTY GHOST TOWN,
REALLY.

ALL THE CAMPS
SEEM PRETTY EMPTY.

[ SPEAKING
NATIVE LANGUAGE ]

Narrator:
RUSSELL SPREADS THE SEARCH.

HIS SHERPAS CALL RIVAL TEAMS
ON THE MOUNTAIN.

A RUMOR COMES BACK.

A FROSTBITTEN
ITALIAN CLIMBER

HAS BEEN SEEN IN A TENT
SOMEWHERE BELOW CAMP 3.

WE CAN SEND ONE BOY
DOWN TO HIM...

WITH ONE MASK,
ONE OXYGEN.

ALL RUSSELL'S SHERPAS
ON THE MOUNTAIN

ARE INVOLVED IN A SUMMIT PUSH.

TO SEARCH FOR THE ITALIAN,

HE'LL HAVE TO PULL A MAN
OFF THE TEAM.

THIS COULD PUT HIS OWN CLIMBERS
IN JEOPARDY.

[ SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY ]

WE'LL DO IT.
ONE LESS SHERPA TOMORROW.

YOU KNOW?

I'M ASKING ONE SHERPA
TO TAKE SOME OXYGEN

AND A MASK AND A RADIO,

GO DOWN TO SEE THIS PERSON.

THEN MAYBE WE CAN TALK
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO NEXT.

BUT NOW THIS MEANS ONE --

MAYBE ONE OF OUR PEOPLE
CAN'T GO SUMMIT.

Narrator:
TEAM 1 ARE BLISSFULLY UNAWARE

THAT EVENTS UNFOLDING
4,000 FEET BELOW

COULD BRING THEIR SUMMIT BID
TO A BITTER END.

Narrator: TEAM 1 ARE NOW NEARLY
5 MILES ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

THERE'S 60% LESS OXYGEN
IN THE AIR.

EVEREST FIRST-TIMER ROD
HAS NEVER BEEN THIS HIGH BEFORE.

YOUR LUNGS
DON'T FEEL BIG ENOUGH,

AND YOUR HEART FEELS
TOO SMALL.

AND YOUR LIMBS FEEL TOO SHORT,

AND YOUR HEAD FEELS LIKE
IT'S ABOUT TO EXPLODE.

Narrator: AHEAD OF ROD,

TIM IS ALREADY USING
SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN.

A SUPPLY
OF JUST 2 LITERS PER MINUTE

MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

EVERYTHING SEEMS PERFECT.

BUT ON EVEREST,
TROUBLE'S NEVER FAR AWAY.

ON SUMMIT DAY LAST YEAR,
TIM WAS LATE OUT OF CAMP.

TIM,
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

20 VITAL MINUTES
MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

HEY.
WHOA!

HE GOT CAUGHT IN A BOTTLENECK

AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE 100-FOOT-HIGH ROCK WALL

KNOWN AS THE SECOND STEP.

Tim: IT WAS MISERABLE.
HAD ICICLES ON MY EYELASHES.

I NEVER EXPERIENCED COLD
LIKE THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I WOULDN'T WISH THAT DAY
UPON MY WORST ENEMY.

Narrator: HE BELIEVES IT
COST HIM THE CHANCE TO SUMMIT.

HE'S DETERMINED
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

WAY BELOW,
THE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR

ARE CATCHING UP WITH
ANOTHER EVEREST VETERAN --

MOGENS JENSEN.

NOW AT 24,000 FEET,

THE THIN AIR
IS STARTING TO AFFECT HIM.

HE'S COME
TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL.

MY ASTHMA JUST WENT
[BLEEP] HAYWIRE AGAIN.

IT'S LIKE I'M BREATHING
THROUGH HALF A LUNG, SO --

AND IT'S JUST --
IT'S UNREAL, YOU KNOW?

I CAN'T CLIMB EVEREST
ON ONE LUNG, SO WE'LL SEE.

PROBABLY NOT MUCH OF A CHANCE.

Narrator: BOTTLED OXYGEN
COULD BE THE ANSWER

TO MOGENS' PROBLEMS,

BUT IT'S ONE MEDICINE
HE REFUSES TO TAKE.

[BLEEP]

Narrator:
AT ADVANCED BASE CAMP,

DR. MONICA RECEIVES
AN S.O.S. CALL FROM MOGENS.

HIS ASTHMA IS SPIRALING
OUT OF CONTROL.

BREATHING THROUGH A QUARTER
OF A STRAW,

MOVING AT HALF THE PACE
I NORMALLY DO.

ARE YOU USING
YOUR INHALERS?

YEAH, I AM.

AND I CAN FEEL EVERYTHING.

IT'S JUST LIKE THE STRAITJACKET
FEELING IN MY CHEST.

YOU CAN DOUBLE
YOUR INHALERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT
A LOT ELSE WE CAN DO, HUH?

NO, I KNOW.

I THINK WE'RE ABOUT ONE HOUR
FROM CAMP 2,

SO I'LL SEE
IF I CAN GET THERE,

AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT IS
IN THE MORNING.

Narrator: HIGH ABOVE,

TIM'S LISTENING IN
TO HIS BUDDY'S DISTRESS CALL.

MOGENS, THIS IS TIM.

JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW,
I'M BEHIND YOU. ONE MORE HOUR.

GET UP THERE, MAN.
YOU CAN DO IT.

WE'RE BEHIND YOU.

KEEP PUSHING. DON'T STOP.
NO QUITTING.

DEFINITELY THE TOUGHEST HOUR
OF HIS LIFE.

EVERYTHING'S ON THE LINE FOR HIM
RIGHT NOW.

ONE ITALIAN MEMBER.

ONE ITALIAN MEMBER?

Narrator: RUSSELL'S FOCUS
IS STILL FIRMLY ON THE HUNT

FOR THE MISSING ITALIANS.

ONE OF HIS SHERPAS

HAS STARTED TO SEARCH
THROUGH THE HIGH CAMPS.

BUT THEN, NEWS COMES IN.

TWO OF THE ITALIANS
HAVE APPEARED AT NORTH COL,

3,000 FEET BELOW
WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

Russell:
THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MISSING,

FIVE OF THEM, FOUR OF THEM,
TWO OF THEM.

EVERYONE'S BEEN RUNNING
AROUND HELPING,

AND THEN THEY TURNED OUT TO BE

IN A DIFFERENT PLACE
TO WHERE WE'RE LOOKING.

Narrator: BUT TWO MORE ITALIAN
CLIMBERS ARE STILL MISSING.

AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF THEM.

MY SHERPA ARE LOOKING
OVER THERE,

AND EVERYONE'S SAYING
HE ALREADY WENT DOWN.

HE'S ALREADY GONE.

[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]

SO, I'M SORRY.

I CAN'T HAVE MY MEN
RUNNING EVERYWHERE.

NO, NO.
NO, SURE.

SO,
I CAN'T DO MUCH MORE NOW.

I'M SORRY.

WHEREVER THEY ARE,

THE MISSING CLIMBERS
ARE NOW ON THEIR OWN.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

Narrator: TEAM 1 ARE BATTLING
TOWARDS CAMP 3

ON THEIR WAY
TO THE SUMMIT OF EVEREST.

PERCHED 5 MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL,

THIS SMALL GROUP OF TENTS MARKS
THE BEGINNING OF THE DEATH ZONE,

WHERE THE TEAM
WILL GO ON OXYGEN.

UNLIKE HIS TEAMMATES,
TIM'S ALREADY ON OXYGEN,

AND IT'S TRANSFORMED HIM FROM
THE SLOWEST INTO THE FASTEST.

HE'S FIRST TO ARRIVE IN CAMP.

Tim: 7-9.

ONE STEP CLOSER OF GETTING
OLD GLORY TO THE SUMMIT.

Narrator:
TIM'S BEEN HERE BEFORE.

FOR ROD,
IT'S A TOTALLY NEW EXPERIENCE.

[ SIGHS ]

WELCOME TO 7,900 METERS,
MAN.

YEAH.

NEED SOME DRUGS?

HUH?

THE HIGHEST
YOU EVER BEEN?

[ SPITS ]

BY 1,000 METERS.

[ COUGHS ]

NEXT INTO CAMP IS CALIFORNIAN
PHYSICIAN FRED ZIEL.

HE'S ATTEMPTED EVEREST TWICE.

BOTH TIMES, HE NEARLY PAID
THE ULTIMATE PRICE.

THIS IS THE VERY SPOT
WHERE, IN 2005,

HE GROUND TO AN ABRUPT HALT.

HAVE YOU GUYS
SAW THE TENT?

YOU CAN HAVE
ONE OF THOSE TWO.

I ALMOST DIED IN THAT ONE.

WHAT?

I ALMOST DIED IN THAT
TWO YEARS AGO.

I WON'T SLEEP THERE.

BEING BACK HERE
IS AWAKENING THE DEMONS.

GOT PRETTY SICK AT CAMP 3,
AND...

PASSED OUT.
KIND OF RESCUED MYSELF.

ENDED UP DIAGNOSING MYSELF
WITH PNEUMONIA.

HAD A LOT OF DOUBTS
AFTER THAT

ABOUT WHETHER I STILL HAD
ENOUGH YOUTH LEFT

TO COME AND DO THIS KIND OF
THING, AND, UH...

TOOK ANOTHER COUPLE YEARS
TO PUT THINGS TOGETHER

TO COME BACK AND...
TEST IT OUT.

HOPEFULLY,
I CAN SAY BYE TO THE ALBATROSS.

THAT ONE'S A NO-NO.

Narrator: THE SHERPAS PREPARE
A NEW TENT FOR HIM,

WELL AWAY FROM THE SPOT
WHERE HE NEARLY LOST HIS LIFE.

EVEN SO, IT'S GOING TO BE
A TOUGH NIGHT FOR FRED.

TEAM 2, WHO ARE FOLLOWING 24
HOURS BEHIND THE LEAD GROUP,

HAVE JUST ARRIVED AT CAMP 2.

MOGENS HAS BATTLED
THROUGH HIS ASTHMA ATTACK,

BUT NOW HE MUST DECIDE --

TAKE OXYGEN OR HEAD BACK
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

HE'S GOT THE NIGHT
TO THINK ABOUT IT.

TOMORROW MORNING,
RUSSELL WANTS AN ANSWER.

BUT FOR NOW,

THE EXPEDITION LEADER
HAS OTHER THINGS ON HIS MIND.

HE SPENT THE DAY SEARCHING
FOR A GROUP OF ITALIANS.

TWO ARE STILL MISSING.

BUT HE HAS NEWS.

SO YOUR FRIEND IS AT OUR CAMP,
7-9,

AND WEAK OF OXYGEN
AND COMING DOWN, OKAY?

OKAY.

THE MAN HAS BEEN
IN THE DEATH ZONE FOR TWO DAYS

AND IS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE.

ONE MAN IS STILL UNACCOUNTED
FOR,

BUT NOW THE ITALIANS RECEIVE
A CALL FROM THE MOUNTAIN.

COMING DOWN.
ALL COMING DOWN NOW.

YEAH.
OKAY.

[ SPEAKING ITALIAN ]

Narrator: IT SEEMS THAT ALL OF
THE MISSING GROUP ARE SAFE.

WHAT WAS THAT?

OKAY, THANK YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU.

Narrator: BUT THE CELEBRATIONS
ARE PREMATURE.

IN A CRUEL CASE
OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

THE TWO SEPARATE SIGHTINGS
WERE OF THE SAME MAN.

PIERANGELO IS STILL MISSING,

PRESUMED DEAD.

HIS NAME HAS BECOME
THE LATEST ENTRY

TO THE GRIM ROLL CALL
OF EVEREST.

STATIONED AT CAMP 3,
JUST BELOW THE DEATH ZONE,

TEAM 1 WILL SPEND THE NIGHT
ON OXYGEN.

IT'S THE MOMENT
THEY'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.

OLD HAND FRED
HAS DONE THIS BEFORE.

BE BRAVE.

BUT IT'S THE FIRST TIME
FOR NEW BOY ROD.

Fred:
BEST SLEEPING DRUG THERE IS.

[ CHUCKLING ]

[ AIR HISSING ]

NO, DON'T, DON'T, DON'T,
DON'T, DON'T, DON'T.

MORE.

THERE.

[ COUGHS ]

WE HAVE TO SLEEP ON THESE
AT 0.5 LITERS AN HOUR.

IF WE DON'T,
WE MAY NOT SURVIVE THE NIGHT.

Narrator: NOW ON OXYGEN,
TEAM 1 SHOULD SLEEP WELL.

BUT ANOTHER MAN ON THE MOUNTAIN
WILL BE UP ALL NIGHT WITH WORRY.

TOMORROW,
MOGENS MUST DECIDE --

TAKE OXYGEN OR GO BACK HOME,
NEVER TO RETURN.

Narrator:
IT'S DECISION TIME FOR MOGENS.

WITH OXYGEN,
HE COULD REACH THE SUMMIT.

WITHOUT IT,
HE'LL HAVE TO TURN BACK.

UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAIN,

THE ENTIRE EXPEDITION WAIT
FOR HIS DECISION.

MOGENS,
HERE'S THE ANSWER.

DO YOU THINK
YOU COULD PERSUADE HIM?

OH,
I'D LOVE TO PERSUADE HIM.

I THINK HE SHOULD JUST PUT SOME
OXYGEN ON AND GET TO THE SUMMIT.

HEY, RUSS.

HOW ARE YOU DOING
THIS MORNING?

APART FROM MY LUNGS,
I'M FEELING ALL RIGHT,

BUT ABOUT THE SAME CONDITION
AS YESTERDAY.

SO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

WELL, IF I'M GOING UP,

I THINK
I NEED TO PUT ON SOME OXYGEN.

I KNOW IT'S A HARD DECISION
FOR YOU,

BUT I'LL BE MUCH HAPPIER THAT
YOU ACTUALLY GET TO THE SUMMIT.

THE WAY MY LUNGS
WERE WORKING,

IT WOULD BE UNSAFE AND STUPID
TO PROCEED ON WITHOUT OXYGEN.

YEAH, GOOD FOR YOU, MOGENS.
GOOD FOR YOU.

BOLD DECISION,
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHERE YOUR MASK
IS AND GET THAT TO YOU.

HOPEFULLY, THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME
THE EXTRA LUNG I'VE BEEN NEEDING

SO WE CAN GO UP AND HAVE A LOOK
AT HOW THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE

FROM ITS HIGHEST POINT THERE.

YEAH, GOOD ON HIM.

HE PROBABLY HAD TO SLEEP
ON THAT OVERNIGHT.

BUT, YEAH.

IT'S A BIT BORING COMING BACK
HERE AND NOT GETTING VERY FAR.

BUT HE'S STILL GONNA BE
STRUGGLING.

WE'LL SEE HOW HE DOES.

MOGENS IS GOING ON O's.
[ CHUCKLES ]

GOOD ON HIM.
I'M STOKED.

HARD CALL FOR HIM TO MAKE,

BUT I'M REALLY PLEASED
THAT HE'S DECIDED TO.

Tim: JUST LIKE HIM, IT'S BEEN
EATING ME UP FOR A YEAR NOW,

WHAT'S UP THERE,

SO I CAN JUST IMAGINE
WHAT IT'S BEEN DOING TO HIM.

THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND ATTEMPT.
THIS IS HIS THIRD.

SO, HATS OFF TO HIM, MAN.

HE'S GOT MY RESPECT,
WITH O's OR WITHOUT O's.

Narrator:
MOGENS IS ON THE SUMMIT TEAM.

SO, TOO,
IS 71-YEAR-OLD YANAGI.

HIS THROAT HAS CLEARED UP,

AND RUSSELL'S GIVEN HIM
THE GREEN LIGHT.

MOST CLIMBERS CARRY
TWO OXYGEN TANKS ON SUMMIT DAY.

IT'S JUST ENOUGH TO GET THEM
THERE AND BACK.

BUT YANAGI WILL BE ON
THE MAXIMUM FLOW AT ALL TIMES

AND USE THREE BOTTLES.

HE'LL HAVE TO RELY ON A SHERPA
TO CARRY THE EXTRA LOAD.

AT CAMP 3, ALL OF TEAM 1
ARE FIGHTING FIT,

BUT NOW THEY ENTER
THE DEATH ZONE.

AT 26,000 FEET, OXYGEN LEVELS
ARE 1/3 OF THOSE AT SEA LEVEL.

TO SURVIVE,

THE BODY BEGINS TO DIGEST
ITS OWN FAT AND MUSCLE CONTENT.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

EVERY MINUTE SPENT
IN THE DEATH ZONE IS DANGEROUS.

FOR HALF THE TEAM,
IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME THIS HIGH.

ROD HOLDS A RECORD FOR CLIMBING
ALL THE HIGHEST PEAKS IN EUROPE,

BUT HE'S NEVER PUT HIS BODY
IN SO MUCH DANGER

OR PUSHED IT TO THESE EXTREMES.

Rod:
AND I'VE GOT TWO KIDS.

I'LL CERTAINLY BE
CONSIDERING THEM

EVERY SINGLE MOVE
I MAKE UPWARDS.

BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME,

SO IT'S A MATTER
OF BALANCING THOSE ISSUES

WITH CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN.

Narrator: UP HERE, THE CLIMBERS
LOSE A LITER OF WATER

IN BREATH AND SWEAT
EVERY HOUR.

AND THE SUPPLEMENTARY OXYGEN
THEY'VE BEEN SO DESPERATE FOR

ONLY MAKES THINGS WORSE.

TO STOP IT FROM FREEZING, ALL
THE MOISTURE HAS BEEN REMOVED,

SO THE AIR THEY'RE BREATHING
IS BONE-DRY.

VERY SOON,
DEHYDRATION STARTS TO SET IN.

IT CAN LEAD TO DIZZINESS
AND CONFUSION.

IT CAN ALSO TRIGGER
A LOSS OF BODY TEMPERATURE

AND RESULT IN FROSTBITE.

THE CLIMBERS
MUST KEEP DRINKING.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF SOGGY TEA
AND ORANGE JUICE.

IT TASTES LIKE [BLEEP]

BUT...ESSENTIAL
FOR ACCLIMATIZATION.

OH, DEAR.
THERE'S A BODY THERE.

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

I WANT TO GO.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE A BODY.

IT'S BAD KARMA.

Narrator:
THIS UNKNOWN MOUNTAINEER

HAS DIED
IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMP 4 --

THE CLIMBERS' LAST STOP
BEFORE THE SUMMIT.

IT'S A REMINDER,
IF EVER ONE WERE NEEDED,

OF THE DANGERS THEY FACE.

Tim: IT'S SAD, YOU KNOW?

I MEAN, HE COULDN'T BE DEAD
FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS.

SO IT'S JUST NOT
A GOOD THING TO SEE

BEFORE YOU'RE READY TO GO UP
FOR YOUR SUMMIT PUSH.

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

Rod: THE FIRST THING I FELT
IS REALLY SORRY FOR HIM.

SECOND THING I FELT IS I FELT
REALLY SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY.

I'VE GOT A FAMILY,
AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I FELT,

I SUPPOSE, A BIT NERVOUS.

AND I'M WONDERING
WHY HE DIED,

BECAUSE IF HE CAN DIE,
WE CAN DIE.

Narrator: THE TEAM MUST BANISH
ALL THOUGHTS

OF THE DEAD CLIMBER
FROM THEIR MINDS

AND USE THESE PRECIOUS FEW HOURS
TO PREPARE.

AT 1:00 TONIGHT, THEY'LL LEAVE
CAMP 4 FOR THE SUMMIT.

WE'RE UP HERE
WITH THE GODS NOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NEARLY OVER
SORT OF THING.

HASN'T EVEN BEGUN.

[ CHUCKLES ]

NOTHING CAN PREPARE YOU
FOR SUMMIT DAY.

Narrator: NEXT TIME,
TEAM 1 LEAVE FOR THE SUMMIT.

MY CAMPERS.
HOW ARE MY CAMPERS?

TIM'S FIRST OUT, BUT IN NO TIME,
EVERYTHING GOES WRONG.

OH!

GRAB MY HAND!

Narrator:
AND ROD MAKES THE SUMMIT...

ON TOP OF THE WORLD!

...BUT, IN THE EXCITEMENT,

EXPOSES HIS EYES
TO THE SUN'S SAVAGE RAYS.

HE'S IN A DEADLY RACE
BEFORE SNOW-BLINDNESS STRIKES.