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

Narrator: EVERY SPRING,

HUNDREDS OF CLIMBERS
BATTLE TO SURVIVE

ON THE WORLD'S
DEADLIEST MOUNTAIN.

[ RETCHING ]

WE ALL LOVE THE MOUNTAINS,

BUT THE MOUNTAINS
DON'T GIVE A [BLEEP] ABOUT US.

Narrator: A STAR ATHLETE
IS HELL-BENT TO CONQUER EVEREST

AFTER A CAREER-ENDING INJURY.

[ CRACKING ]
AAH! OHH!

I'M HERE BECAUSE
I WANT TO REACH THE SUMMIT

SO I CAN PROVE
YOU CAN LIVE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE



NO MATTER
WHAT DISABILITY YOU HAVE.

Narrator: THE MOUNTAIN'S ALREADY
KILLED ONE CLIMBER THIS YEAR,

AND THE SEASON ON EVEREST
HAS JUST BEGUN.

WE'RE ALL IN DANGER NOW.

WELCOME TO EVEREST.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
MOUNTAIN GUIDE JON SHEA
LEADS HIS FRIEND JOHN GOLDEN

INTO THE KHUMBU ICEFALL,

THE DEADLIEST PLACE
ON MOUNT EVEREST.

IT'S THE START
OF WEEKS OF ACCLIMATIZING

FOR BOTH OF THEM,

PREPARING THEIR BODIES
TO SURVIVE AT HIGH ALTITUDE,

WHERE THERE IS A FRACTION
OF NORMAL OXYGEN.

HOW ARE WE DOING
PACE-WISE?



I WANTED TO GIVE US
A BREAK HERE

BEFORE WE GET
INTO THE THICK OF IT.

FOR ME, THIS IS A JOURNEY
UP THIS MOUNTAIN.

AND I DON'T KNOW
HOW FAR WE CAN GO UP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS JUST
TO GIVE IT EVERYTHING I GOT.

Narrator: THE KHUMBU ICEFALL
KILLS MORE CLIMBERS

THAN ANY OTHER PART
OF THE MOUNTAIN.

IT'S AN OBSTACLE COURSE
OF AVALANCHES,

DEEP CREVASSES,
AND CRUMBLING TOWERS OF ICE.

WHOA!
WHOA!WHOA!

SERIOUSLY,
WE MADE THAT BY 20 MINUTES.

WE'RE LUCKY.

YEAH.
[ LAUGHTER ]

THAT WAS A HUGE CHUNK OF ICE
THAT CAME DOWN.

IN EVEREST BASE CAMP,

EXPEDITION LEADER ERIC SIMONSON
MONITORS HIS TEAM

TO DETERMINE WHO'S GOOD ENOUGH
TO TRY FOR THE SUMMIT.

WHILE THE ICEFALL IS HAZARDOUS,
IT'S A GREAT EQUALIZER.

IT'S A GREAT WAY
OF MEASURING CLIMBERS.

IF YOU'RE GONNA CLIMB EVEREST,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE WILLING
TO ACCEPT SOME RISK.

IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

Narrator:
JON SHEA HAS CLIMBED MOUNTAINS

FROM ALASKA TO THE HIMALAYAS.

BUT THIS WILL BE
HIS FIRST ATTEMPT

ON THE HIGHEST PEAK ON EARTH.

JOHN GOLDEN PAID FOR
BOTH OF THEM TO CLIMB EVEREST

WITH ERIC SIMONSON'S
IMG EXPEDITION.

JOHN, YOU NEED TO DOUBLE-CHECK
THESE CRAMPONS.

YOU WANT TO GET THOSE
AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN.

GOLDEN STARTED CLIMBING
MOUNTAINS ONLY TWO YEARS AGO.

TWO YEARS BEFORE THAT,
HE COULDN'T CLIMB A STEPLADDER.

SOMEBODY
FROM A GREAT HOSPITAL SAID,

"JOHN, GO BUY A HOUSE
WITHOUT STAIRS

'CAUSE YOU CAN'T EVER WALK."

Narrator:
A STAR ATHLETE FROM CHILDHOOD,

GOLDEN WAS ON A FAST TRACK
TO THE NFL

AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

WHEN A BRUTAL TACKLE
DESTROYED HIS LEFT KNEE.

John: MY KNEECAP GOT CAUGHT
BETWEEN MY LEG AND GOT CRUSHED.

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT
I COULD COME BACK FROM IT.

IT FRACTURED AGAIN DURING REHAB.

SO THAT TOLD ME
MY CAREER WAS OVER.

Narrator: TRADITIONAL
KNEE-REPLACEMENT SURGERY

WOULD LET HIM WALK AGAIN.

BUT HE'D NEVER BE ABLE
TO TAKE ON SERIOUS SPORTS.

THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

HIS ONLY SHOT
WAS PIONEERING SURGERY.

John: THIS LEFT KNEE HERE,
AFTER MANY SURGERIES,

I HAD A TRANSPLANT
FROM ANOTHER PERSON.

Narrator: SURGEONS REPLACED
GOLDEN'S MENISCUS,

THE CARTILAGE THAT ACTS
AS A SHOCK ABSORBER

BETWEEN HIS FEMUR AND TIBIA.

THAT ALLOWS HIM TO CLIMB.

BUT HIS NEW KNEE
ISN'T STRONG ENOUGH

TO HOLD THE BONES
IN PERFECT ALIGNMENT.

John: OBVIOUSLY,
THEY DON'T FIT EXACTLY

LIKE MY ORIGINAL ONE DOES.

FOOT PLACEMENT ISN'T
AN UNCONSCIOUS MOVEMENT FOR ME.

SO I HAVE TO REALLY THINK
AND LOOK

AT HOW I PLACE MY FOOT
EVERY TIME.

Narrator: ONE MISSTEP
AND THE BONES CAN DISLOCATE,

CAUSING HIM EXCRUCIATING PAIN.

John:
HERE, WE HAVE THIS PAIN SCALE.

WE USE LIKE, KIND OF, 10

AS LIKE YOU'RE BLEEDING
OUT OF YOUR NOSE AND EARS.

I USUALLY THROW UP AT 10.

SO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT ABOUT
A GOOD 8, MAYBE A LITTLE HIGHER.

I'M HERE BECAUSE
I WANT TO REACH THE SUMMIT

OR AT LEAST GIVE IT
EVERYTHING I GOT

SO I CAN PROVE TO FOLKS

THAT YOU CAN LIVE
AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

NO MATTER WHAT DISABILITY
YOU HAVE.

Narrator: ON HIS FIRST TRIP
THROUGH THE ICEFALL,

IT'S CLEAR THAT CLIMBING DOWN
IS ESPECIALLY HARD ON HIS KNEE.

YOU'RE GOOD.

OKAY, HOLD ON.
NEED A GOOD WRAP.

GOOD. OKAY.

AAH! AAH!

AAH!

OHH!

TAKE A SECOND.
[BLEEP]

I'M FINE.
LET'S KEEP GOING, JON.

Narrator: WHEN GOLDEN'S KNEE
COMES OUT OF SOCKET,

IT'S BONE RUBBING AGAINST BONE.

HERE. PULL OUT.
I'LL TELL YOU WHEN.

THE ONLY WAY SHEA CAN FIX IT
IS TO POP IT BACK INTO PLACE.

YEAH, DON'T LET GO
OF THE PRESSURE.

HERE AND HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH.

OKAY, YOU READY?
YEP.

1, 2, 3.

AH.
MORE?

YEAH, A LITTLE MORE!
YEP, RIGHT THERE!

GOOD?
OKAY, NOW ROTATE IT.

LIFT THE ANKLE UP
A LITTLE BIT, JON.

THIS KIND OF PROCEDURE

IS USUALLY PERFORMED
IN A HOSPITAL UNDER ANESTHESIA.

WHOA, BABY!

AAH!
KEEP GOING.

[ CRACKING ]

AAH! YOU GOT IT!
YOU GOT IT!

IN?
YEAH, I GOT IT!

WHOO!

OH, BABY!

AH, NICE JOB, JON.

BACK IN?

YEAH. YEAH.
OH, BABY.

Jon:
ON THIS UNEVEN TERRAIN,

IT JUST KIND OF TWISTS HIS KNEE
A LITTLE BIT.

AND BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY LOOSE,

IT'S EASY
FOR THAT TIB/FIB TO TWIST

AND THAT KNEE TO KIND OF COME
OUT OF SOCKET A LITTLE BIT.

MORE?

YEAH, A LITTLE MORE!YEP, R
GOOD?

JON IS ABLE TO TAKE --
AND YOU PULL THE JOINT APART.

AND JON ROTATES
WHILE I HOLD THE FEMUR.

JON ROTATES THE TIBIA.

OKAY, NOW ROTATE IT.

LIFT THE ANKLE UP
A LITTLE BIT, JON.

AH, YEAH.
RIGHT THERE.

OKAY?
YEP.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
NOW GO BACK THIS WAY.

OKAY?
YEAH.

AND WE ACTUALLY OVER-ROTATE IT.

AND THEN HE BRINGS IT BACK.
AND HE LITERALLY CAN FEEL IT.

IT POPS BACK IN.

KEEP GOING.

AAH! YOU GOT IT!
YOU GOT IT!

IN?
YEAH, I GOT IT!

WHOO!

Jon: I KNOW A LOT
OF OTHER GUIDES, YOU KNOW,

AND A LOT OF FRIENDS
HAVE BEEN KIND OF LIKE,

"YOU REALLY WANT TO CLIMB
WITH THAT GUY

WITH EVERYTHING
HE'S GOT GOING ON?"

BUT HE'S DEFINITELY ONE OF
THE STRONGEST AND TOUGHEST GUYS

I'VE EVER CLIMBED WITH.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,
HE'S ALSO ONE OF THE SMARTEST.

I GOT THEM, JON.

PLACE THEM
NICE AND DELIBERATELY.

Narrator:
BACK AT BASE CAMP,

ERIC SIMONSON
IS ALWAYS WATCHING.

HE'LL DECIDE
IF GOLDEN'S TOO MUCH OF A RISK

TO HIMSELF AND OTHERS
TO ATTEMPT THE SUMMIT.

WHEW!

THEY COME HERE KNOWING
THAT IT'S NOT AN AUTOMATIC.

I AM A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED
ABOUT THE KNEE,

AND WE'RE WATCHING EVERYBODY
VERY CLOSELY.

WE'LL SEE HOW THEY DO.

OKAY.

THEY'LL NEED TO DEMONSTRATE
THEIR CAPABILITIES.

YOU KNOW, IF IT'S NOT WORKING,
IT'S NOT WORKING.

THEY'LL COME DOWN.

Narrator:
OVER NEARLY TWO MONTHS,

GOLDEN AND SHEA
CLIMB HIGHER AND HIGHER

ON MULTIPLE ACCLIMATIZING TRIPS.

THE HIGHER THEY GO,
THE LOWER THE AIR PRESSURE.

THE AIR MOLECULES
ARE FARTHER APART,

SO EACH BREATH
TAKES IN LESS OXYGEN.

Eric:
How does Camp 1 look to you?

IT LOOKS PRETTY SWEET,
THAT'S HOW IT LOOKS.

Narrator: CLIMBING TO HIGHER
ELEVATIONS THEN DESCENDING,

THEIR BODIES PRODUCE MILLIONS
OF EXTRA RED BLOOD CELLS

TO CARRY MORE OXYGEN.

THIS IS JOHN GOLDEN
HERE AT CAMP 2.

THE MORE TIMES WE DO IT,
THE FASTER PEOPLE WILL GET.

THEY'LL GET STRONGER.
THEY'LL GET MORE EFFICIENT.

THEY JUST GET BETTER EVERY TIME.

YOU GUYS HAVE NO IDEA
HOW MUCH THESE CAMPS MEAN TO ME.

[ SIGHS ]

YOU GO THROUGH ALL THE SURGERY
AND THERAPY AND TRAINING,

THINK YOU COULD BE HERE.

WHOO!

OH,
I'M AN EMOTIONAL WRECK.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: GOLDEN HAS TO REACH
ONE MORE MILESTONE

BEFORE ERIC SIMONSON WILL
LET HIM TRY FOR THE SUMMIT --

CAMP 3, AT 23,500 FEET.

IT'S MIDWAY UP THE LHOTSE FACE,

A NEAR-VERTICAL WALL
OF GLACIAL ICE...

...THE HARDEST TEST YET
FOR GOLDEN'S KNEE.

[ COUGHING ]

WHEN THIS LEG
IS IN THE BACK,

IT JUST DOESN'T LIFT,
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I'M KIND OF CLIMBING
ON JUST MY RIGHT LEG.

THERE'S NO POP.

IT'S DEAD.
IT'S LIKE FLAT.

DIGGING HIS CRAMPONS
INTO THE ROCK-HARD ICE,

HIS KNEE TAKES A TOLL
WITH EVERY STEP.

John: AFTER WE HIT THE BASE
OF CAMP 3,

YOU HAVE
ABOUT 200 METERS TO CLIMB.

AND IT'S ALL ICE.

AND YOU NEED TO HAVE
YOUR CRAMPONS IN.

AND AT THAT POINT,

MY LEFT LEG WAS
JUST LIKE A NOODLE.

THAT REQUIRED ME TO SUMMON
EVERY BIT OF ENERGY I HAD,

EVERY BIT OF ENERGY.

Narrator: REACHING CAMP 3

IS A PERSONAL BEST
FOR JOHN GOLDEN --

23,500 FEET.

SO, JOE, YOU READY?

[ MAN COUGHS ]

I GOT A LOT TO WORK THROUGH
HERE THIS MORNING.

[ SIGHS ]

KNEE IS NOT WELL.

A LOT OF NERVES RIGHT NOW
ABOUT GOING DOWNHILL.

IT'S GONNA BE A GRITTY DAY,
THAT'S FOR SURE.

HUH?

YEAH?
YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, BRO.

Narrator:
ACCLIMATIZING ENDS HERE.

COMING DOWN, JON.

THEY'LL DESCEND TO BASE CAMP

AND WAIT FOR GOOD WEATHER
TO LAUNCH THEIR SUMMIT BID.

DESCENDING PUTS MORE STRAIN
ON JOHN'S KNEE.

DESCENDING BACKWARDS
IS EVEN WORSE.

AAH! AAH!

AAH!

Jon: HOW'S THAT?

MORE, MORE.

HOW'S THAT?

ALL RIGHT,
NOW GO THE OTHER WAY.

YOU WANT TO PULL IT MORE
THIS WAY, LESS THIS WAY.

OKAY, YEAH. OH, YOU GOT IT.
YOU GOT IT.

YEAH?

NOW ROTATE IT.
ROTATE IT.

AAH! OHH!

WHICH WAY?

NO, THE OTHER WAY.
OKAY.

OKAY, YOU GOT IT.

I GOT IT.
I GOT IT.

I GOT IT.
I GOT IT.

WHEW.

LET'S GO.

OHH!

Narrator: JOHN GOLDEN'S PAYING
A HEAVY PRICE FOR HIS DREAMS.

[ COUGHING ]

THE NEXT TIME
HE LEAVES BASE CAMP,

HE'S HEADING FOR THE SUMMIT.

IF HIS KNEE FAILS
AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD,

THERE'S NO CHANCE OF RESCUE.

WE'RE ALL IN DANGER NOW.

Narrator:
AFTER MONTHS OF ACCLIMATIZING,

JOHN GOLDEN AND HIS FRIEND
AND GUIDE JON SHEA

HAVE A GREEN LIGHT
FOR THEIR SUMMIT BID.

WHOO! MAN!

YOU WALKING ALL RIGHT,
GOLDEN?

YEAH,
I'M JUST FINE, JON.

OKAY, DON'T STAND
RIGHT THERE.

Narrator:
NOW IT'S UP TO THE WEATHER.

MOST OF THE YEAR, THE SUMMIT
IS BLASTED BY THE JET STREAM,

HIGH-ALTITUDE WINDS BLOWING
MORE THAN 100 MILES PER HOUR.

Eric: THE TOP COUPLE THOUSAND
FEET OF EVEREST

ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE.

IF YOU'RE UP THERE

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
THE WIND CRANKS UP

TO 100 OR 150 MILES AN HOUR,

YOU'RE GONNA BE UNABLE TO MOVE.

IT'S GONNA BE REALLY TOUGH
TO DESCEND.

Narrator:
CLIMBERS NEED A FIVE-DAY WINDOW
OF LOW WIND SPEEDS

TO REACH THE SUMMIT AND RETURN.

Eric: YOU GOT HIGHER WINDS,
THE ORANGE COLOR,

HIGHER TO THE EAST
AND HIGHER WINDS TO THE WEST.

AND RIGHT IN BETWEEN IS A BREAK,
IS AN AREA OF LOW WINDS.

IT LOOKS TO ME
LIKE IT'S IMPROVING.

AND SO A LITTLE WINDY HERE
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS,

BUT THEN
STARTING ABOUT THE 10th,

WIND SPEED'S
SUPPOSED TO START DROPPING.

AND I THINK THE 11th AND 12th
MIGHT WELL BE GOOD.

SO THE DOOR IS OPEN NOW.

NOW WE JUST GOT TO EXECUTE.

John: ALL RIGHT. YES!

Narrator:
THERE'S NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.

IF THE JET STREAM RETURNS EARLY,

CLIMBERS COULD BE TRAPPED
AT HIGH ELEVATIONS

WITH HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS.

IF THE WINDOW STARTS CLOSING,
IF THE WEATHER LOOKS BAD,

WE'LL PULL PEOPLE BACK DOWN.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

IT'S REAL, YOU KNOW?

I LIKE IT.
IT'S GAME TIME, YOU KNOW?

[ COUGHING ]

Narrator:
JOHN GOLDEN BEGINS

THE TOUGHEST FIVE DAYS
OF HIS LIFE.

ONWARD AND UPWARD!

GOLDEN AND SHEA
ARE BETTING THEY CAN SUMMIT

BEFORE THE JET STREAM RETURNS.

THEY'LL SPEND THE FIRST NIGHT
AT CAMP 2,

THE SECOND AT CAMP 3,

THEN CLIMB TO CAMP 4

AND LEAVE FOR THE SUMMIT
THAT NIGHT.

GOLDEN'S KNEE
PASSES THE FIRST TEST

WHEN THEY REACH CAMP 2
AT 21,000 FEET.

HERE YOU GO, MAN.
NICE WORK, BUDDY.

WHAT A DAY, HUH?

GOOD.
WHOO!

BUT DAY ONE ENDS
WITH A NEW FORECAST

FROM ERIC AT BASE CAMP.

Eric:
The window that was projected

originally for the 11th and 12th
is shrinking.

So in other words,
climbing on the 11th

is something like
threading the needle.

MY RECOMMENDATION RIGHT NOW
IS TO ABORT THE SUMMIT BID HERE

AND TO DESCEND.

Narrator: DAY TWO.

ALL THE TEAMS AT CAMP 2
HEAD BACK DOWN TO BASE CAMP,

EXCEPT GOLDEN AND SHEA.

THEY'RE TAKING A BIG GAMBLE ON
A FLAT-OUT SPRINT TO THE SUMMIT.

OKAY, THANKS A LOT, ERIC.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

I JUST APPRECIATE
THE OPPORTUNITY.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS, NOW.
BYE, NOW.

WE GOT THE GO.

IF THIS IS GONNA GO,
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE

THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS
REALLY SYSTEMATICALLY

AND COVERED ALL THE BASES HERE.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN, THEN,
FOR TOMORROW?

John: We're looking to leave
about 1:00 in the morning.

AND WE'RE LOOKING
TO MOVE TO CAMP 3

AND THEN, HOPEFULLY,
QUICKLY, MOVE TO CAMP 4

IF WE'RE ALL FEELING WELL
AND THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT.

I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT
THIS WHOLE THING, OBVIOUSLY.

ON THE OTHER HAND,

I UNDERSTAND
THAT JOHN DOESN'T WANT TO PUT

ANY MORE MILEAGE ON HIS LEG
IF HE DOESN'T HAVE TO.

HE'S UP THERE.
HE'S FEELING GOOD.

AND, HEY, THEY WANT TO GO
TAKE A CRACK.

I THINK THAT, ALL IN ALL,
IT'S NOT A TERRIFIC CHANCE.

BUT I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THEIR
MOTIVATION FOR WANTING TO TRY.

Narrator:
THEY ARE SLASHING A FULL DAY OFF
THE NORMAL CLIMBING SCHEDULE

AND CAN USE ALL THE HELP
THEY CAN GET.

ERIC SIMONSON ASSIGNS ANOTHER
EXPERIENCED GUIDE, JUSTIN MERLE,

AND TWO SHERPAS, FINJO AND MEMA,

TO HELP GOLDEN AND SHEA
REACH THE SUMMIT

BEFORE THE JET STREAM RETURNS.

John:
WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S ALL WE CAN ASK FOR
IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

YOU KNOW, I'M NERVOUS AS HECK,
I'LL TELL YOU THAT, THOUGH.

HERE WE GO!

CAMP 4, BABY!
YEAH!

Narrator: FROM CAMP 2,
THEY'LL SCALE THE LHOTSE FACE

ALL THE WAY TO CAMP 4
AT 26,000 FEET IN JUST ONE DAY,

NORMALLY TWO DAYS OF CLIMBING.

TWICE THE EFFORT WITH
ONLY HALF THE RECOVERY TIME.

AND ON EVEREST, EXHAUSTION
CAN BE A DEATH SENTENCE.

John:
WE'RE ON THE OUTSIDE.

GOING CLIMBING.
IT'S KIND OF EXCITING.

A LITTLE SMALL TEAM GOING UP,

TRYING TO THREAD THE NEEDLE
OF THE WEATHER.

ALL RIGHT!
YEE-HAW!

HERE WE GO.

GOOD.

Narrator: CLIMBERS NEED TO DRINK
A GALLON OF WATER A DAY

TO STAY HYDRATED.

JOHN GOLDEN CARRIES HIS WATER
BOTTLE INSIDE HIS DOWN JACKET

TO KEEP IT FROM FREEZING.

THAT'S SIDEWAYS.

YEAH!

HERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT.

AT THE BASE OF THE LHOTSE FACE,

THE TEAM BEGINS USING
BOTTLED OXYGEN

3,000 FEET LOWER THAN USUAL.

MORE OXYGEN IN THEIR BLOOD

WILL KEEP THEM FEELING WARMER,
STRONGER, AND MORE ALERT

AND FIGHT OFF ALTITUDE SICKNESS.

Justin: WE'RE TRYING TO CLIMB
TO THE SOUTH COL IN ONE DAY

AND THEN BE READY TO CLIMB
TO THE SUMMIT STARTING TONIGHT.

SO BASED ON THAT,

WE FIGURE WE'LL MAKE IT
AS EASY AS WE CAN ON OURSELVES.

SO BREATHING THOSE HOPEFULLY
WILL MAKE US FEEL BETTER

WHEN WE GET UP TO THE SOUTH COL

AND, PERHAPS, GO A LITTLE BIT
FASTER, AS WELL, HUH?

Jon: GOLDEN,
HOW'S THAT FEELING?

A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Narrator: THE LAST TIME GOLDEN
WAS ON THE LHOTSE FACE,

HE STRUGGLED FOR EVERY STEP.

THIS TIME, HE HAS TO MOVE FAST,

OR THE WEATHER WINDOW
COULD CLOSE

BEFORE THEY REACH THE SUMMIT.

Jon: PLACE THOSE FEET,
JOHN.

Narrator:
AFTER FIVE HOURS OF CLIMBING,

THEY REACH CAMP 3
AT 23,500 FEET.

MOST TEAMS STOP HERE
FOR THE NIGHT.

FOR GOLDEN AND SHEA,
THEIR DAY IS JUST BEGINNING.

Jon:
HOW'S YOUR KNEE?

CONSIDERING ALL THAT I'M
WALKING, IT'S DOING DAMN GOOD.

YOU KNOW,
IT'S FEELING PRETTY GOOD.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

WOW.

"HOLY WOW" IS RIGHT.

Narrator: TO BEAT THE WEATHER,
THEY HAVE TO KEEP MOVING.

WE'RE MAKING DECENT TIME,
TRYING TO STAY EFFICIENT.

AFTER A GRUELING DAY
OF CLIMBING,

THE SUMMIT WILL BE
WITHIN THEIR GRASP.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S LOOKING
HALFWAY DECENT.

BUT AS WE KNOW,
IT CHANGES QUICK.

GOT TO STAY STRONG.

IF WE'RE GONNA SQUEAK THIS ONE
INTO THIS WEATHER WINDOW.

Narrator: THEY'RE RACING
A VIOLENT STORM SYSTEM

THAT'S HURTLING
TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN.

THEY'RE GONNA
HAVE TO BE FAST.

Jon:
UP THERE, BABY!

YEE-HAW.
IF THE WEATHER HOLDS.

Narrator:
JOHN GOLDEN AND JON SHEA

ARE RACING UP THE MOUNTAIN,

TRYING TO CUT AN ENTIRE DAY
OFF THE FIVE-DAY CLIMB.

SO FAR, GOLDEN'S DAMAGED KNEE

IS HOLDING UP
UNDER THE ADDED PRESSURE.

BUT THE JET STREAM IS RACING

TO THE TOP OF THE WORLD'S
HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

EVEN FASTER THAN THEY ARE.

YELLOW BAND, BABY!

YELLOW BAND, BABY.

Narrator:
AT 25,000 FEET,

THE YELLOW BAND
IS AN EVEREST LANDMARK,

A LAYER OF STEEP LIMESTONE

THAT TELLS CLIMBERS
THEY'RE APPROACHING CAMP 4.

ERIC:
Base camp to Jon and Justin.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD NEWS.

YOU GUYS ARE ABOVE
THE YELLOW BAND.

HOW'S THE WEATHER
UP THERE?

WE'RE GONNA NEED TO HIT THAT
WEATHER WINDOW SPOT-ON TOMORROW,

SO WE'VE BEEN TALKING
TO OUR WEATHER GUY.

AND WE'RE GONNA
TRACK IT CLOSELY.

AND, HOPEFULLY,
THE STARS WILL LINE UP,

AND THEY'LL BE ABLE
TO NAIL THE SUCKER.

Narrator:
THEY'RE JUST BELOW 26,000 FEET

AFTER NEARLY 9 HOURS
OF NONSTOP CLIMBING.

THIS IS WHEN CLIMBERS
START MAKING MISTAKES.

AND ALMOST ANY MISTAKE
ON EVEREST CAN BE FATAL.

GOLDEN AND SHEA REACH CAMP 4
ON THE SOUTH COL

AT 11:30 A.M.

PLUMES OF SNOW
BLASTING OFF THE SUMMIT

MEAN THE WEATHER WINDOW
IS ALREADY CLOSING.

John: YOU WANT TO CHECK
THAT OUT, HUH?

JUST RIPPING OFF THE TOP.

Narrator:
IF THE JET STREAM RETURNS,

THEY'LL BE FORCED
TO DESCEND FAST.

BREATHING SOME O's.

GOT MY HEAD ON MY BOOTS,
MY FEET ON SOMETHING,

AND MY BUTT CHEEKS ARE SPREAD
BY SOME ROCKS.

AT EXTREME ELEVATIONS,

CLIMBERS CAN'T REFUEL
FAST ENOUGH.

THEY'RE BURNING
15,000 CALORIES A DAY,

THE EQUIVALENT
OF EATING 40 CHEESEBURGERS.

NOTHING LIKE
SPICY RAMEN NOODLES.

THEY'LL REST HERE
FOR A FEW HOURS

BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE SUMMIT,

IF THE WEATHER ALLOWS.

IT KIND OF SUCKS NOW.

NO VISIBILITY.
BLOWING SNOW.

ERIC: How are you guys
doing up there?

UH, WE'RE HOLED UP
IN OUR TENT.

IT'S KIND OF SNOWY OUT.

It needs to improve markedly
for us to go.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

YOU GUYS DON'T WANT TO BE
WANDERING OFF INTO A WHITEOUT.

YOU KNOW,
YOU CAN DEAL WITH WIND.

YOU CAN DEAL WITH SNOW.

BUT YOU START
PUTTING THEM TOGETHER,

AND THEN IT GETS HARD
REALLY QUICK.

SO...

LOOKS LIKE OUR SUMMIT BID
IS NOT COMING TO US THIS TIME.

Narrator:
AFTER 19 HOURS AT CAMP 4,

THE WEATHER
IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS DOWN.

WE'RE GONNA HEAD DOWN HERE
IN ABOUT AN HOUR OR LESS

AND RECOVER
AND WAIT FOR ANOTHER WINDOW.

Narrator:
THE TEAM HAS TO DESCEND FAST.

9,000 FEET ABOVE BASE CAMP,

THEY'RE DESCENDING OVER
GLACIAL ICE AND BARE ROCK

IN HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS --

PUNISHING CONDITIONS
FOR GOLDEN'S KNEE.

AFTER FOUR HOURS,
PROGRESS IS SLOW

AND CONDITIONS
ARE GETTING WORSE.

Jon: HEY, WE GOT CAMP 3
A COUPLE MINUTES AGO.

WE SHOULD BE OUT OF HERE
IN JUST A COUPLE MINUTES.

HOW'S YOUR KNEE WORKING
ON THIS TERRAIN?

YOU DO ALL RIGHT?

ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,
IT'S ALL RIGHT.

IT'S PRETTY PAINFUL
RIGHT NOW, THOUGH.

YEAH?

A COUPLE RIGHT OUT
OF THE SOUTH COL THERE,

A COUPLE
REALLY BAD JARS.

Narrator: DESCENDING PUTS THE
HARDEST STRAIN ON JOHN'S KNEE.

THEN JUST BELOW CAMP 3,

HE TAKES THE ONE STEP DOWN

THAT IS EVERY CLIMBER'S
NIGHTMARE.

AAH!

AND SUDDENLY,
HIS LIFE IS IN DANGER.

Narrator:
100-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS

FORCE JOHN GOLDEN AND JON SHEA
TO ABORT THEIR SUMMIT BID.

THE TEAM IS RACING BACK TO
BASE CAMP WHEN A FREAK ACCIDENT

SENDS JOHN GOLDEN
PLUNGING DOWN THE LHOTSE FACE.

John: AAH!

AAH!

[ GROANING ]

Jon: I DON'T KNOW
IF IT WAS A GUST OF WIND

OR HIS KNEE GAVE OUT
OR HE SLIPPED OR WHAT,

BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN
HE WAS OFF HIS FEET, FALLING,

AND HIT HIS CHEST.

Narrator:
THE FULL WEIGHT OF HIS BODY

CRASHES ONTO THE SHATTERPROOF
WATER BOTTLE INSIDE HIS JACKET,

SMASHING IT INTO HIS RIB CAGE.

HIS RIBS MAY BE BROKEN.

AND A SEVERE INJURY ON EVEREST
CAN MEAN NEVER MAKING IT HOME.

AT 23,000 FEET,
HELICOPTER RESCUE IS IMPOSSIBLE.

John: I'VE BROKEN ENOUGH BONES
AND BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH

TO KNOW
THIS IS A SERIOUS INJURY.

Man:
THAT'S WHAT I FIGURED.

IF HE HAS INTERNAL BLEEDING,
INTERNAL INJURIES, HE'S SCREWED.

HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE IT
DOWN THE FACE, YOU KNOW,

IF HE'S BLEEDING OUT INSIDE.

HE'S IN A LOT OF PAIN.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT
OF A SITUATION HERE.

MAN:
Okay, copy that.

We got Sherpas at Camp 2
on standby.

So just let us know
if you guys need any help.

Justin:
PREPARING FOR THE POSSIBILITY

THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO
LOWER HIM DOWN, SLED HIM DOWN,

WHICH WOULD BE PAINFULLY SLOW
AND DANGEROUS FOR EVERYBODY.

CAN YOU ALL
LIFT MY BACKPACK?

WE'RE GONNA
SHORT-ROPE HIM.

YOU KNOW, I CAN GET A BELAY.
WE CAN KIND OF LEAPFROG.

I CAN, WHEN I SEND HER ON,
GET A BELAY,

YOU KNOW,
CATCH UP LIKE THAT.

NOW NOT ONLY
DO WE HAVE BAD WEATHER

AND A CHALLENGING DESCENT,

BUT NOW WE HAVE AN INJURY
TO MANAGE.

WE'RE ALL IN DANGER NOW
ON THIS MOUNTAIN.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LIABILITY.

Narrator:
GOLDEN, IN THE WHITE HELMET,

IS IN TOO MUCH PAIN
TO DESCEND ON HIS OWN.

SHEA USES A ROPE AND HIS OWN
BODY WEIGHT AS AN ANCHOR

AND LOWERS GOLDEN
DOWN THE LHOTSE FACE.

THEY HAVE TO GET HIM TO CAMP 2,
WHERE A MEDIC CAN EXAMINE HIM.

YEAH,
KEEP LEANING BACK.

YEAH, LEAN BACK.

YEAH, THAT'S IT.
KEEP LEANING BACK.

THE MEDIC IN CAMP 2
CONSULTS WITH ERIC SIMONSON

AND THE BASE CAMP MEDICAL TEAM.

MALE. BLOOD PRESSURE
WAS 148 OVER 100.

Narrator:
TORREY GOODMAN

IS IMG's EXPEDITION DOCTOR
AT BASE CAMP.

AND 6 OUT OF 10
TO THE LEFT CHEST.

WITH THIS KIND OF PAIN,
WITH RIBS BEING SO MUCH...

CONTINUE TO MANAGE HIM
THROUGH THE NIGHT.

CAMP 2, JUSTIN.
BASE CAMP.

YO, ERIC.

Is John there?

Is there a chance I could
talk to him just briefly?

YEAH, HE'S TURNING HIS HANDHELD
ON RIGHT NOW.

HE'S IN THE DINING TENT
WITH US, THOUGH.

JOHN:
Camp 2, this is John.

Hey, John.
Good to hear you.

Good job
getting down, man.

AND JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU
MY SUPPORT AND SAY, "GOOD WORK."

YOU GUYS HAD A TOUGH
COUPLE OF DAYS.

Sounds like you need to get down
in one piece, knock on wood.

YEAH,
THANKS FOR THAT, ERIC.

I'M TELLING YOU,

YOU GOT ONE HECK OF A GREAT SET
OF SHERPA HERE.

AND DONALD AND...

[ MOANING ]

MERLE AND SHEA AND EVERYBODY
WAS JUST OUTSTANDING,

JUST OUTSTANDING
TO GET ME DOWN HERE.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

Narrator: BUT GOLDEN
ISN'T OUT OF DANGER YET.

HE'S GOT A BAD KNEE
AND SEVERELY INJURED RIBS

AND THE MOST DANGEROUS SECTION
ON EVEREST STILL TO COME.

John: AAH!

Narrator:
AFTER ABORTING THEIR SUMMIT BID,

JOHN GOLDEN INJURES HIS RIB CAGE
IN A FALL ON THE LHOTSE FACE.

John: AAH!

AAH!

[ GROANING ]

JUST GETTING BACK TO BASE CAMP
IS AN EPIC STRUGGLE.

AAH!

BUT THE HARDEST PART
OF THE JOURNEY IS STILL AHEAD.

SHIFTING SNOW AND ICE
IN THE KHUMBU ICEFALL

PUNISH GOLDEN'S
TRANSPLANTED KNEE.

Justin: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
THE RIBS OR THE KNEE OR BOTH,

BUT, YEAH, HE LET OUT THIS
EXCRUCIATING-SOUNDING, "AAH!"

John: AAH!

AAH!

Narrator: GUIDES AND SHERPAS
CAN'T OFFER MUCH HELP.

GOLDEN HAS TO GET HIMSELF
DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.

SIX DAYS AFTER SETTING OFF,
BASE CAMP IS A WELCOME SIGHT,

AS BIG AN ACCOMPLISHMENT
FOR JOHN GOLDEN IN HIS CONDITION

AS REACHING THE SUMMIT.

THE BASE CAMP E.R.
IS STANDING BY.

I THINK IT MIGHT BE
A GOOD IDEA, JOHN.

YOU GOT BROKEN RIBS
AND LUNG SOUNDS.

YOU GOT TO
GET THEM CHECKED OUT.

GET SOME BETTER
PAIN MEDS.

YEAH.
OKAY?

SHOULD WE DO THAT?
YEAH, SURE.
LET'S DO THAT.

THIS WAS YESTERDAY, RIGHT,
THE FALL YESTERDAY?

YEAH.SO WE'RE 24 HOURS
INTO THIS?

YEAH.
OKAY.

Narrator:
THE NEAREST X-RAY MACHINE

IS IN KATHMANDU,

THE CAPITAL OF NEPAL,
OVER 100 MILES AWAY.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW

IF GOLDEN'S RIBS ARE BROKEN
OR JUST BADLY BRUISED.

SOMETIMES, IT'S A MATTER
OF JUST REALLY PAIN CONTROL

UNTIL YOU CAN KIND OF
LET THESE HEAL.

IN SPITE OF THE PAIN,

JOHN GOLDEN CAN'T KEEP HIS MIND
OFF THE SUMMIT.

I WANT TO EXHAUST
ALL REASONABLE OPTIONS

BEFORE I GET OUT OF HERE

TO SEE IF COULD CLIMB
THAT MOUNTAIN.

Narrator: BUT TO TAKE EVEN ONE
STEP BACK UP THE MOUNTAIN,

HE'LL NEED THE APPROVAL OF
EXPEDITION LEADER ERIC SIMONSON.

WELCOME BACK.

WHAT AN ADVENTURE.
WHAT AN ADVENTURE.

HOW YOU DOING?
GOOD TO SEE YOU BACK.

WAY TO GO THERE, JOHN.
WHAT A TEAM.

I'VE NEVER SEEN WEATHER
LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE.

SO, SOMEWHERE,
WE WENT IN THE WRONG WINDOW.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THE WINDOW CLOSED.

YOU GUYS
MADE GOOD TIME.

YEAH.
WELL, 'CAUSE IT WAS DOWNHILL.

[ LAUGHS ]

GOLDEN WILL NEED
A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH

BEFORE ERIC LETS HIM TRY
FOR THE SUMMIT AGAIN.

Eric: I GUESS THE MAIN CONCERN
IS OBVIOUSLY THE RIB INJURY

AND WETHER OR NOT
THE RIB INJURY

PRECLUDES THE LEVEL
OF SAFETY

THAT WE FEEL LIKE
WE HAVE TO HAVE TO GO UP HIGH.

John: YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'D LIKE
TO DO IS TAKE A COUPLE DAYS

AND EVALUATE IF THERE'S ANY WAY
I COULD PULL IT TOGETHER.

THERE'S A LOT TO PROCESS.

WE'VE BEEN BACK
LESS THAN 24 HOURS.

I'D BE HAPPY
TO GIVE A FEW DAYS HERE.

BUT I KNOW GOING BACK UP

WITH THAT KIND OF AN INJURY
IS GONNA BE HARD.

Narrator: GOLDEN AND SHEA
ARE CLOSE FRIENDS.

JOHN GOLDEN PAID TO HAVE SHEA
AS HIS GUIDE.

THEY CAME TO EVEREST TOGETHER

TO STAND ON THE SUMMIT TOGETHER.

Jon: DO I THINK IT'S A LONG SHOT
THAT WE GO BACK UP?

YEAH, I DO.

BUT DO I THINK
THERE'S STILL A SHOT?

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT STICKING TO THEIR PLAN

COULD PREVENT EITHER OF THEM
FROM MAKING THE SUMMIT

OR COST THEM THEIR LIVES.

JON SHEA HAS A BETTER CHANCE
OF MAKING IT ALONE.

IF EITHER BECAUSE WE DECIDE
THAT I CAN'T GO FORWARD

OR IF ERIC DETERMINES

THAT HE'S NOT GONNA ALLOW ME
TO GO FORWARD,

I'M GONNA LET ERIC KNOW
THAT YOU SHOULD GO FORWARD.

WELL, LET'S DEAL WITH THAT
IF WE HAVE TO.

FINE.

GOLDEN'S PUT MORE THAN $50,000

AND YEARS
OF STRENGTHENING HIS KNEE

INTO HIS DREAM
OF SUMMITING EVEREST.

HE'LL HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE
TO CONVINCE ERIC SIMONSON

HE'S HEALTHY ENOUGH
TO KEEP CLIMBING.

GOLDEN GAMBLES HE'LL GET
A BETTER DIAGNOSIS

FROM A SECOND MEDICAL OPINION.

HI!

HEY, HEY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

HI, HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD.

COME ON IN.
ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

YEAH.

AAH! YEAH.

SORRY.

RIGHT THERE, YEAH.

DOES THAT HURTALL RIGHT.
WHEN YOU SIT UP?

ACTUALLY, WHEN I GO TO FIRST
SIT UP LIKE THAT --

IF I GO STRAIGHT UP,
I'M FINE.

IF I LEAN THIS WAY,
I FEEL IT.

SO, LIKE, IF I GO LIKE THIS,
I CAN DO IT, BUT I FEEL THAT.

YOU CAN FEEL THAT.
IF I GO LIKE THIS,
NO PROBLEM.

OKAY, YEAH, YEAH.

I THINK IF YOU HAD
A FULL-ON SNAPPED RIB,

IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS.
UH-HUH.

SO, AT MOST,
A TINY CRACK.

AT BEST,
JUST A BIT OF SPRAINING

OF THE JUNCTION BETWEEN THE RIB
AND THE CARTILAGE.

PROBABLY THE LATTER.

AND I DON'T THINK
IT'S SOMETHING ENOUGH

TO LIMIT YOU
FROM TRYING AGAIN.

BUT CONVINCING ERIC SIMONSON
WON'T BE SO EASY.

Eric: YOU GOT TO CLIMB
MOUNT EVEREST ON YOUR OWN.

YOU CAN'T GO UP THERE THINKING
THAT YOUR CONTINGENCY PLAN

IS THAT SOMEBODY'S
GONNA DRAG YOUR BUTT DOWN

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.

JOHN GOLDEN HAS ONE MORE SHOT
AT MAKING HIS CASE.

AFTER 23 KNEE OPERATIONS,
YEARS OF TRAINING,

AND MONTHS OF PREPARATION
ON THE MOUNTAIN,

IT'S HIS LAST CHANCE
TO REACH THE SUMMIT THIS YEAR.

AAH!

Narrator: JOHN GOLDEN IS
CLIMBING ON A KNEE REPLACEMENT

AND SUFFERING FROM AN INJURY
TO HIS RIB CAGE.

BUT HE'S DETERMINED
HE'S HEALTHY ENOUGH

TO TRY FOR THE SUMMIT AGAIN.

HE'S GOT ONE MORE CHANCE

TO CONVINCE EXPEDITION LEADER
ERIC SIMONSON

TO LET HIM KEEP CLIMBING...

OR HIS PARTNER JON SHEA
WILL TACKLE EVEREST ON HIS OWN.

John: WE MET WITH MONICA
DOWN THE WAY.

AND SHE GAVE ME
A VERY THOROUGH EXAM YESTERDAY

AND BASICALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE
RIB CAGE'S INTEGRITY IS SOLID,

THAT IF I FELL,
IT WOULD STILL PROTECT ME.

I HAVE NO IMPAIRMENT
IN MY BREATHING.

YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE IT'S WORTH
CONSIDERING A SHOT TO GO UP.

Eric:
I THINK YOU DO A GOOD JOB

OF EXPLAINING
YOUR POSITION, JOHN.

I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY
FIND A DOCTOR

THAT WOULD TELL US
WHATEVER WE WANTED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION

BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE OF
35 YEARS GOING TO THE HIMALAYAS.

I KNOW THAT YOU
HAVE TO BE 100%.

I KNOW THAT CLIMBING EVEREST
IS ABOUT HAVING THE RIGHT HEAD.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE LUNGS.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING THE LEGS.

I THINK RIGHT NOW
YOUR DISABILITIES

MAKE MY QUESTION
TWO OF THOSE THREE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

YOU GOT TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST
ON YOUR OWN.

YOU CAN'T GO UP THERE THINKING
THAT YOUR CONTINGENCY PLAN

IS THAT SOMEBODY'S
GONNA DRAG YOUR BUTT DOWN

IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT.

I DON'T WANT ANYBODY
TO BE LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION

THAT, YOU KNOW, I FELT THAT I
COULD JUST RUN UP THIS MOUNTAIN.

I HAVE WORKED MY ASS OFF
FOR THE LAST THREE DAYS,

AS I HAVE
FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF,

TO TRAIN TO BE SAFE AND SMART
ABOUT THIS MOUNTAIN.

I HAD VERY MUCH HOPED

THAT I COULD GET YOU TO MAKE
THIS DECISION FOR YOURSELF.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE FAILED,
IN A SENSE,

BECAUSE, APPARENTLY,
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE

TO COME TO THIS DECISION
YOURSELF.

SO YOU LEAVE ME NO OPTION.

I WILL MAKE THE DECISION
FOR YOU.

JOHN,
YOU WILL NOT GO BACK UP.

SIMPLE AS THAT.

Eric:
WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE THE TOP.
THAT'S OUR BUSINESS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
WE GOT TO PUT SAFETY FIRST.

AND I JUST FELT THAT GOING
UP HIGH WITH SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS

JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

I JUST DIDN'T THINK
AT THE END OF THE DAY

IT WAS IN JOHN'S INTERESTS

NOR WAS IT IN THE INTEREST
OF THE REST OF THE TEAM.

YOU KNOW, THE DOCTORS HAVE TAKEN
NO X-RAYS OF MY RIBS, RIGHT?

THEY FELT THEM.
THEY MOVE.

THE DOCTORS MAY HAVE IT WRONG.

CAMP 2, JUSTIN.
BASE CAMP.

Narrator: BUT ERIC SIMONSON
IS TAKING NO CHANCES.

HE CALLS IN A HELICOPTER TO GET
JOHN GOLDEN OUT OF BASE CAMP

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Jon: GOLDEN AND I PUT IN A LOT
OF TIME AND A LOT OF EFFORT

OVER THE PAST YEAR,
YEAR AND A HALF OR SO.

HE'S BEEN AN INSPIRATION TO ME
SINCE THE DAY WE MET, YOU KNOW,

SEEING WHAT HE GOES THROUGH.

SEEING HOW HARD HE PUSHES

DEFINITELY HAS MADE ME
PUSH HARDER.

HE ALWAYS SAW THE SUMMIT

NOT AS THE END
OF THE REHABILITATION PROCESS.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

IT WAS ALWAYS THE WAY TO SHOW,
"HEY, YOU CAN DO THIS.

"YOU KNOW, YOU PUT YOUR MIND
TO SOMETHING,

AND YOU ACCOMPLISH A LOT."

Narrator:
WITH HIS FRIEND AND TEAMMATE

HEADING BACK TO THE STATES,

JON SHEA PREPARES TO TACKLE
THE MOUNTAIN ON HIS OWN.

NEW CHAPTER
FOR YOU NOW.

YEAH.
YOU BET.

SUMMITING EVEREST
IS THE ONLY MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT

MISSING FROM SHEA'S CAREER
AS A MOUNTAIN GUIDE.

Jon: I WOULD HAVE BEEN PSYCHED
TO SUMMIT WITH GOLDEN,

BUT, FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT
GIVING IT A SHOT INTELLIGENTLY

AND GIVING IT A SHOT SAFELY.

Narrator: FIVE DAYS LATER,
JON SHEA IS BACK AT CAMP 4

ON THE SOUTH COL,
AT 26,000 FEET.

Jon:
IMG BASE CAMP. SHEA.

HEY, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU
A HEADS-UP.

I'M AT THE SOUTH COL.

Narrator: THE LAST TIME SHEA
AND GOLDEN WERE AT CAMP 4,

THE JET STREAM BLASTED
THE MOUNTAIN WITH HEAVY SNOW

AND 100-MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS.

JUST NEEDED A BREAK
IN THE WEATHER, THAT'S ALL,

WHICH WE DIDN'T GET
THE LAST TIME WE WERE
UP HERE, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT, YEAH, IF HE WERE UP HERE
NOW, HE'D BE PRETTY PSYCHED.

I DO DEFINITELY FEEL LIKE,

YOU KNOW, JOHN AND I
CAME HERE AS A TEAM.

AND, YOU KNOW, NOW IT'S JUST ME.

STILL GONNA GET TO THE TOP
AND DO IT FOR GOLDEN.

[ SIGHS ]

Narrator: THIS TIME,
CONDITIONS ARE PERFECT.

AN EXPERIENCED GUIDE
CLIMBING AT HIS OWN PACE,

SHEA MAKES IT TO THE
HILLARY STEP IN JUST FOUR HOURS,

TWICE AS FAST AS MOST TEAMS.

LESS THAN FIVE HOURS
AFTER LEAVING CAMP 4,

JON SHEA REACHES THE SUMMIT OF
THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN ON EARTH.

FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD,

HE PHONES HIS FRIEND
BACK HOME IN CHICAGO.

Jon:
JOHN GOLDEN!

IT'S JON SHEA.
TAKE A WILD GUESS WHERE I'M AT.

JUST SPECTACULAR, JOHN.
YOU SHOULD BE HERE WITH US.

HEY, THANKS, GOLDEN.

HOW ARE YOU DOING,
MR. GOLDEN?

NO BROKEN RIBS.

MAN, I'M SORRY
TO HEAR THAT, GOLDEN.

LISTEN,
I'M GONNA LET YOU GO.

WE'RE GONNA WARM UP AND THEN
START GETTING DOWN HERE.

ONLY ONE OF US MADE IT,

BUT IT'S SORT OF LIKE
THE WHOLE TEAM HAD SOME SUCCESS.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
REALLY PHENOMENAL

TO SHARE THAT EXPERIENCE
WITH HIM.

John: I DON'T HAVE ANY REGRETS
ABOUT IT AT ALL.

THIS EXPERIENCE
HAS BEEN WONDERFUL, YOU KNOW?

SO, THE BEAUTY AND
THE CHALLENGES OF THE MOUNTAIN

IS DEFINITELY IMPRESSIVE,

AND IT MAKES AN IMPRESSION
ON YOU.

BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST THING
I WALK AWAY WITH IS THE JOURNEY,

THE EXPERIENCE
OF TAKING ON THAT,

EVERYTHING THAT YOU CONFRONT.

Narrator: SUMMITING EVEREST
PLACES JON SHEA

AMONG THE WORLD'S ELITE
MOUNTAINEERING GUIDES.

JOHN GOLDEN AND JON SHEA ARE
PLANNING THEIR RETURN TO EVEREST

TO FINISH WHAT THEY STARTED

AND STAND ON THE SUMMIT TOGETHER
AS A TEAM.