Mon, Dec 18, 2006
The mutinous climbers are suffering from Summit Fever and still refuse to turn back because the summit is just 350 feet above them. But Russell is adamant they'll die unless they obey his orders. Eventually, their team mates returning from the summit manage to persuade them to descend but they're now very weak and running out of oxygen. Their survival is far from guaranteed. Max Chaya proved himself a very strong climber summiting well before everybody else at dawn, but on his way down he encounters and unconscious climber who is badly frostbitten and close to death. He asks Russell what he can do for the man, but Russell says there's nothing they can do. As the climbers descend it's clear that many are suffering serious frostbite. It's been one of Russell Brice's most difficult expeditions and one of the deadliest seasons on the mountain.
Mon, Dec 11, 2006
Team One have summited but the mountain is so crowded with other climbers that they get caught in yet another queue as they attempt to get down. It's turned into a marathon climb of nearly 18 hours with climbers suffering frostbite in the bitter cold. Now it's Team Two's turn at the summit and they set off two hours early in an attempt to beat the queues, but it means an extra two hours in the dark on one of the coldest days anyone can remember. Mark Inglis makes history as the first double amputee to summit, but two climbers who are struggling mutiny when Russell orders them to turn back.
Mon, Dec 4, 2006
Both teams are trapped in camp at high altitude by unexpectedly high winds that threaten to wreck their summit bid. It's particularly bad news for Mogens Jensen who is climbing without supplementary oxygen and can ill afford extra time in such thin air. When the weather relents next day, Mogens sets off into the Death Zone. He got within 400m of the summit last year before having to turn back with frostbite, but summiting without oxygen would be an extraordinary achievement and the Death Zone is unforgiving. At 1am, Team One leave top camp for the summit but almost immediately get caught in a human traffic jam that stops them in their tracks. If they can't pass some of the slow climbers ahead of them, they will run out of time and oxygen.
Mon, Dec 3, 2007
One day after Team One's departure for the summit, it's Team Two's turn to leave for their summit attempt. Mogens Jensen is still determined to summit without oxygen after three unsuccessful attempts. He leaves Advanced Base Camp. The team is once again reminded of the dangers they face on the mountain when an Irish climber is brought to see expedition doctor Monica Piris with a painful case of snow blindness.
Mon, Dec 17, 2007
It's now Team Two's turn to go for the summit. Among the climbers trying to reach the top of the world are Danish Mogens Jensen who, after three unsuccessful attempts, is now hoping he'll finally make it, and Japanese Katsusuke Yanagisawa, who, at 71 years old, will become the oldest person to reach the summit of Everest - if he can make it. After both teams come back to Base Camp, they reflect on how their Everest experience has changed them.
Mon, Nov 19, 2007
After Russell announces the two summit teams, the expedition leaves for their summit attempts while David Tait and Phurba Tashi are getting close to the top. At Advanced Base Camp, some of the dangers of Everest are highlighted as expedition doctor Monica Piris cares for a climber who developed pulmonary edema near the summit and a Japanese climber whose lack of proper gear resulted in serious frostbite.
Mon, Nov 20, 2006
It's the best weather for years on Everest and normally cautious Russ decides to gamble on a secret early summit. He spots a weather window in two weeks time but his Sherpas will have to work flat out to put the necessary tents and oxygen in place and his climbers will have to stay uncomfortably high to complete their acclimatisation in time. For some climbers it's bad news - they don't look ready. As the weather window approaches, Russ makes up his mind to go for it, but it's a close call. The two summit teams are announced and there's no going back.