EVEREST: QUEST FOR THE SUMMIT OF DREAMS. Eric Simonson on Everest North Side. Follow the 1994 expedition led by US mountaineer Eric Simonson as it attempts to climb to the summit of Mount Everest from the Tibetan north side. This was the original approach used by the British mountaineers, George Mallory (“Because it's there!”) and Andrew Irvine who made the first attempt to climb Mt. Everest in 1924. The expedition passes through the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, the worlds highest monastery at Ronbuk, and onto base camp for the summit attempt. The film captures the human drama ever present in any extreme mountain climbing attempt including the failure of climbers to descend from their summit of dreams. The film includes great interviews and imagery from the top of the world. 45 minutes VHS Video.
One can see the yak train carrying loads up to Advanced Base Camp. The Sherpas prayer flag ceremony is likewise captured for posterity. Bad weather hammers the expedition on their climb to the North Col, preparing them for existence higher up on the mountain. The expedition struggles to reach Camp Five which is the gateway to the upper reaches of Everest. Only a handful of them make it, as they are hit by a raging gale.
At Camp Six, now in the death zone, a number of them turn back, unable to continue climbing in such inhospitable terrain. A few hardy souls continue. Cameraman Mark Whetu, a veteran Everest summiteer, continues on to the summit with Australian climber, Mike Rheinberger, who had climbed Everest six times before, but never before reached the summit.
Unfortunately, they summit as darkness desends and are forced to bivouac overnight just below the summit. Mike gets altitude sickness and is ultimately left behind. Having lost the struggle, he is never seen again. Mark Whetu barely makes it down, suffering from severe frost bite.
One questions why anyone would consider going to the summit as darkness falls. This is the supreme exercise of bad judgment for which one climber paid the ultimate price. This is never even broached as an issue. One has to wonder at leadership that would allow such a foolhardy decision to be made. This video is strictly for those who suffer from Everestmania.
