Everest on Discovery

[masshysteria]

Anyone been following the mini-series on the Discovery Channel about climbing Everest? I have to tape it to the DVR 'cause it's on after my bedtime, so I just watched an episode where one of the groups made the summit attempt. The expedition leader is in his tent at 25,000 ft. monitoring the group with a radio, while working over the weather data he receives on his laptop.
Meanwhile, the 2 remaining climbers are stuck in a traffic jam of about 20 Chinese and Korean climbers, who are not moving fast enough to get through the half dozen bottlenecks below the summit. The most amazing sight in my mind was the conduit of climbing ropes that they were using to gain the top, by using 'biners and ascenders. There had to of been 15- 20 of them, some in use by the multiple groups on the mountain, and others left behind from previous climbs.
Once at the summit, the 2 climbers had to wait their turn to stand on the top, which is no bigger than a very small closet.
I have yet to see the piles of cast off oxygen canisters which are notorious, but it is odd to see permanent base camps set up at 25,000ft and at the North Col. All the while I'm watching this, I can't help but be absolutely amazed by Hillary and Tenzing (and perhaps Mallory) accomplishing this without all of these extras. It's fascinating to watch, but a little weird to see how Everest has become a tourist trap.

[Mark]

I started watching it with my son (6). He just informed me he favors Man vs. Wild but he doesn't really like the Everest show. I have been enjoying it, but I'm not sure if I'll catch it all without his company. As soon as I type this though, I am going to watch one of the back episodes. Everyone in my house is asleep and I don't feel like reading.

I think VFTP has on-going conversation on this topic. It's getting mixed reviews over there. Ditto on the exploits of Hillary AND Mallory. Personally speaking, I'd not climb it even with todays equipment and guides (although Hillary had a great guide). I'm a tad turned off by the high possibly of death and the probability of losing digits.

Anyway, the program is decent and I'm happy to enjoy Everest from my sofa with my blanket.
Mark

[billandjudy]

We've been watching....it's ok...seeing all those climbers lined up like so many cattle waiting to get to a feed trough kind of ruins the thrill of it all. What the early climbers did w/ no high tech equipment is amazing and a much more interesting story..As far as "Man vs Wild"...it's just idiotic

[TFR]

We've been watching....it's ok...seeing all those climbers lined up like so many cattle waiting to get to a feed trough kind of ruins the thrill of it all. What the early climbers did w/ no high tech equipment is amazing and a much more interesting story..As far as "Man vs Wild"...it's just idioticThere is a thread on VFTT (with spoilers) as well...

[masshysteria]

As far as "Man vs Wild"...it's just idiotic

I hear ya, but if you think he's messed, there's another guy named Les who had a program on Discovery I think was called "Survivor Man". Any way, he's a crazy Canadian who does the same thing Bear Grylls does. The only difference is that he's all alone; no camera crew to save his a$$ if something goes awry. Not only that but he has to do all of the filming too.

[NukedRocket]

I hear ya, but if you think he's messed, there's another guy named Les who had a program on Discovery I think was called "Survivor Man". Any way, he's a crazy Canadian who does the same thing Bear Grylls does. The only difference is that he's all alone; no camera crew to save his a$$ if something goes awry. Not only that but he has to do all of the filming too.I think Survivor Man is great! I've picked up a couple of pointers from him that may be useful in a pinch. While I've never seen the "Man vs. Wild" show, what I've seen in previews seems a little too extreme/radical to be practical. I mean, volcanoes? Really? I realize the entertainment value, but I prefer the semi-educational value of Survivor Man.

[Mark]

While we seem to have gotten off the topic of Everest, both Man vs Wild and Survivorman have entertained my son. And me; I enjoy watching with him and I think they have primed him for hiking and camping.

My wife who has watched with us definately favors Survivorman. Not so many ridiculous stunts for the camera.

I must admit I get a kick out of the Bear guy claiming he has to do something absurd (like climb a waterfall) only to find his two camera men are filming him from multiple angles indicating that they didn't have to jump through the same hoops.

Similarly I always chuckled watching Survivorman walk to or fro a camera knowing he had to walk the route multiple times to set up the camera, run the film, and retrieve the camera.

It doesn't seem Discover Channel is paying for any more Survivorman episodes. Man vs. Wild works for me; my son just asked when we are going camping next. I'm no Survivorman - we will not camp until spring.
Mark

[Jay H]

Is that true about survivorman? It appears to be on Wednesdays at 9pm but yeah, I haven't seen a Survivorman (http://science.discovery.com/convergence/survivorman/survivorman.html) since last season.

Jay

[billandjudy]

Yeah---Survivor Man was a little more realistic--He made some neat traps and stuff--He actually cooked his food ,instead of eating raw fish and snakes:eek:

[Mark]

Alright Jay. You made me check to back up my statement. And I was wrong.

From the Les Stroud website: New Season of Survivorman in the works!

Survivorman back in action! Les leaves for Ecuador to film the first show of the new season; Watch in late February 2007 for the fist show to air on the Discovery Channel and OLN networks.

It will be interesting to see which show my son favors. Watching both (and the Disney Channel) is way too much TV.
Mark

[Hikerdad]

I watch and enjoy all these shows....agree that Survivorman is better than Man vs Wild from a "learning" viewpoint...much less extreme and "showy" but I watch both...On the last Man vs Wild when Bear tried to catch the horse and ride out of the Sierra's I told the kids that ole Les had to be rolling his eyes...Great to hear that ASurvivorman is coming back. I enjoy the Everest series also...amazed that such seemingly (to me, at least) inexperienced climbers try it....

Mark: I see you're from Vestal...I'm live in Tioga Terrace....

[ADKJack]

Anyone been following the mini-series on the Discovery Channel about climbing Everest?............... All the while I'm watching this, I can't help but be absolutely amazed by Hillary and Tenzing (and perhaps Mallory) accomplishing this without all of these extras.

Yeah I have been watching the whole series, tonight is the final. Very decent program, and hopefully will get some of the people off the mountain, well maybe not.
As you may know the german asthamatic who was trying to go without O2 did not make it.
I am currently reading a book by Ed Viesturs, No Shortcuts to the Top, that you may find interesting. Ed is a american mountainerr who has climbed all 14 8,0000 meter summits WITHOUT BOTTLED OXYGEN. very good read

[masshysteria]

Well, I stayed up to watch the final episode of Everest, and I have to say that I'm a little numbed by the whole thing. First off, the sheer volume of people climbing Everest is mind blowing. Secondly, the physical damage from altitude and frostbite is alarming. I'm thinking #2 is a direct result of #1? Two of the featured climbers had amputations as a result of this climb!

The most disturbing incident was the dying climber that was passed by 40 people on their climb. The program didn't offer many details on the situation, just some of the radio conversations that occured when the climbers found this man. Wow, if put into that situation, what would I do?

A couple of links to other sites with more detail on this tradgedy;
This one is an interview with a member of the climb who is a double amputee.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20060522-110420-9433r.htm
Everest climber left to die alone - World - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

This article goes into far more detail about the show than the Discovery Channel showed.

http://www.mounteverest.net/news.php?news=15288
Everest - Mount Everest by climbers, news

[Eric]

The most disturbing incident was the dying climber that was passed by 40 people on their climb. The program didn't offer many details on the situation, just some of the radio conversations that occured when the climbers found this man. Wow, if put into that situation, what would I do?


Those links you posted were a little disturbing, Im glad to have read them but wow I can't beleive The story from mounteverest.net
I didn't catch the last episode but was planning on it after watching the second to last episode when the 2 guys had summit fever. I don't know what happened with them?
Did I read the article correctly???? They stated that the film was a propaganda film??

[billandjudy]

Judy and I watched all the Everest episodes.Reading the accounts on the linked web sites surely gives me a whole new outlook on the program and Russell Brice. Judy was appalled that no one attempted a rescue. I thought I understood why at the time, but after reading accounts of actual rescues, it certainly puzzling why an attempt wasn't made. As I mentioned in an earlier post, it is truly disconcerting to see climbers lined up on the mountain like so many sheep. It makes you wonder if the are all qualified to be there or simply have funds enough to pay for shot at the summit.

[masshysteria]

Did I read the article correctly???? They stated that the film was a propaganda film??

Greed , blind ambition, and money were quoted as the reason for the series. The last paragraph is interesting though. Brice charges $8000 to $40000 for a climb, and his company Himex had $10 million in sales.

[hawk]

Judy was appalled that no one attempted a rescue. I thought I understood why at the time, but after reading accounts of actual rescues, it certainly puzzling why an attempt wasn't made.

Not too long ago there was an article in National Geographic Adventure magazine. It talked about the number of people on Everest and the case of one person being left to die and another hiker that people just walked by without assisting. The resaon given was that the stricken climbers had come up by the Nepal? side where there are very cheap fees and the guides just bring them to a point and then they are pretty much on their own. The other climbers who pay the higher fees feel that the "cheap" people are getting exactly what they deserve, and will not help.