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Storm over Everest - Private screening with David Breashears

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I wrote this over a month ago, and between rushing to Norway to the UK and back, didn’t get a chance to post it till now.

Last Friday, I watched a private screening of Storm over Everest by David Breashears.

I thought that was cool to start.

Even better was that David Breashears was in attendance for questions. :)  I was super-thrilled given that I loooooved the IMAX Kilimanjaro and IMAX Everest — loved enough to actually hike the IMAX Kilimanjaro route in 2006 and am looking to do the Everest Base camp trek one day.  Ahhh…need money.  And time.  And to get back in shape.

The film documents the Everest disaster - focusing on the survivors’ experiences and their personal reflections on the events between May 10th to 12 between Camp 4 and the summit.  The resulting deaths witnessed by the survivors made 1996 the deadliest year in Everest’s climbing history.  The documentary centres around three climbing teams - one led by Scott Fischer from Mountain Madness,  another by Rob Hall of Adventure Consultants, plus an independent team including Makalu.

It started with a grand look at the breathtaking scenery of the region, framing the teams as they moved towards their dream goal.  You could sense the excitement and hear their determination.  The beautiful weather and high spirits well conveyed the lull before the storm.  There were setbacks of course and a few ominous signs - one member wasn’t able to continue as the other member chose to push ahead; Scott Fisher looked tired even during his ascent.  Overall though, Everest felt like a wonderful place to be, and it was a great feeling watching several determined teams move towards their dreams.

As the day went by, as person after person reached their summit goal, you started to see a few questionable calls - pushing forward even when tired, celebrating too long atop the summit..the crowds and the ensuing delays…turnaround times past the safety mark; dark clouds coming n rapidly.  Decision after decision - small in itself, contributed to a large, troubling buildup of what was to come.

The storm arrives.   And what happens next is nothing but horror-ed fascination as the survivors are caught by surprise.  Trapped on the mountain in the darkness with shrieking winds and cold cold climates, we watched the recreation of each scene; the behaviour of each cluster of survivors.  With no scenery to distract, we listened to their thoughts, saw the amazing resilience of those who had the will to survive juxtaposed against those that no longer did.   The bulk of the film rested in this section, and really, this was where the most interesting insight was to be had.

As the film wraps up, the survivors reflect back on their actions and of those around.  Interestingly there were no accusations, just a matter-of-fact acceptance of what happened. Still though, I can’t help but wonder about the gap between what was publicly explained and the private feelings that may still be harboured.  Fittingly one of the last questions was raised by Makalu - “would I have gone on if I knew what would have happened? “

After the fact it’s clearly a no.

But in the same situation again, would the same sequence have played out?

There’s no way to know.

~~~~

I had an interesting reaction watching this film.  I found myself captivated by the stories told by the survivors.  Hours after the film, various interview segments continued to play through my mind.   It’s easy to judge behaviour in an armchair observing events unfold.   Would I also have struggled to go on if the summit was so tantalizingly close and when it’s been a lifelong dream and a 5 week trek?  Would I have had the strength to let it go?

Back in 2006,  I watched my fiance’s evacuation 900 feet from Kilimanjaro’s summit in the middle of the night.  He was delirious from the altitude; recognizing no one, oxygen levels dangerously low.  As I sat through that night, knowing he was being taken down, I wrestled through multiple emotions - worry about how he was, of course relief that we found him in time (collapsed just outside his tent), but also anger that it happened, and disappointment that he wouldn’t be sharing the summit push with me.

Most poignant for me amongst all, was the realization that, if not for the guides’ intervention and insistence, I myself may not have made that same call.  So would it have been any different if now instead I was near the summit of Everest, and I was making my own decision about myself?

So at the end of it, what did I think of the film?  My first reaction would be to say I loved it, but that’s hard to say when watching a film about the hardships faced by a group of people who lived to tell the tale.  Maybe the right statement would be to say that I really liked the way David Breashears told the story, and thought enough about it to order a copy off Amazon to share with other friends who I think are going to appreciate this documentary.  I was really impressed by the fact that David Breashears personally funded this project to get it off the ground and to make it happen.  He did this to ensure the integrity of the film & the characters portrayed.  He didn’t want sensationalist angles, but rather, to get a real, as accurate look as possible look at what happened, how people felt, and what they did.

Kudos for that.