The 1996 Disaster · STORM OVER EVEREST · PBS Documentary

Absolutely amazing! David Breashears a great mountaineer, writer and filmmaker. Above all he’s a good human being. Thank you for posting this wonderful documentary. Inspiring and heartbreaking. RIP Rob, Scott, Andy, Doug and all those who perished in the storm on Everest.

I am endlessly fascinated by everest and k2 stories but at the same time I just can't grasp having the desire to climb it

The Sherpas that came back to rescue Gau and even tried to reach Rob really are the unsung heros of this stormy day on the top of the mount everest...

R.I.P David Breashears. This documentary evokes so much emotion. It is an awesome example of thoughtful storytelling.

The late Anatoli Boukreev said it best “Mountains are not Stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve, they are the cathedrals where I practice my religion.” ...

When I watch documentaries about Mount Everest I always feel that the Sherpas doesn't get the credit they deserve. Watching how they carry most of the supplies for the climbers, securing the ladders and ropes before every season. I remember a scene from a documentary about a Mount Everest expedition I watched many years ago. I can't recall which documentary it was, but the scene was from one of the base camps late in the evening. Two Sherpas came into a tent with where some of the paying climbers where resting, and they asked the Sherpas where they had been. They answered that they had been up and secured some ladders and ropes. I can't say where this ladders and ropes was, but the look on the face of the other climbers was just disbelief. They simply couldn't fathom that they had climbed so far up and went down again, and the Sherpas acted as this was nothing special. They did this after carrying their own supply in addition to the paying climbers supply. The Sherpas are the true superhumans to me.

A mountaineer once said, "Summiting is optional. Coming down is mandatory." Climbers who lose sight of that are doomed.

"Character is what someone does when no one is watching",....Felt that.

Anatoli’s rescue is beyond belief what a great man he was, RIP stud

Neil really said it best when he talks about Anatoly, "what he did was superhuman." Anatoly went out into the storm, alone, and at 1:00am and saved four people's lives. Extraordinary.

In watching this and reading a bit about the 1996 climbing season, it seems one of the truest climbers is Lou Kasischke. Having saved for years, worked to get into shape and got within a couple hundred feet of the summit, he looked at the summit, his condition, his remaining capabilities --- --- and turned back. With the goal of years so close he could almost taste it, he made a classic example of wise decision-making under extremely stressful conditions.

They didn't mention the Nepali Army pilot who flew a helicopter to 6,500 m to get Beck above the Khombu ice fall. It had been thought impossible because of the thin air. Col Madan Khatri Chhetri "KC" hovered but didn't land while they put Beck in the copter, so they wouldn't have to ge him across the ladders spanning the gaps in the ice fall.

In my opinion, climbing Everest, but not making it to the peak, still counts as climbing Everest. You climb 12 or 15 hours from Camp 4 to get to the peak but you are short an additional 500 or 1000 feet, or whatever distance , before you can safely come back is good enough. You have still climbed Everest. Your loved ones will be thrilled to see you back and you get to keep your fingers, toes, and nose— and your LIFE.

God speed David, you were an inspiration to so many. Thank you for leaving us this documentary about life, death, and Mount Everest. Rip David 🙏

My dad was a mountain climber. He climbed the Grand Teton and most of the mountains in Utah. I’m thankful we were poor so he couldn’t afford a trip to Mt. Everest.

The one thing that continues to amaze me every time is the music in this documentary. When I watch the documentary and listen to the music in the background, it makes me feel like I am with them climbing up Everest. Bravo to the composer of the scores!

I love how Beck describes climbing at night, the blackness punctuated by a string of headlamps representing everyone completely silent each alone with themself in the darkness. Makes it seem more like a pilgrimage.

I attempted Mount Williamson a week back, but turned around because I wouldn't make the summit in time and I met experienced climbers who told me that you should summit no later than 1pm since afternoon thunderstorms are common. I think it was a big mistake that the climbers in this doc weren't keeping with their turn around time, and I think this doc teaches us climbers that we should always stick to our turn-around time. As an experienced climber once told me, "the mountain will always be here." I think it should be in our ethics that safety should always be our #1 priority.

Goodnight, David Breashears. Thank you for the gift of telling your story. 😭

Makalu Gau is so sympathetic... the way his whole body is involved in telling the story... His survival story.. His language sounds beautiful