sherpa phurba tashi is a legend amongst modern sherpa
he has summited chomolungma (mount everest) 21 times
at the start of the 2014 climbing season he is heading to 22
a new record and this despite the fears of his wife and children
he seen at home in a village on the mountain preparing to go
she tearfully saying her brother was killed in the last season
and despite begging him not to go he feels he has no choice
money - to feed his family - she - he loves the mountain more
some history perspective is provided about sherpa tenzing norgay
he and a chap named edmund hillary part of a british expedition
maybe it's just me but that famous kiwi's role is downplayed here
but ok - we learn more of norgay with his children all talking heads
seems he felt he never was given credit for his equal achievement
suggesting sherpas today feel the same way - noted - moving on
at base camp we meet veteran mountainer and kiwi russell brice
he a organiser of expeditions and boss of tashi for over 17 years
it's big business - some climbers paying 6 figures for the pleasure
and in 2014 there are 38 different companies running expeditions
the small army of sherpas are essential to do all the hardest work
lugging tonnes of equipment from base camp to 4 further camps
all in the name of making the ascent for westerners much easier
the downside to that is that there's so many more of them now
this shown with a line of climbers stretching for kilometres
the most dangerous part of the climb is explained in detail
khumbu icefall - a river of ice moving down the mountain
at night it slows but during sunlight hours it is on the move
a timelapse shot showing the scale of the icefall's movement
it has to be passed to get to the summit so nighttime is safest
that when the sherpas cross it lugging the gear of the camps
they are rightly intimidated by the unpredictability of it all
each sherpa anxiously crossing up to 30 times in one season
on april 18th 2014 an avalanche of 14,000 tonnes of ice struck
16 sherpas are killed and a rescue operator swings into action
and with that the sherpas discontent festers and consolidates
they feel the need to honour their companions who have died
comfort their families and respect the power of chomolungma
there's a call made to abandon the remainder of the 2014 season
given the money involved this is mininally bad for the sherpas
but of more significance to current climbers and tour operators
russell brice seen all over the place emotionally and strategically
running a rescue operation and trying to calm a volatile situation
advising his clients it may be all off one (american) is infuriating
can't you talk to their owners - he exclaims of the striking sherpas
as if slaves - and he means it - his kiwi wife looks embarrassed
brice then organises a visit by the minister of tourism to mediate
the delegation flies in by helicopter but fail to make any decision
seems the government is on the take of the large tourist dollar
minimum payment to the sherpas of course who now react
drawing up a list of demands to improve conditions of work
and to provide fair compensation to the families of the victims
the sherpas dig in and as this is announced more offensive talk
the same american comparing the sherpas to the 9-11 terrorists
in the end the season is cancelled and the mountain empties
the sherpas return to their villages and the grieving families
a final shot and voiceover saying chomolungma needs a rest
the final on screen text providing some vital information
the sherpas demands are agreed on by the government
sherpa phurba tashi happily retires 1 short of the record
russell brice pushes for helicopters to fly over the icefall
this encapsulated with his concerns for the sherpas safely
but surely making the ascent even easier and more lucrative
there's politics, greed and egos at work even in this special place
