Tigress Productions filmed two teams on Everest this past spring and tonight, advice The Discovery Channel aired in the U.S. the first three episodes of the five part season.<\/p>\n
For the first time they filmed on the Nepal, south, side of Everest since the Chinese made it too difficult to climb from the north in 2009. Also they followed two teams, Eric Simonson’s International Mountain Guides in addition to their regular; Russel Brice’s Himalayan Experience (Himex).<\/p>\n
In a departure from their formula of interpersonal conflict, exaggerated drama and defiant climbers; this season focused almost exclusively on climbing.<\/p>\n
In the previous two seasons, Himex climbers were followed as they met in base camp and spent several weeks acclimatizing through a series of climbs to ever higher camps. We got to know each climber individually and, of course, all the characters. This time, the producers choose to focus on a couple of climbers each hour with most of the footage above base camp. We really never got to know any of them.<\/p>\n
Episode 3 was my favorite. I enjoyed the helmet mounted camera shots. It was most impressive to follow Scott Parazynski and his immediate Sherpa team as they climbed above the South Summit, the Hillary Step and onto the summit in the early morning hours. Fellow climber, Dawes Eddy was there and became the oldest American to summit and return safely to base camp – at least for that moment. He was 66.<\/p>\n
Episode 2 focused primarily on John Golden and his amazing performance with a reconstructed knee that was inspirational but left some viewers wondering about the risks. In a throwback to previous seasons, the cameras had tight shots of a pained Golden negotiating with Simonson after he allegedly broke his ribs. Golden wanted another shot at the summit and Simonson said no.<\/p>\n
David Tait, a gifted climber from Briton was the star of the first episode but it felt extremely rushed for what he accomplished – summiting with the Sherpa who were fixing the ropes. The avalanches from Everest’s West Shoulder dominated the first episode showing in detail the crevasse rescue of Walter Laserer and the death of Lhakpa Nuru.<\/p>\n
Some viewers were hoping for more scenes of the process of climbing Everest including the trek to base camp from Lukla. This section makes a south side climb very unique in the world of climbing and quite different from the north. It is a shame the producers left this out. Also, a bit more on life at base camp would have been nice.<\/p>\n
There are only five episodes this season and the final two focus on Himex.<\/p>\n