National Geographic: Return to Everest/Surviving Everest (1999)

Surviving Everest (1999) does an able-bodied job of presenting the physical and mental challenges of climbing Mount Everest, including commentary drawn on their personal experiences from a number of leading climbers. Since Sir Edmund Hilary attained the peak of Mount Everest in 1953, just 150 people have succeeded in doing the same -- and many have died in the attempt. In this nearly hour-long documentary, climbers explain the teamwork and utter resolve that is necessary to make success even proximately possible -- if the weather holds out on the mountain's shoulders -- and what a thin margin of error on which you walk when above 25,000 feet in altitude, where a crevasse can suddenly open, frostbite or illness can strike, or brain or pulmonary edema can strike and kill you within an hour. Seeing these climbers' faces and hearing their own words is both sobering yet inspiring. The streaming title includes Return to Everest (1984), filmed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Hilary's topping Mount Everest. Here is the touching tale of the lifelong friendships and philanthropy that Sir Hilary has forged with Tensing Norgay (age 69 in 1983) and the formerly isolated Sherpa villages of Nepal. It is fascinating to see nearly every aspect of Sherpa life and the love and respect that villagers hold for the man who created a charitable foundation and personally helped build 22 schools, numerous clinics and hospitals, and several airstrips for the people he feels so close to that he chose to celebrate the 30th anniversary in the village rather than at the royal festivities in England. Admittedly, at approx. 1.5 hours in length, Return to Everest feels a bit long even for my captivated sensibilities, however, the final 10 minutes add an even more personal touch to the retrospective through an amiable one-on-one interview with Sir Hilary. 4 stars.