Admit it.
You just love extreme sports.
And we've got a huge challenge for you.
This is Mount Everest,
one of the most extreme places on Earth.
If you set out to conquer
the highest mountain in the world
you'll face deadly
physical and mental challenges.
Scaling Mount Everest is no easy feat.
At least 295 people have died
on Mount Everest,
and we don't want you to be next.
Mount Everest
is the highest mountain in the world
at 8,850 m (29,035 ft).
It lies between Nepal and China.
This gigantic mountain
arose from the movements
of tectonic plates millions of years ago.
Do you know that it's still growing?
Above 8 km (5 mi) close to the summit
lies the "Death Zone."
It's so high that you can only breathe in
about one third of the oxygen
you get at sea level.
This could cause fluid to build up
in your lungs and brain,
and blood clots in your lung arteries.
Here, every decision is critical.
I don't mean height, age and weight
I mean, what would you do
in a life-threatening situation?
Can you stay calm, think clearly,
and follow directions?
When you're hanging onto
the side of a mountain, in a storm,
staying calm could help you
and your teammates to survive.
There's no "I" in team,
and it couldn't be any more apparent
than on Everest.
Nobody climbs to the summit alone.
So it's always a team effort,
and everyone relies on each other.
When you and your team are
on the mountainside you could all be
attached to the same rope.
What would happen
if someone hasn't attached
the rope securely enough?
So remember,
teamwork is essential
for making the summit.
with dangerously low oxygen levels
and freezing temperatures,
will you be strong enough to keep climbing?
Knowledge and training
will be crucial to surviving.
For instance, know how much oxygen,
and what flow rates,
you'll need to climb safely.
Also, be prepared for all
the challenges you could face.
One major risk is hypothermia,
which happens when your body loses heat
faster than it can make heat.
And the ultraviolet rays
reflected from snow and ice
can cause snow blindness,
making climbing even more dangerous.
Learn how to handle these challenges
for your health and your team's.
And make sure you've got the right
climbing equipment and supplies.
You have to carry everything you'll need.
Huge mountains are notorious
for their drastic and
unexpected weather changes.
Mount Everest is no different.
One moment it's clear
and the summit is in sight.
The next it's harsh winds
and the chance of being stopped
by heavy snowfall.
Remember to constantly
check weather forecasts,
and take them seriously
before you continue climbing.
Climbers often spend days on the mountain,
waiting to continue climbing.
Also any sort of helicopter rescue
on Mount Everest is not possible.
Although helicopters can reach that altitude,
weather conditions make it
impossible to attempt.
ability to climb Mount Everest.
Sherpas are native to the Himalayan region,
descended from Tibetan heritage.
They are the real experts and heroes
of Mount Everest.
Without their help,
reaching the summit is almost impossible.
So, it is important to trust
and learn from them.
They have years of knowledge
and experience and they know the mountain
better than anyone,
including how to cope with
avalanches and icefalls.
The record-breaking mountain guide,
Kami Rita, has climbed Mount Everest
more than 20 times.
He can tell if a climber will be able
to summit the mountain, or not.
It sounds trivial, but at 8,000 m (26,246 ft)
death could just be one mistake
or rope failure away.
Always make sure to clip in to a rope
everywhere you go and don't rush.
In recent years, one of the major hazards
on Mount Everest is the sheer number of
climbers on one stretch of the ascent.
People have to wait
for their turns to keep climbing,
which adds to the time
it takes to finish the climb,
and increases the chance that they'll
run out of food before they're finished.
Also, remember that ropes take a lot of wear
so check them daily to make sure
they are strong enough
for the next day's climb.
we can give is simply that it's okay to fail.
We know factors like the high fees
climbers pay to do the climb,
and dreams of being one of the few
that have made the summit are important.
But at the end of the climb it's better
to turn back, live another day,
and hopefully try again.
The English actor Brian Blessed
knows all too well,
he has attempted
to summit Everest three times.
On his last attempt,
Brian was only a few meters
from the summit,
when he chose to sacrifice his chances
to help rescue a fellow climber.
Now, in his 80s,
he will never get another chance
to summit and achieve his ultimate goal.
Climbing to the highest peak in the world
is very, very tough.
And while the number of people who summit
Mount Everest increases every year,
the dangers increase too.
In 2019, there were long queues
in the "Death Zone,"
and 11 people died in just one week
as they waited to continue the climb.
So now that you've survived Mount Everest,
what's your next challenge?
Well, how would you survive
being buried alive?