All language subtitles for Shrpa.2015

(Powerful wind blows)

(Prays in Nepali)

(Repeats prayer)

(Pants)

(Ice creaks)

(Over radio)

- Hello.
- How are you?

I'm fine, Didi.

(Prays)

This is an astonishingly
chance relationship.

Between Western climbers
and the Sherpas.

When climbing began,
the Sherpas had no conception

of what mountaineering
might be,

and yet suddenly
they were on this journey

from being people
who just genetically

were really good at altitude

to becoming international
mountain guides

100 years later.

NEWS REPORTER:
1953 - coronation year.

The world was stirred
by the news that

Everest had at last
been conquered.

By a British expedition
led by Colonel John Hunt.

}Accompanied by the famous
Sherpa Tenzing,

Edmund Hillary
climbed the summit

of the world's highest
mountain.

When Tenzing Norgay
reached the summit of Everest,

That is such an amazing
moment.

It's one of the most beautiful
moments in climbing history.

That's the moment when
the word 'Sherpa'

Has the meaning of brand in
the way that we understand it.

The world was captivated by
Tenzing,

and he fixed in our minds
the popular image of a Sherpa.

As this smiling, friendly,
almost heroic figure.

JAMLING: A lot'
of the Western world

do not know
what a Sherpa is.

'Oh, Sherpa, ' you know -
'you climb mountains.'

That's the first instinct.

But they have no idea that.

We are actually
an ethnic group of people.

We believe in reincarnation,
life after death.

You continue to be reborn
and reborn and reborn.

Until the day
you reach nirvana.

So your next life is
determined.

By your deeds in this life.

We Sherpa people have a great
respect for the mountain.

JAMLING: Over here,
we climb mountains,

but it's a holy place.

There's a huge difference
in the attitude, the feeling.

Western people approach it as
a physical challenge,

Push a limit to see how close
you can get to death.

There's 1,000-year-old stories
we have

about the mountains,
its history,

which these people have
no idea about.

Some people adapt
and learn and respect it,

some people don't.

ED: If Phurba is one
of the most successful

climbing Sherpas
of his generation,

then his counterpart
amongst expedition leaders.

Is his boss, Russell Brice.

RUSSELL: I've been running
commercial expeditions here

since 1994.

I think I'm the person that's

been on more
Everest expeditions

than anyone else in the world.

This is all oxygen.

I brought those two broken
ones in Kathmandu.

How can I explain
Phurba Tashi?

This year, he might
climb Everest 22 times,

More than anyone else
in the world.

He's such a special person.

He's incredibly strong
on the mountain.

Good idea. Hot water here.
Easy to come from the kitchen.

Hi, guys.

ED: The service-industry
aspect of climbing Everest.

Has developed and developed.

So, what mountaineers in 1975,
maybe, would have put up with.

The people who are coming now
want something a bit more.

They want a very comfortable
base camp.

Everything's good.

So much work for these guys
to make all these platforms

and put tents up.

ED: The activity here has
changed utterly.

It has become an industry,

And that industry is
peopled largely by Sherpas.

(Sings)

And they may not still
fully understand

what it is that compels us
to climb mountains,

but they are fantastically
good at.

Delivering the experience.

So far, so good, actually.

Everybody's looking
and sounding quite healthy.

A couple of mild headaches,
but that's to be expected.

Alright, folks,
let's roll on out of town.

In the old days,

People did everything
on the mountain together.

Today, the mountain has
changed in that.

The operators
take care of everything.

In the old days, if you got
one person on the summit,

that was a success.

Now we need to get everyone
on the summit.

If you want everyone
on the summit,

You need much more
creature comfort.

Certainly, the type of person
that comes on an expedition

has changed considerably.

We bring people here to help
them fulfil their dreams.

Good to see you.
You boys done hard work.

It's been a goal as a climber.

I know, to a lot of climbers,
it might be trivial,

but to me,
being on top of Everest.

Is just the achievement
of a dream.

Part of the reason why
you want to climb,

you want to experience
those things,

see if you can
physically do it,

It's a massive undertaking.

The training is phenomenal.

It's not something you put
together in a couple weeks,

It's months of planning and
months of getting organised.

Everest has always
been attractive

for several reasons for me.

I love the Buddhist side
to it,

I love the whole...
I love the Nepalese people.

For me, it's been a more
enjoyable mountain than most,

because I think
that's so cool,

That you get to share it
with these beautiful people.

MAN1:I've never seen a man
So protective...

MAN2:Are you watching this
right now?

ED: So, for just eight
hectic weeks each year,

Everest Base Camp
becomes this thriving village.

In recent years,
overcrowding on Everest.

Has been the source
of a lot of controversy.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: It might just
be the last place on earth

you'd expect to find
a traffic jam -

the top of the world,
Mount Everest.

RICHARD MORECROFT:
These images show how line-ups

cause long
and unnecessary delays.

ALLEN PIZZEY:
4,000 climbers have been.

To the top of Everest. 600
people do it in a good year.

It has become a very necessary
part of the Nepalese economy.

LEE PERRY:
Expedition companies charge.

Up to $100,000 to clients
wanting to make the ascent.

ALLEN PIZZEY:
Climbing Everest has become.

A bucket-list ambition and a
multimillion-dollar industry.

ED: This is a big employer -

lots and lots of people.

There are more Sherpas
working on the mountain now

than there have been
in history,

But they only get
a small fraction of the pie.

ALLEN PIZZEY:: Sherpa guides
earn up to $5,000

for a two-month expedition,

ten times
the average annual pay.

In their isolated homeland.

ED: The whole Everest circus

just seems to get
bigger and bigger,

and this season is
no exception.

Russell Brice's team is just
one of 38 expeditions

on the mountain this year.

All these people
have to be looked after,

And all their equipment has to
be moved up the mountain.

You have Google maps.

Photographing the route
to the summit.

There's a Hollywood
feature film.

There's even a guy
in a wingsuit.

Trying to jump off the top
and fly all the way down.

STEVEN: We're here to put on
one of the most ambitious.

Television projects in the
history of the media world.

He'll be flying down here, and
we'll be broadcasting it live.

There's a reason that Superman
movies and Batman movies.

And Spider-Man, all these
superheroes, are so popular.

I can do what
those guys can do.

It's kind of daft,
but in the world of adventure,

People are always thinking
of new, crazy things to do.

Part of the deal now is that

there are all kinds
of strange notions.

Of what can be done on Everest
simply to attract attention.

1, 2, 3!

ED: The way these commercial
expeditions climb Everest

is to establish a series
of higher and higher camps,

stocking them
over a period of weeks

with everything required.

To give the clients the best
chance of reaching the summit.

The Government doesn't
permit equipment

to be flown up the mountain,

so everything that goes into
building these camps

has to be carried...

...and it's the Sherpas that
do that work,

Including going through what
is its most dangerous section.

ED: If you want to climb
Everest from the south,

You have to go through
the Khumbu Icefall.

It's the route up Everest most
commercial operators prefer,

partly because of
political uncertainty

on the northern side
of the mountain, in Tibet,

which they'd rather avoid.

RUSSELL: The Khumbu Icefall is
like a waterfall of ice.

Coming out of the Western Cwm.

There's nowhere else
in the world

that a mountaineer would go
through an icefall like this,

but because it's the only
access on the south side

to Everest, then people do.

Walk through
this jumble of ice.

The problem with the icefall
is that it's uncontrollable.

All the other aspects of the
mountain that are dangerous,

in terms of safety, have been
improved over the years,

But the icefall remains
perilous.

ED: There are threats
from every direction.

ED: Not only that,

there are big blocks of ice
falling down,

Without warning, from above.

You're asking men to
go to work.

In a very dangerous
environment.

And it's becoming more so
as the seracs -

these giant blocks
of glacial ice -

Are affected by the forces
of climate change.

They're dropping off
more readily,

And people are going to
get caught more often.

MAN: Oh, shit!

ED: So you know that this is
a perilous moment,

Going through the icefall.

MAN: Oh, my God.

ED: And it's not just
once or twice

the Sherpas have to
go through it

it's up to 30 trips per season.

As compared to about two
or three for most foreigners.

I'm totally shit-scared.

Every time I send the Sherpas
up in the mountain,

it's like sending them off
to war.

I don't know who's
going to come home.

If there's an accident
in the icefall,

Are we going to lose one,
two, six people?

Because the potential is
there.

And the question is,

What is the moral
justification for that?

What reward is there
for you to play.

What is essentially a game
of Russian roulette?

In 2012, I determined
the mountain to be dangerous.

(Ice creaks,
voices over radio)

Every night, I'd listen
to the Sherpas on the radio,

going through the icefall.

All the time,

they were running away from

small avalanches
and blocks of ice falling down.

And things like that.

So I made a decision
to cancel my expedition.

That's an incredibly hard
thing to do -

To cancel
a commercial expedition.

There were people around
who said,

"Russell has been
a bit of a chump,

because his clients will
be pissed off

because they went home

and other people
got to the top.'

I think Russell Brice was
really

putting into perspective
the risks.

That people were
making the Sherpas take.

Now Russell has four of those
clients returning this year,

So that adds a lot of pressure
for a successful expedition.

Tenzing Norgay was a man who
was determined

to change his stars.

And when he reached the summit
of Everest, he did that.

The British couldn't
have done it

without someone like Tenzing.

He'd been to the mountain
seven times by that point,

and they benefited from all
those years of his experience,

but he wasn't acknowledged,
he wasn't given due regard

for what he had achieved.

Coming down from that,
almost immediately,

He finds himself
in a political firestorm.

REPORTER: Who got
to the top first?

To anybody who climbs
mountains, to any mountaineer

and, I feel,
to thousands of others,

The matter couldn't
matter less.

NEWSREEL NARRATOR:
When Tenzing Norgay was asked.

How he felt, his cheery
answers had to be interpreted.

JOHN HUNT: He's very happy.

(Everyone laughs)

All this,
and the George Medal too.

ED: So John Hunt became
Sir John Hunt,

Hillary became Sir Ed Hillary.

And Tenzing got
the George Medal.

Now, there is a superior award
to that - the George Cross.

It's kind of like
a second-level award.

It was just not right.

In the eyes of Sherpas, in
the eyes of people in India,

in the eyes of most Asians,
they felt somewhat slighted

that he did not get
the same kind of recognition.

That his partners got
on Everest.

JAMLING: My father said,

'I wish I had never
climbed this mountain.'

He was immensely proud
of what he'd achieved,

But I think he felt thwarted,
in a way.

I think he felt that
he hadn't realised himself.

In the way that
he would have liked.

I think partly it's because
he lacked a formal education.

DAWA:
The 60-year-old reputation

of what it is to be a Sherpa
is changing.

SUMIT: Now, you go
to Base Camp,

and more than 80% of Sherpas

finish their high school.

If you go 20 years ago,

None of them have
been to high school.

Because of their education,
they know a lot more.

Than Western clients think
they do.

DAWA: Now,
with the Facebook generation,

Sherpas see how much credit
Westerners are getting

for a climb on Everest,

And they know that they've
done most of the grunt work.

Without the Sherpa,

The Westerner would never
have gotten there.

They are dissatisfied
with that,

And they want equal credit
for what they have done.

What we've seen
in recent years is a tendency.

Of aggression
from younger Sherpas.

Last year,
there was fighting on Everest.

I think
we're all disappointed,

so sad about that.

CHARLIE ROSE: Dozens of people
risk their lives every year

trying to climb Mount Everest.

This morning, some of them say
they nearly died in a brawl.

ZOE COYLE: Man versus the
mountain to man versus man.

JOHN DONVAN: Three climbers
say they faced a human foe.

JON SNOW: Three European
climbers fled for their lives.

JOHN SPARKS: Highest-altitude
scrap in history.

UELI STECK:
They just tried to kill us.

SETH DOANE:
Sherpas tried to kill you?

This all unfolded
near the summit,

at an altitude
of roughly 22,000 feet.

ED: You have a European
calling a Sherpa

a mother-fucker,
which is, in Nepal,

particularly
culturally insensitive.

GREG:
I know what word you used.

I don't like that word either.

SETH DOANE: Sherpas,

Who usually help Westerners
summit, turned against them.

I'm sorry...
I'm sorry for all what I said.

All the words that came out
from my mouth were wrong.

I'm sorry.

Yes.

MAN: Please, no violence!

MAN: He came to apologise.

I'm sorry for...

Yes, yes. I...

MAN: Please, no violence.
Listen...

I'm very sorry.

Go inside, go inside.

RICHARD MORECROFT: It's
not clear whether the fight

was something personal

or reflected
a greater discontent.

MAN: Please help.
No violence, please!

It's about Sherpas no longer
feeling that

they have to be subservient

or deferent
to Western climbers,

and not playing out that role

of the faithful servant
anymore -

not being the nice, friendly,

smiley person
in the background.

Just saying,

"Actually, you know what?
We're as good as you.'

RUSSELL: I'm a little afraid.

Where it's going to lead
in the future.

It's too hard.

The tension is too hard,
the worry is too hard.

I'm getting too old for that.

Good morning, Dai.

TIM: Good morning,
Mount Everest!

Hot towel.

Your tea.

Wow.

Roughin' it on Mount Everest -

Hot towels and tea
in the morning. (Laughs)

Ah! (Thanks in Nepali)

You're welcome.

MAN: Could I have a tea
with no sugar, please?

(Men chant)

(Men chant)

(Rumbling)

ED: The reason Everest fakes
eight weeks to climb

is that the body needs
to slowly acclimatise

to the altitude.

RUSSELL: We do acclimatisation
on Lobuche Peak

to stay out of the icefall,

To reduce the risk
for our clients.

ED: When Russell Brice
starts getting his clients

to camp on top
of a nearby peak

rather than going through
the icefall to acclimatise,

that makes sense.

The fewer trips
anyone has to make.

Through the icefall,
the better.

Meanwhile,

the Sherpas are still

stocking the camps
on Everest,

making dozens of trips
up and down,

carrying all the oxygen,
the tents, the food, so on

so that the mountain is
ready to be climbed

when the clients return.

RUSSELL: And so this year,
my clients will go through

the icefall twice,

but I daresay

most of the Sherpas will

go through 20 to 30 times.

I'm not sure the clients
actually ever see that.

That is a nice day
for a climb.

I think a lot of people,
even on our trips,

don't really understand,

all this work is going on
every night,

Loads of equipment going up to
support them on the mountain.

(Laughter)

Now we have (o start the
real job of why we're here -

going up through the mountain.

Safety is very,
very important.

If you go through the icefall
without crampons,

if you go through the icefall
without clipping on,

I'm going to sack you.
You're going to go home.

ED: It must seem crazy,

going through the
Khumbu Icefall in the dark,

but it's actually much safer,

Because it's more stable
in the cold of night.

Once the sun hits, it becomes
increasingly dangerous.

RUSSELL:
You have remember that

you have a big responsibility.

Not only for your own safety
but for your family.

Even if it's a full moon,
you must have your headlamp.

The transceivers must
be turned on here,

and you must
use the transceiver.

Every day that
you go through the icefall.

We know, if a serac
falls on top of you,

you're not going to survive,
but if you have a transceiver,

It means to find you
will take much less time.

That puts the people doing
the rescue at much less risk.

(Men pray)

Check, check.

(Pants)

(Rumbling)

There's at least five out here

that are
out of the danger zone,

and there's another four
or five I can see

that are still in the depths
of the icefall.

MAN OVER RADIO: Update from
icefall - 13 or 14 missing.

Not sure what team
they're from.

Phil, are all your boys OK?

Phil, I can't hear you,
but are all your boys OK?

Just say yes or no.

Thumbs up. OK, thanks.

MAN: Russ, where's that...

RUSSELL: AC and AAI.

They were Dawa Sherpa,
so AC Sherpa and AAI Sherpa.

MAN: Shit, no.

I'm not aware of numbers,
but it's significant amounts.

It's in the teens.

Take that, keep that with you.

OK.

Definitely bring the long line
from Kathmandu.

Cheers. Ciao. Bye.

MAN OVER RADIO:
Can confirm three dead,

One severely injured,
needs to be helicoptered.

Steel shovels.

Anything you can start
bringing up from Base Camp.

We want that sked.

- The oxygen.
- If people are stable,

We'll bring them down
if we can't fly them out.

Sure.

Shit for
the beginning of the season.

- Fucking A. Fuck!
- Yeah.

- Morning, Dai.
- Morning. Namaste, Dai.

Lakpa goes up,
gets some oxygen.

Will you go second load?

One of my guys is
very serious,

so I prefer
to bring him down fast,

As soon as possible,
because he's alive now.

Yeah, we try.
My doctor here, waiting.

That's OK. But we need sked,
we need all that.

We need the oxygen up there
first flight.

What we're trying to do is,
you and I on the first load.

I'll try
and secure the helipad.

WOMAN: You do site stuff,
I'll do medical stuff.

Guys, if you're going to make
me in charge, please listen.

OK. I understand.

You're mountain guides,
I'm a mountain guide.

We've all got friends
missing and dead.

We know that, OK?

We can't get everything up
on the first load.

We want to send a doctor.

And one Nepali guide. Doctor
and one Nepali guide, OK?

WOMAN OVER RADIO:
Who are these people?

RUSSELL: The Nepalese
mountain guides.

WOMAN OVER RADIO: No.
Priority is Dean Staples

and Melissa Arnot.

DEAN OVER RADIO:
We've ascertained that

Russell is in charge
of the helipad down here,

Which means Melissa and I
will be going first.

MAN OVER RADIO: First victim
already packaged, ready to go.

MAN: Patient condition?

MAN: He's fully conscious,
responsive.

I'm confused about how many
casualties there are now.

We don't have
a casualty count.

We're working on live bodies
at the moment.

All Sherpas not needed, now
leave and come to Base Camp.

It's starting to get hot.

Jason's going to go in,
try and land at upper site.

Pull that Sherpa off,
bring him down to helipad.

Switch to long line,
go in to your location.

WOMAN: Jason is
landed at middle site. Over.

MAN: There's a Sherpa
with a head injury

and internal bleeding.

They'll keep him there,
package him for a long line.

Michael has just requested
as much rope as possible.

There's a live patient with
a, query, femoral fracture,

pulse, left foot.

Kami from IMG. Over.

Blood on the right ear,
right arm bruising,

upper left chest pain,
descending with Eric.

I need to confirm,

Do we have any more injured
people to pick up or not?

This is the last patient,
this is the last patient,

Then we switch to
non-traumatic body recovery.

Flying down, and we're
going to put an ECG on them

to check for rhythm. Over.

Verify, we are absolutely
in body recovery?

- Yes.
- Roger.

Let's get this guy.

This is by far the worst
tragedy that's ever happened

on Everest.

13 people have died
this morning,

And there may be more still
that we don't know about.

There hasn't been a year
in history.

Where 13 people have died on
Everest, let alone in one day.

Break, break. Michael has done
an examination on all bodies.

No signs of life.

I daresay...

...this is the day that
we just all dreaded.

REPORTER: How are you feeling?

Shattered.

Every village will
be affected.

A lot of our guys will
have friends they know...

There's people
from all over the Khumbu.

Young guys, at least one of
them, I know, just had a baby.

Just...

CHARLIE ROSE: Now to
the worst disaster ever seen

on Mount Everest.

CLARISSA WARD:
The avalanche hit

at about 6:30 this morning,
local time.

CHARLIE ROSE: The greatest
one-day toll recorded

on the world's tallest
mountain.

CLARISSA WARD: Snow crashed
over the western shoulder...

RICHARD MORECROFT: Death toll
is expected to rise to 16.

LEE PERRY:
Questions are being asked

about the future
of this year's climbing season.

And whether attempts will be
made next month.

RICHARD MORECROFT: This
tragedy adds to the death toll

on Everest,
already estimated at 250.

ALLEN PIZZEY: A four-day halt
to climbing has been declared.

While the search for
the missing Sherpas goes on.

(Men chant)

ED: And you see the grief
that's going back decades-

these grieving
Sherpa families,

This constant narrative of
loss being expressed again.

ERICA HILL: This morning,
the search has been suspended.

For three other people still
missing on Mount Everest.

Crews did manage to recover
a 13th body overnight.

Two days ago, 16 people died,

Including
about half of our team.

This morning,
I think the Sherpas are

taking matters
into their own hands.

They're holding a big meeting
at Base Camp.

We've just been told that
the Sherpas are quite angry,

and we should get bags ready.

Just in case
we have to make a swift exit.

We don't know if the Sherpas
are perhaps going to target us

as a focus for their anger -
Westerners coming here.

And causing such a circus
at times.

I don't know if there's still
any lingering tension.

From last year, and the fights
that broke out.

We're hoping the same thing
doesn't happen this year.

We're concerned about
filming here right now.

16 people dying
at the same time,

It's a huge, huge shock.

When it started to sink in,

The anger got distinctly
pointed at the government.

They feel that the government
has always been benefiting

off the labour
of the Sherpas,

The lives of the Sherpas,
and never put anything back.

ED: Nepal's tourism industry
is worth $360 million a year,

so when the government offers
the families around $400,

which isn't even enough to
cover their funeral expenses,

Grief turns to anger
very quickly.

(Everyone cheers)

The government,
once it figured out that

it could sell Everest as many
times as it liked every year,

rather than once,
it's basically just sat there,

occasionally twiddled
around the edges

when there were some
bad headlines,

But basically not really done
anything since.

They've left it
to Western operators.

And just taken their cut
every year.

And it's a big cut.
Like, a third of the money

that stays in Nepal
from this business

goes to the government.

The Sherpas, they're still
taking the risks.

They've always
taken the risks,

they're still
taking the risks.

They quite reasonably think
that's outrageous.

We worked really hard
this morning

to send a letter
to the Ministry.

Asking for better conditions
for these guys.

I would have thought
that might pre-empt.

This type of meeting
this afternoon.

(Everyone cheers)

Of course we're upset
about people dying,

But this is irrational, you
know? It's totally irrational.

I daresay
they look at the Arab summer

and things like that,

And think that they can do
the same sorts of things.

It's hot-headed young guys who
really don't have very much

experience on this mountain,
in any case.

They're angry. Yes, they are.

Their grandparents
and their fathers

have worked hard
in the Himalayas.

All the hard work has been
done by the Sherpas,

And this is not fair.

It is not fair.

(Men chant)

TENDI:
Every morning, we wake up.

And we realise that
this is not a dream.

I'm sorry, I don't really know
what to say.

We had a day... We've all been
expecting an accident

and we had a very bad day,

The day that we never,
ever wanted.

I am afraid every single day.

The boys go
through the icefall.

I fear every day.

But, guys,
we also have to progress.

We have to progress
for the future,

Otherwise you have no income
for your families.

(Clapping and cheering)

ED: This is unprecedented,
that the Sherpas could

contemplate
giving up a season's earnings

in order to make their point.

One of the biggest requests

from the workers
in this Base Camp.

Is to not continue in climbing
this year.

We know
that's a great big ask,

but it's somewhat small
compared to the 16 lives

we've lost in this mountain.

This is not workable for us.

We've still got our Sherpas
to come to talk to.

To see if we want
to carry on climbing or not.

We can't have this happening.

Every time there's
an accident, every season.

It's getting out of control.

We're being forced off this
mountain by renegade Sherpas.

We only became a democratic
country in the '90s.

People feel like they have
more freedom of speech.

Whenever they speak something
that is a bit more bold,

it takes the Western people.

Who are at the Base Camp
by surprise.

They're saying
what they think.

They're not rebels,
they're just mountain guides.

RUSSELL: I'm asking
for a helicopter

to go to the Ministry.

The government has not taken
much notice in the past,

SO now's the time.

I think we're confident that

we "re going to
recover this situation,

But only if we act right now.

MARK PHILLIPS: Good morning.
Well, it began as a tragedy

and has now turned into
an avalanche of resentment.

That threatens the entire
Everest industry.

NORAH O'DONNELL:
Sherpa guides on Mount Everest

are staging a boycott that.

Threatens to shut down
next month's climbing season.

MARK PHILLIPS: The issue is
why the Sherpa guides,

who assume
a disproportionately large

part of the risk,
get a disproportionately small

part of the take.

I'd like to know a little bit
about what's going on.

Simon hears from the European
papers that the season's over.

I hear from the American media
that

there's a potential strike,

And there's still negotiating
going on.

We don't know anything, huh?

We can see it, and yet
we don't know a fucking thing.

He's paid for a helicopter
to come

and take him so we can go
talk to the people

that can make decisions.

He's working on it.

Until those discussions are
over,

there's nothing
but speculation,

Which is exactly what
we're doing.

Sorry, guys.

If I had more information, I'd
give it to you.

I'm going.

There's an inherent risk
in mountaineering.

There's an inherent risk
in Everest.

There's an inherent risk
in the Khumbu.

I know that. I'm willing
to assume that risk.

Some of the clients are
getting a little restless,

but we're in the right place
at the right time,

And we're still going forwards
in our plan.

If the word is yes,
your crew will go with you.

We're still going forward.

LEE PERRY: The future
of the Everest climbing season

is hanging in the balance.

ZOE COYLE: Nepalese government
officials are flying in

to try and ease tensions
at Base Camp.

ED: There was a lot
of expectation.

Surrounding
the ministerial visit.

The Sherpas hoped they would
show leadership

and cancel the season.

The clients hoped
the government would agree.

To Sherpa demands
so the season could continue.

MAN: Sit down, please!

ED: So in failing
to act decisively

or take any kind of
official position,

the government have really
left the Sherpas.

Between a rock
and a hard place.

But just coming to Base Camp,
they don't make money.

They make money on the
mountain, carrying loads up.

The higher they go,
the more they carry,

the more they're paid.

Just coming to Base Camp,
they make nothing.

For the last 61 years,
we've waited.

Something had to happen, and
then we had to raise our voice

after such a huge loss.

They're ready
to face the consequences now.

They would rather leave
than die.

ED:/ think many expedition
leaders have found themselves

in an incredibly difficult
position,

balancing the interests
of clients and the Sherpas.

In a situation like this was
never going to be easy.

I feel still positive

we're going to be allowed
to go up the mountain.

And continue the journey, and
hopefully it's successful.

Life goes on.

Just try to remember the guys
for what they were

and carry a positive message.

I knew the risks.

From a personal point of view,
I was prepared to take that,

but to ask the Sherpa boys
to go through it.

Time and time again,
it's a difficult one.

It's hard just to...

...hot to...

...think about what happened
to all those families.

Those boys...

...they're doing it for us.

Put so much work into this
and effort...

...then you start
to justify it.

For us, it's deja vu,
isn't it, Jeff?

Yeah. We've been through this,
you know? This was 2012.

Actually, what Russell feared
would happen in 2012

is exactly what happened
this year.

To have to come back here
a second time

only to get cancelled again
and never given the shot,

Yeah, that would be probably
devastating to me, I think.

Yeah.

NORAH O'DONNELL: As we
reported earlier this week,

Sherpas are leading a boycott
after that deadly avalanche.

RONNIE MUHL:
It's starting to make climbing.

For those who want to continue
very difficult.

NORAH O'DONNELL:
Most of the climbers.

Will forfeit the money
they paid for the journey.

That can top $75,000.

I flew back again here
this morning

to find that I'm probably
the last team

to decide whether
we're going to be continuing

on the mountain or not.

Yes, we had one avalanche.

Unfortunately,
it killed a lot of people,

But that's not a reason
to stop the expedition.

Today, a delegation,
they came to the Base Camp

to try and calm things down,

But I'm afraid
it just escalated things.

It didn't help.

We know that there's only
a group of four or five guys

that are... that are...

...um, causing this problem,

but then they excite
300-odd guys,

And when you have mob rule,
what can we do?

Effectively,

what these militant Sherpas
are saying is,

If our Sherpas go through the
icefall, they'll beat them up.

Then we all know about the
fighting on Everest last year.

We would hope that there will
be some form of punishment

to these guys,
or we need to get rid of them.

Out of this system,
so it doesn't happen again.

Do you know who employs them,
Russ, these four or five?

I know who
employs some of them, yeah.

There's no way you can
talk to their owners and...

If this was
one of your Sherpas,

You could have him
removed from the mountain.

- Well, I would, yes.
- So...

But... Yes.

But, ah...

...I don't know how to do that.

These people are totally
irrational. They don't care.

Next week or next month,
they'll be at home

with nothing to eat.

We have one last chance -

Are our Sherpas still prepared
to go up the mountain?

As far as I know,
our Sherpas want to climb,

but they fear for their life.

Phurba will be here
early tomorrow.

We have to discuss everything
with him.

So, sorry, guys. That's it.

- Namaste, Phurba dai.
- Namaste, Ringi dai.

How is it, bro?

How are you doing?

Sorry to bring you in quick.

ED: Sherpas are not people who

express their emotions
very willingly,

So it's sometimes hard
to read them.

RUSSELL: Lots of attention
on you now.(Laughs)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It's OK. Just relax.
Let's have a cup of tea first.

Namaste.

So how's everyone at home?

- Upset?
- A bit upset.

Yeah.

RUSSELL: Understandably.

And wives,
how do wives feel?

Don't want you coming,
or how do they say?

They're happy we are back,
but they still are...

Afraid?

Afraid we're going back again.

I'm sure.

We're all afraid.

We're all afraid, Phurba,
SO...

What to do?

Want to go north side?

Huh?

There's risk every time,
doesn't matter where we go.

- So, um...
- (Coughs)

I understand how you feel.

You want to climb,

But you also have respect
for people and everything.

Although,
I checked with all the...

...Buddhist and Hindu...
you know.

If we respect them, we can
carry on doing our work.

But what we feel here is
danger for you

from other Sherpa.

Did you hear anything
about that?

- No, I didn't.
- You didn't hear that?

So for me,
I feel afraid for you.

We feel danger for you guys
if you carry on climbing,

Maybe later,
some violence to you.

How you feel about that?

'Cause this is not
normal Sherpa.

How do you guys feel?

Maybe you're angry with me.

If you're angry,
you have to tell me, you know?

I think pressure
coming from outside,

and I'm afraid for you.

So I think we have to stop
the expedition. You agree?

Mm-hm.

You agree to stop
the expedition, everyone?

- Yes.
- Yeah.

So I have to tell the member
like that?

Mm-hm.

Um, I don't want,

but also, if just us,

How can I afford all the rope?

Because I have to buy
from expedition operators.

For me,
I can't afford just us.

You know, before,

It was always friendly,
smiley Sherpa, always helping.

These guys have
spoiled your reputation.

OK. What to do now?

I have to go and tell members
we're finished.

You know,
my prayers are with you. Sad.

So glad to see you here.

So, as I told you last night,

It's unlikely that
we would continue.

The Sherpas feel
under too much threat.

They've already been told
if they go through icefall,

they'll break their legs,
SO...

This is the word that
comes to them,

that these other guys up here
will break their legs.

If they go
through the icefall.

Yes, they want to climb.

Out of respect,
they don't want to climb

and out of fear,
they don't want to climb -

Not fear of the mountain,
fear of the people.

So there you go, guys.
What can I say?

I don't know what to do

and Phurba doesn't know
what to do,

And we're pissed off.

We're angry that these people
are ruining our business,

you know? Their business.

What can we do?

I don't know how
to apologise to you.

I don't know how to do that,

Especially the people that
have come twice.

OK. So now,
how to get out of here.

Essentially,
we were just given news that

the Sherpas' legs would be
broken if they were to help us

get up this mountain.

How can you possibly argue
with that one?

Being held captive
by terrorists,

is how I look at it.

When people demand change.

And threaten it by violence,
that's a terrorist.

We in the States, we know what
that is after 9/11.

We've got a group here that's
terrorising Base Camp.

How do you anticipate that,
you know?

How do you mentally prepare
yourself to get up here,

then be turned away
because a group of terrorists.

Are demanding that
Westerners leave Base Camp?

It's... it's hard.

Do I have it in me
for a third time.

To try and come back
and do Everest?

I've got to go talk
with my family, I think,

Before I make any
final decisions.

But I certainly would like
to get to the top

of the highest mountain
in the world

and be able to provide that
legacy to my family

as something they...

You got me!

MAN: Oh, we'll be back.

We'll be back, hopefully,
next year.

One way or another,

I'll take the top of that
mountain at some point.

It's just a slight set-back.

I'm going to feel better
when I go home

knowing that we didn't
climb up that mountain

after the big tragedy.
It's better to show my respect

for the Sherpa community
by leaving.

SUMIT:! Think
the expedition organisers,

they knew in their heart
what their Sherpa wants,

But they couldn't tell that
clearly to their clients.

It's just excuses
they are using.

To throw the blame
on somebody else, yeah.

If this didn't change
anything,

Then nothing ever will.

Then Nepal will just be like
a wild, wild West.

For the Western operators
to do whatever they want.

This thing has happened,
which is a sad thing,

but hopefully, this will
bring something positive

into the mountain.

RUSSELL:
It must have some effect.

On the Everest industry,
the accident this year.

I think it's made me
more determined

to try and change the rules.

SO we can continue
with Everest as usual,

But in a safer way.

I've been a mountain guide
all my life.

We have to deal with death
a lot, then try and move on.

Hopefully,
we will have a team to go.

To climb Mount Everest again
next year.

ED: The game has shifted.

It would be easy, in the chaos
of this last week,

To lose sight of
what has happened here.

The Sherpas have, effectively,
cancelled the season.

They had a choice,
and in the end,

they've chosen
respect for themselves.

And the mountain
ahead of money.

Cancelling the season will be
a welcome breathing space.

So maybe, it will be calmer.

It would be nice for Everest
to be calm for a bit,

Rather than this, kind of,
madness.

My father said that you don't
conquer these mountains,

you just crawl up,

as a child, crawling
into your mother's lap,

Which is the same approach
I think people should take.

Then there will be
less accidents.

He was the first Asian
to become famous,

known around the world,
and he became a great metaphor

for young and old alike

to show that
you can make it on your own -

Hard work is what it takes.

He became
a real symbol of hope.

For millions
around the world.

ED: Tenzing gave the name
'Sherpa' a currency.

Which will never be exhausted.

So it may only be now that.

They're really beginning
to take advantage of it.

They've got control
of climbing the mountain,

and it's come full circle,
in a way.

JAMLING:
My father said he climbed.

So that we wouldn't have to.

He wanted to give us
the best education.

SO we can continue our lives
in some other careers

rather than climbing,

Because climbing was
dangerous.