K2 The KILLER SUMMIT · BBC 

This documentary inspired me to never climb a mountain.

I’ve climbed with a Sherpa mountaineer (in Colorado), and he was the most professional, most intelligent guide I’ve ever met. It says a lot that the western media didn’t even bother to interview the most experienced Sherpa climber on that mountain. To so many people “Sherpa” means servant, but Sherpas are an ethnic group native to those mountains who know more about them than most foreigners will ever know. They tend to be quiet and seem passive, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for stupidity or timidity. They’re tough, smart people.

I risk to repeat myself: Pemba is a hero in every sense. What an incredible human being!

Pemba Sherpa’s look about 12 mins in when he said “They decided to continue the climb” after the first death says it all.

'They paid us, and they acted like they owned our llives'. This quote says just about all, like the level of egotism.

“Summiting is optional, the descent is mandatory”

I wonder how this documentary would be if the sherpas spoke honestly. Let's be real, they were the strongest climbers, they took the highest risk and they did the most amount of work

Summiting at 6/7 pm is absolute insanity.

I find this documentary really interesting because it shows how people try to control the narrative of the disaster, and people hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe. No one wants to believe that they lost a loved one due to negligence, or their own idiocy, or a simple mistake. The dead all have to be heroes and people won't agree to an interview unless they can tell a sympathetic story that doesn't make them out to be the bad guy.

My heart goes for the sherpas who did not get properly documented in this video. They might have family and loved ones too to take care of.

That still shot from the summit of K2's long shadow is terrifying, as are the rolling timestamps after that photo. Even a non-climber like me knows by that dark, dagger-like shadow that they were up on the summit far, far too late and that shadow was the foreshadow of the awful things to follow.

The words of Pemba gave me chills “If they would have decided to go look after the first victime there would have been only 1 victim in total“

I don't really understand how he can honestly say "Everything was going great until we tried for the summit" after 2 people had already died.

Sherpas should make it very clear that THEY are in charge on that mountain and they have the authority to tell climbers to turn back or follow any other instruction. If climbers refuse, they are on their own. To the climbers this is all a game for bragging rights (those like Ger are an exception) and some of them don't care who is put at risk. The Sherpas are just trying to support their families and they deserve respect.

"What happened to us was just a misfortune." That statement is why it'll happen again and again. Missing the summit time by many hours was a decision, not a misfortune. The answer "we can still make it' when Ger asked if it was getting too late set off this whole chain of events.

There is a great book titled “No Way Down” about this incident. It goes into much more detail than was possible in this documentary.

This video really is one of those things that reminds you that history, or what happened, is left to the survivors. It's so interesting how the media didn't even interview the sherpa who was there and didn't have to be carried off the mountain! Instead, they listened only to Marco, who may have been suffering the mental effects of being at altitude and had to be carried off the mountain! Also, it was good that the sherpa had pictures to prove what he was saying was true! And, finally, Ger's family was looking to hard. Ger wasn't the first to die on the mountain and he won't be the last. Sometimes people die while climbing and it is just that simple. They aren't heroes or villains in the deaths. There are just deaths. My heart goes out to the sherpas who were told to go back up the mountain. That was very sad. Their culture didn't allow them to feel comfortable saying no. I really felt it when the one sherpa said that the expeditions feel they control the sherpa's lives because they pay them.

I have so so much respect for Jehan Baig who let go of the rope. Rest in peace. Legend. Thankyou.

So, we're gonna act like we didn't hear Pemba say he had to descend with everything by himself?

When that one climber says “We’re late, I don’t know wtf we’re gonna do” about sums it up I truly believe! 💀

The documentary is almost as confusing as the actual event. They just randomly switch between people and events

What I think is a real shame is that there are so many people who judge without being properly informed. I was there that day and I decided to turn around at 8200 meters. Of course, I have never regretted that decision, but I find all those more blunt reactions difficult to read. Since I turned around it's just as easy for me to say; They should have done this and that better, but in retrospect it's easy to say. The weather was perfect, there was a lot of manpower and everything looked perfect but communication is extremely difficult at that altitude. Even though I was there and decided to turn around for good reasons, I would never judge. Even though I was there, I don't think I am well informed enough to judge. So many things have happened (simultaneously) that no one has noticed everything. It wasn't until 1.5 days later that I got back to base camp that I realized how badly things had gone wrong. The situation was so confusing. Even now, 15 years later, with all the images and recordings at its disposal, the BBC has not managed to bring out all the details properly. So think first before you judge. Because just think about what your (ill-informed) judgment does to the feelings and emotions of the victims' family members.

Pemba is an incredible human being... The death of Pasang and his cousin Jumik was tragic... It was an admirable decision to bring the body of Dren down to camp four for a proper burial after realising that he was no longer alive... ...but the death of another was a high price to pay... 🇿🇦

Like someone else said "people get so fixated in reaching the top, that they forget the summit is only halfway point". In other words if you use up all your energy going up, how the hell are you going to get down?

I’m not a climber but have seen many documentaries about climbers and it’s fascinating how the need to reach the top for many often outweighs the need to survive or to help others. Some will do everything they can to help others even if it means dying. And others will do anything to reach the top even if it means putting theirs and others lives at risk. Is reaching the top worth it if another climber dies on that same ascent/descent? For me no but again I’m not a climber. Truely fascinating subject.

Those poor brave Sherpa's. " They paid us so they owned our lives" sickening

Imagine enjoying a push to the summit after watching a fellow human being perish. Not judging.. just something I myself would consider wrong.

The guy fell and they start climbing again. The look on Sherpa's face when he talked about it says a lot of what he thinks about those who continued up the mountain as if nothing happened.

The moment they all decided to climb as a team, I knew that it could only end up in tragedy. You are mixing people with different levels of skill, from different cultures, speaking different languages. Then you had to all of that the cold, the exhaustion, the lapses of judgment. It's pure negligence on a massive, intolerable, depressing scale.

I want to be like Pemba. Integrity, humanity, with an understanding of the whole picture , wise beyond his years.

i once climbed cradle mountain in Tasmania. 1545 m, great weather, nice big boulders, a clear path, no seracs, avalanches or stonefall..lots of oxygen in the air .and a six-pack VB on the summit. and that's mountaineering for me, enough is enough.

Not only have I successfully scaled EVERY peak over 6,000 metres, I did it on ny couch wrapped up in just a blanket.

my heart sank as soon as I saw them taking pictures of K2's shadow. I'm totally confused, how can it not be the plan that you must turn around at noon no matter where you are, you've spent half the day getting that far and it will take just as much time getting back, which I presume you want to do in daylight.

Everyone who climbs at this level knows the risks, and what it means to be in the death zone. To help or not to help is a decision they must live with if they make it down.

The human condition to conquer absolutely anything and everything should at times be questioned and checked. There are things and places that command respect and should be left untouched.

Feel people are incredibly quick to dismiss, belittle and underestimate some of these climbers, just because they aren't Sherpas. For example Cecilie Skog, both reached the summit and way more amazingly descended and reached Camp IX, despite climbing without lines in the dark, after her husband had just died infront of her. She wasn't some helpless daffodil or being carried or lifted in any way, just because she's very good looking. What she and Lars Nessa did was frankly extraordinary.

Pemba carries his courage like a feather. What a human! Good speed Pemba "#1 Unit"

I have a fear of being at height and I hate the cold and diarrhoea and I fear falling down a crevasse. So my escapism are these great folk who give me my adventure 🏔👠

And Two years later Cescilie Skog Complied first ever female unassisted & unsupported crossing of Antarctica Wow !! My sure Rolf was there in spirit.

So Mr. Kim was smoking cigarettes instead of setting the fixed ropes as scheduled...and then sends two Sherpas to find his team members up the mountain...we're in agreement that this is all on him, right?

No thanks, I'll stay by my fireplace sipping hot chocolate.

That Spaniard is one hell of a climber. Just wrecked K2 solo lol he had no time for nothing.

"Americans are very adventurous. We are adventurous too. But we also like living." Is what I think he wanted to say

Pemba & Ger. Exceptional heros.

18:44 It's not just in high mountaineering code rather it is pretty nearly universal. Even lifeguards and firefighters will tell you that while they are required to make every reasonable effort to save lives they are under no obligation to try if it puts their own lives at grave risk.

I hiked to Everest base camp when i was a 18yr old amateur boxer and that was gruelling enough with the altitude, i couldn't imagine trying to summit one of these mountains.

Psychologically, the stress placed on an individual who survives this sort of thing must have trouble recalling every detail. Condolences to those who loved these brave souls!❤❤❤

Making it is not reaching the top… Making it is reaching the top and coming down you haven’t made it until you have arrived where you started!

I am not a climber I don't like the snow; but I am fascinated watching your videos, they are not only interesting for me but personally I admire these climbers. To see Mountaineers from all parts of the world happy and dancing prior to ascending was a joy but then as it always is "TIME" is of the essence. They started to climb late and my heart sank. Most accidents are on the descend. I was scared to see night fall and then at 49.25 the "fix rope" was missing, Oh Lord!! RIP eleven brave climbers. Rest in Peace ✝

I’m not surprised Mr. Kim didn’t want to be interviewed, I feel he let them all down he was responsible for getting the ropes secured. That’s what they agreed in the meeting.

Pemba is one amazing person A gift from God!!

The media is sickening. Hard work and perseverance got those climbers to the top, and tragedy struck. May they rest in peace and my condolences to those who knew and loved them.

I have been a hiker all my adult life. Have done Mt Whitney, Grand Canyon and many other less famous. I loved every experience. However I would never do the truly dangerous mountains, like these. Hate cold and having been on Whitney I don't do well above 11k. But I have always been utterly fascinated by such adventures. Thank you for posting these.

What a place to be on in the middle of the night! On the side of a mountain 😂 my cat has more intelligence than all those people combined.

One of my best friends has climbed most every peak, until the day he had 1 man lost his footing and started sliding down the mountain. Another climber reached out to help him and was dragged to his his death with his friend. The climbers Wives blamed my friend for not grabbing hold and sliding to his death with the other two and to this day hold him accountable for their husbands deaths and blame him for every day that he’s still alive. He never climbed again.

The one word that basically sums up this entire fiasco is impatience. There were far too many people climbing to begin with and then too many trying to reach the sumit KNOWING they couldnt do it safely. Ive never climbed but even i know there are unwritten rules you MUST follow to do so as safely as is possible, and even then accidents can and will happen.

No air, no food, freezing cold, extremely tired....hurt... No thanks

Ger was a wonderful man! Never knew him, but I think of his courage, so thanks foe telling his part!❤

I have seen a few accounts of this disaster, but this beats them all. Well done.

This was a tragedy that should have been avoided. Pemba said it best when he said if they would have just stopped when the first guy died, there would have been only 1 death, instead of 11. While I will never understand these people and their desire to risk their lives, their health, and their body parts for the "glory" of climbing in these places, I fully support their right to do so. Personally none of them are really impressive to me. The truth is that the Sherpas are the most impressive people out of any of them. Many of these people could never climb these mountains without them. One of the reasons I support the climbers in being able to do this is because I know this is how the Sherpas make their living. I just wish the Sherpas didn't have to risk their lives when one of these foreign climbers makes a mistake and needs rescued. What's clear to me from watching many documentaries on climbing is that there are people who claim to be "expert" climbers who have no business on these mountains. Anyone who does not have the discipline to know when it's time to stop or turn around really has no business on the mountain.

Excellent documentary. Tragic how so many people lost their lives. Amazing views from the summit....must be part of the summit fever.

Thanks so much for reposting this documentary. I was looking everywhere for this one!

A most sobering and tragic account. The avalanche took the lines, the vital decisions needing to be made after that were confused, difficult and certainly not to be judged by us sitting comfortably at sealevel and not utterly exhausted. RIP these brave climbers, and the thousands more worldwide- it truly is a dangerous sport. Especially at such extreme altitudes. I have NO DESIRE to summit a mountain in the snow rock and ice with a load on my back and insufficient oxygen. To those who do, I reckon you're MAD but I salute your stamina courage and teamwork. Rest in Peace.

Brilliant film. I marvel at the strength and fortitude of those willing to seek a summit. Heartbreaking tragedy in the midst of such incredible beauty.

Thank you so much for posting this. I had it saved on my old sky box and watched it loads of times. Shame it’s not on the iPlayer!

This vidoe has inspired me to stay content on a nature woods hike

Brilliant documentary I hadn't seen, thank you for uploading!

That Spanish bloke, the Basque geezer, was amazing. He was like " I'm climbing this on my own and I only have myself to look after ". Reading some of the stuff online, he's like a machine!! Unfortunately I discovered that he lost his life in 2017, climbing Nanga Parbat, a notoriously difficult mountain to climb in Pakistan. Although an avalanche on the mountain was what claimed the lives of his climbing partner and himself. RIP to him, and all the others who have perished over the years on different mountains, doing what they loved.

Thank you very much for putting all of these great videos on RU-vid. Much appreciated.

"Just because eleven climbers died it went all over the world" Smfh the sense of entitlement 🙄

I have mad respect for people who survive near-death experiences, they get this humbleness about life and how easily life can go. They must have gotten some real respect for mother nature aswell. They have a completely new perspective on life and I really admire that. It’s like life shakes you to your core and tells you to not take anything for granted.

Fascinating video. Thanks for posting.

The family of Geri wants answers. He died doing a risky life experience. His family talking about other climbers lying. I don’t understand what answer they want. The women who lost her husband and she still climbing. Bizarre behavior

Such an excellent documentry. Yet so sad for the loss of life up there.

Ah so happy these videos came back to my feed! Top notch quality

Unbelievable video - fantastic and terribly sad simultaneously

Rest peacefully to everyone who died and im glad Pemba got the recognition he deserved. Even tho he's the kind of humble person who probably doesnt care. Im thankful that i will never have to go through anything like this because i wouldn't be within 100 miles of a place like that.

As they say, the ascent is optional, the descent is mandatory.

I have watched this a few times! There is so much happening with so many people! Thanks for sharing your stories.😊❤❤

Fantastic doco, thanks for posting. Breathtaking and incredibly sad in equal measure.

That dude said sherpas are just regular guys lol not at all

Such an amazing documentary featuring the most beautiful scenery on earth, but to see it in person comes with a steep price. While I would never try climb a mountain myself, I admire those who have the courage and stamina to do so. Thank you BBC and David Snow.

Being in a small avalanche on a snowboard at 3000 metres in Switzerland was scary enough for me. These guys are crazy. Big respect to them.

Awesome video! Thank You!👍🏼

Who is responisble for the death of those two sherpas who were cousins and What about Mr Kim strategy leading to death of those two sherpas

“They are too optimistic for the summit and that’s why they keep climbing.” Powerful words.

The Mountain is King 👑 and will Always Win 🏅

In love with this video! Thanks!

Love your videos! You have turned me into a mountaineering enthusiast!

To the family who wanted closure and confronted the survivors - 11 people died.

Less than twenty minutes in and I'm convinced this doc would keep me up at night. I'm out with no apologies.

First time on your channel and now, new subscriber. Great vid. Thanks.

Ger's widow is outraged that people form opinions based on what they read. It's obvious she believes we should only form opinions based on what she says - she who, by the way, wasn't there either.

Loved this conversation and the choices. Cheers!

Love Pemba! He is top notch!

Thanks this has been up without the staged portions for a while and those are very helpful in understanding what it was like. such as when the guy slides down the mountain or gets hit by falling snow next to the blonde lady. Frightful stuff.

I understand the family members of the deceased climbers want to know "why" their loved ones didn't make it off the mountain and are searching for something that makes sense. The fact is, no one is to blame. No matter how strong you are or how well prepared you are, at those altitudes even the smallest error in judgement or shift in the weather can kill you.

Some great work here, but people are right that the narrative gets a little confusing with the time skip backwards and then assuming we remember everything from previous

"They are *just* sherpas, but this guy is different, he is like us, professional climbers". 😂

This documentary made me want to mountain climb. Idk why. But it made it human and realistic and they laid out the risks involved and I think, wow, I wish I could be skilled enough to summit K2. I'm in Nebraska so there are NO mountains. Nor can I afford to travel. But I can dream and experience thru others. Obviously mountain climbing comes with risks. Some of us find those risks worth taking, even if we cannot afford to take them ourselves.