Sherpa Page #5

more information,

I would 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.

Mckinley:

I think some of the clients.

Are getting a little restless,

but I think

we're in the right place

at the right time,

and we're still going forward

on our plan.

So if the word is "yes,

your crew will go with you,"

we're still going forward.

Man #32:
The future of

the Everest climbing season

is hanging in the balance

this morning.

Woman #7:
Nepalese government

officials are flying into try

and ease tensions at base camp.

Douglas:
There was

a lot of expectation.

Surrounding

the ministerial visit.

The sherpas hoped

they would show some leadership

and cancel the season.

The clients hoped the government

would agree

to the sherpa demands

so the season could continue.

Man #33:
Sit down, please!

Douglas:

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 there.

The higher they go,

the more they carry,

the more they're paid.

Just coming to base camp,

they make nothing.

But for the last 61 years,

we've waited.

Something had to happen and then

we had to raise our voice

and to such a huge loss.

They're ready

to face the consequences.

They'd rather leave than die.

Douglas:
I think many expedition

leaders 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.

Linville:
What happened was

really a tragic day,

a black day.

I feel still positive

if we're gonna be allowed

to go up the mountain, you know,

and continue the journey

and hopefully it's successful

and you know, life goes on,

and 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...

Not to think about what happened

to all those families,

those boys.

They're doing it for us.

But I put so much work into this

and effort.

Then you start to justify it.

Doyle:
For us, it's dj 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.

To have to come back here

a second time

only to get canceled again

and never given the shot is...

Yeah, that'll be... that'll be

devastating to me, I think.

Yeah.

Woman #5:
As we reported earlier

this week,

sherpas are leading a boycott

after that deadly avalanche.

Man #34:
Starting to make

climbing for those

who might want to continue

very, very challenging.

Woman #5:
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 no 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 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.

You know who employs them, Russ?

These four or five?

I know who employs

some of them, yeah.

And there's no way

you can talk to their owners

and... I mean, if this

was one of your sherpas,

you could have them removed

from the mountain.

Well, I would. Yes.

So...

But, yes.

But 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

as our sherpas are 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.

- Oh, namaste.

- Namaste.

How's it going?

Okay. How you doing?

Douglas:
Sherpas are not people

who express their emotions.

Very willingly.

So it's sometimes hard

to read them.

Brice:

Lots of attention on you now.

It's okay. Just relax.

Let's have

a cup of tea first, huh?

Namaste.

So, how's everyone at home?

Upset?

- A bit upset.

- Yeah.

I know. Just...

Understandably, you know.

Mm-hmm.

And wives. How do wives feel?

Don't want you coming or...

How they want... how they say?

They are happy that we're back,

but they're still afraid...

Afraid.

Afraid, too,

that we're going back again.

Yeah. I'm sure.

We're all afraid.

Yeah.

We're all afraid, phurba.

So.

What to do.

Want to go north side?

- Still very risky.

- Huh?

There's risk every time.

Doesn't matter where we go.

Mm-hmm.

So, um...

I understand how you feel.

You want to climb,

but you also have respect

for the people and everything.

Yeah.

Although, I checked with

all the Buddhists and hindu.

You know, if we respect,

then 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.

- Didn't hear that?

So, for me,

i feel afraid for you.

We feel danger for you guys

if you carry on climbing,

but 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.

And if you're angry,

then you have to tell me,

but, you know,

I think pressure

coming from outside...

And I'm afraid for you.

So, I think

we have to stop expedition.

- You agree?

- Mm-hmm.

You agree to stop expedition?

- Yeah.

- Everyone?

- Yes.

- Yeah?

So I have to tell

the members like that?

Mm-hmm.

I don't want, but also,

if just us,

how can I afford all the rope?

Because I have to buy

from expedition operators.

So, for me,

i can't afford just us.

You know,

before it was always friendly,

smiling sherpa, always helping.

These guys have spoiled

your reputation.

Okay.

What to do now.

I have to go and tell members

we're finished.

Mm-hmm.

You know,

my prayers are with you.

Sad.

Glad you're okay.

So glad to see you here.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes