NOVA Online | Everest Quest | The Summit Day (6)

The Summit Day
part 6 | back to part 5

The Base Camp support team of Paula Viesturs (Ed's wife), correspondent Liz Cohen, and Assistant Cameraman Brad Ohlund wait in the dining tent in the cold night air for word from Camp 4. Will they leave for the summit tonight? They know the team has had little sleep, but to wait another day at Camp 4 could take its toll on the climbers' strength and oxygen supply. Paula knows that for Ed this will be a difficult day, having lost two of his good friends above the South Col last week. He, like Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, is a professional mountaineering guide and has led several clients to the top of Everest. imax

He is attempting to climb, this time, without oxygen. "He's been to the summit of Everest 3 times," says Paula. "He's had 5 attempts, he's made it to the top 3 of the 5, and this'll be his 6th attempt. But if he gets to the top it'll be his 4th summit. When he guides, he uses oxygen because you have to when you're taking care of other people." Ed may not be guiding this year, but taking part in the making of an IMAX/IWERKS 70mm film to the summit will be just as difficult. "It's exciting," says Paula, "I mean, what a challenge to take this 35 pound camera to the summit. And also for Ed to do it without oxygen again. Its definitely going to be a challenge. And getting this camera to the top—that's what we're here for."

Araceli

For Araceli, this will be her first time to the top of Everest. And, if she makes it, she'll be the first woman from Spain to reach the summit. She says her goal is not to be the first from Spain, but to take part in something she loves doing: "First I like to go climbing with friends and to enjoy. I think it's about the laughter and the fun, that's one of the parts. Another part is when there is a route, a nice route. It's like dancing, sometimes when I'm climbing a rock wall, and I make movements and connect the movements without saying "I'm falling, I'm falling." It's like good dancing. I enjoy it because I say "WOW!" , I did the route and I did it perfect! I don't know how to explain it, it's a feeling that you get. If you can rock climb with friends on a big wall and it's something that's a challenge, and you're enjoying it with your friends, you're all together." Araceli's positive attitude and sense of humor has kept the expedition going in even the hardest times. Click here to hear Araceli talk about being positive.

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Photos: (1-2) courtesy Robert Schauer; (3) Liesl Clark.

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