Everest '96: Trapped in the Death Zone | Top of the World | 2

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2024

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As the climbers make their final push for the summit, time is of the essence. They must make it to the top before 2 p.m. to ensure they get back to camp before dark. But due to delays, most of them don’t reach the summit until late in the afternoon, and by then, everyone is exhausted and oxygen is running low. Worst of all, a severe storm is moving in fast. As daylight fades, climbers must hurry or they’ll be trapped in the Death Zone.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Wundery Plus subscribers can listen to Against the Odds early in ad free right now.
0:05.0	Join Wundery Plus in the Wundery App or on Apple Podcasts.
0:09.0	A listener note, Against the Odds uses dramatizations that are based on true events.
0:15.6	Some elements, including dialogue, may be invented, but everything is based on research. Doug Hanson coughs into his oxygen mask as he trudges up a steep icy slope above the South
0:37.1	call. It's the middle of the night and it's pitch black. Only headlamps light the way forward. About three hours ago,
0:47.5	Doug and the rest of the Adventure Consultants team left Camp 4 at 27,000 feet, with the goal of reaching the summit before noon and no later than 2 PM.
0:59.2	The sky is clear and the winds are calm. Doug couldn't ask for better weather.
1:05.0	Suddenly, the climber in front of him stops and steps out of line.
1:10.0	It's Frank Fishbeck, a 53-year-old publisher from Hong Kong.
1:15.0	You all right, Frank?
1:16.5	Not really, Doug.
1:18.0	I think this is the end of the road for me.
1:20.5	Why? What's wrong? Frank stands quietly for a moment, staring up at the stars.
1:26.0	I just... I don't think it's a good idea.
1:30.0	Doug watches as his teammate begins to descend.
1:34.0	He knows this was Frank's fourth attempt at
1:37.2	submitting Everest, so he's surprised he'd willingly turn around so quickly.
1:41.8	Doug was forced to turn around last year, just 300 feet
1:46.8	from the top, so he's intent on making the most of his second chance. But Doug also knows that Frank is a smart guy and that he wouldn't be
1:56.0	packing it in without careful consideration. As Doug keeps climbing, he starts to wonder if maybe he should be packing it in too.
2:05.8	He has to admit he's worn out.
2:08.6	He's barely slept or eaten in days.
	...

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