The Everest Experience

On a lazy, hot Saturday morning, for the lack of any better way of spending our time, my husband and I decided to catch the movie/documentary, Everest on IMAX. Not sure whether it was because this was my first IMAX experience or not, this one was surely out of the world for me and most definitely humbling.

The film begins by taking a peek at each of the four team member's lifestyle, passion and drive for acheiving the unfathomable. One among them is the son of the legendary sherpa, Tenzing Norgay. Another was about to become a legend herself by being the first Spanish woman to make it to Everest summit.

The nearly 3D feel of the IMAX theatre adds to the special effects and makes it an almost real life experience. It is as if one is a part of this team, echoing every bit of their emotional and physical hardships on their trail to the summit.

What follows is a hair-raising sequence of events as this ambitious team of mountaineers finally set out on the hazardous journey to the summit. The journey takes us across creaking icefalls and steep, snow-clad regions ever threatening to give way to a life crushing avalanche, as the team moves from the base camp to the middle camp. After a 2 day trek from the middle camp, on the way to the high camp (about three fourths the distance to the summit), an unforseen snow storm breaks out at the summit, sending all the expeditioners rolling down and taking the lives of many. Those nearer the camp make it back, others left in the cold to their death. Benumbed by this ghastly incident and their spirits irreparably crushed , the team gets back to the base camp.

Here, they wait for days and weeks for the storm to die down. Seeing other teams of expeditioners pack their bags only makes them more determined. Summoning all their courage, they once again embark on the journey. When they do make it to the summit this time, their sense of achievement and power simply conquers you. And I had to remind myself once more that this was no fiction. It was a true story of ordinary people with extra-ordinary will power and courage, who made their dreams come true against all odds. This was a salute to these heroes.