Blindsight

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0:00:23 > 0:00:27A three-section ladder over a big crevasse.

0:00:27 > 0:00:30Thing is, I never practised it with one rope, OK?

0:00:30 > 0:00:34And it leans to the left, the ladder, OK?

0:00:34 > 0:00:36I'm going to crawl across.

0:00:36 > 0:00:39- I don't want to fall. - No, you're good, man.

0:00:39 > 0:00:42If I fall, though, I'll just dangle on that space, right?

0:00:48 > 0:00:50Big gap.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09'When I was 15, I went blind completely.

0:01:12 > 0:01:13'I hated blindness.

0:01:15 > 0:01:21'I wasn't afraid to go blind and see darkness. I think that's a myth.

0:01:21 > 0:01:27'I was afraid to be swept to the sidelines and forgotten...

0:01:28 > 0:01:30'..to be obsolete.'

0:01:43 > 0:01:45It was a few months after that

0:01:45 > 0:01:50that I got this newsletter in Braille about a group taking blind kids rock-climbing.

0:01:50 > 0:01:55I took my hand and I ran it up the wall in my room and I thought, "That sounds insane.

0:01:55 > 0:02:01"Who would be stupid enough to take blind kids rock-climbing?"

0:02:01 > 0:02:03- So I signed up. - LAUGHTER

0:02:04 > 0:02:06'There's one thing that hasn't changed

0:02:06 > 0:02:10'since that very first time I went rock-climbing almost 20 years ago,

0:02:12 > 0:02:14'and that's the reach.

0:02:14 > 0:02:20'The fear of climbing blind comes when I'm reaching out to the darkness,

0:02:20 > 0:02:23'when I don't know what I'm going to find.

0:02:26 > 0:02:30'But I reached out that day and I found what I was looking for.'

0:02:51 > 0:02:57We're on top of the world! We are on top of the world, the apex of the planet.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00- I can't believe it. - The centre of the cosmos.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03You did it, man. So many people doubted you.

0:03:03 > 0:03:05You showed 'em.

0:03:05 > 0:03:07Thank you.

0:03:07 > 0:03:09We did it!

0:04:44 > 0:04:47Blindness in Tibet is a big, big problem.

0:04:47 > 0:04:53Buddhist pilgrims and nomads think that blind people are sinners

0:04:53 > 0:04:56or are possessed by demons

0:04:56 > 0:05:02and that they have done something really terribly wrong in their past life.

0:05:11 > 0:05:17Our kids, they had many difficulties to walk on the roads with their canes

0:05:17 > 0:05:22because a lot of people were looking at their infected eyes.

0:05:22 > 0:05:24And they were shouting

0:05:24 > 0:05:27really bad words like, "Blind fool", or something.

0:05:27 > 0:05:29In Tibetan, it's called "sha-goh!"

0:05:29 > 0:05:33You can hear really how mean this sounds.

0:05:35 > 0:05:37These kids are complete outcasts.

0:05:57 > 0:06:01So I got the idea to set up the first school for the blind in Tibet,

0:06:01 > 0:06:06to educate these blind kids, to give them confidence,

0:06:06 > 0:06:10so that they don't have to be ashamed to be blind any more.

0:06:11 > 0:06:14Now they can read, write and speak in three languages.

0:06:38 > 0:06:40'I talked about Erik Weihenmayer'

0:06:40 > 0:06:44and I talked about the book I read, his biography

0:06:44 > 0:06:47and I shared all his experience with the kids.

0:06:47 > 0:06:51And of course his experience, and also my experience,

0:06:51 > 0:06:54and I think the experience of the kids, are very similar.

0:06:56 > 0:06:59And I said, "Well, Erik started like you."

0:06:59 > 0:07:05He became blind at the age of 12 and he adapted to being blind

0:07:05 > 0:07:10and he even managed to climb Everest, which happens to be in Tibet.

0:07:12 > 0:07:16And this was something which made a big impression on the kids.

0:07:53 > 0:07:55ELECTRONIC SPEECH: "Dear Erik,

0:07:55 > 0:08:00"When I told the children in our centre how you have reached the top of the world,

0:08:00 > 0:08:05"not by holding the arm of a sighted friend, but with the help of two canes,

0:08:05 > 0:08:08"they all proudly decided to walk on their own.

0:08:08 > 0:08:13"Last week, I told them already that I wanted to write to you

0:08:13 > 0:08:16"to ask if you would like to come to Tibet..."

0:08:16 > 0:08:20Sabriye's first letter was the most powerful letter I'd ever listened to.

0:08:23 > 0:08:28I was just so touched by her work and by her description of the kids.

0:08:28 > 0:08:35She's a blind lady from Germany who tried to join the German equivalent of the peace corps,

0:08:35 > 0:08:41and they said, "We don't send blind people overseas," so she funded her own way to Tibet.

0:08:41 > 0:08:44She travelled through China and Tibet by herself.

0:08:44 > 0:08:49I mean, just her and her cane, and rode horseback through these remote villages and found blind kids.

0:08:49 > 0:08:54She asked their parents to send these kids to her centre.

0:08:55 > 0:08:58It is the most remarkable thing.

0:08:58 > 0:09:03I climbed Mount Everest and climbed mountains all around the world, and I felt like a coward.

0:09:03 > 0:09:08She just wanted me to come over and visit the school, but I wanted to do something.

0:09:08 > 0:09:12And then I said, "Maybe the kids could do their own expedition?

0:09:12 > 0:09:16"Maybe we could get them to the top of the peak next to Everest?"

0:09:16 > 0:09:18And she said, "Great!"

0:09:18 > 0:09:22She had six kids who were very interested and fit and motivated,

0:09:22 > 0:09:25and she thought could really handle the experience.

0:09:25 > 0:09:28I said, "What about permission from their parents?"

0:10:27 > 0:10:29MEN CHANT SOFTLY

0:12:45 > 0:12:47MUSIC PLAYS ON RADIO

0:13:23 > 0:13:28The major mountains of the world range from the Rockies, my hometown,

0:13:28 > 0:13:30that are about 14,000 feet,

0:13:30 > 0:13:34to the Alps that rise to just under 16,000 feet,

0:13:34 > 0:13:41Africa, a little above 19,000 feet, to the Andes, where there might be a handful of peaks above 22,000 feet.

0:13:41 > 0:13:45But the Himalayas, they're the big daddies.

0:13:45 > 0:13:47They're the rooftop of the world.

0:13:47 > 0:13:52The highest is Everest at 29,035 feet.

0:13:53 > 0:13:57The goal for this expedition is Lhakpa Ri.

0:13:57 > 0:14:01It's a 23,000-foot peak, right next door to Mount Everest.

0:14:02 > 0:14:04To get there, we'll travel west by bus

0:14:04 > 0:14:07across the Tibetan Plateau to Tingri,

0:14:07 > 0:14:09where, at about 13,000 feet,

0:14:09 > 0:14:11we'll start our trek to Everest.

0:14:12 > 0:14:16It may seem flat, but we're already into extreme altitude.

0:14:16 > 0:14:18The body is working very hard,

0:14:18 > 0:14:22because we only have about half the oxygen we'd have at sea level.

0:14:22 > 0:14:25You're gasping for air, you feel like you're suffocating

0:14:25 > 0:14:28and that's just part of the altitude experience.

0:14:28 > 0:14:32And then on top of that, you take away their eyesight - it's tough,

0:14:32 > 0:14:34there's no doubt about it.

0:14:34 > 0:14:38From Everest Base Camp, it's a long hard journey.

0:14:38 > 0:14:43It's 13 miles on rocks and scree, crossing rivers and over ice.

0:14:43 > 0:14:45And you gain over 4,000 feet

0:14:45 > 0:14:49till you reach Advance Base Camp, otherwise known as ABC.

0:14:52 > 0:14:58At this point, at 21,500 ft, we're just 1,500 ft below our goal,

0:14:58 > 0:15:00the summit of Lhakpa Ri.

0:15:03 > 0:15:08'In a way, you might argue, OK, there's one blind guy who can do it, he's some elite Westerner,

0:15:08 > 0:15:12'but can these kids that haven't had privileged lives?

0:15:12 > 0:15:19'And if they can climb their own Everest, God, what a statement that'll make throughout the world.'

0:15:38 > 0:15:40CANE TAPS

0:15:48 > 0:15:50Hello.

0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Erik? Hey!- Hi!

0:15:55 > 0:16:00Wait, wait, wait. I have to give you something.

0:16:01 > 0:16:06'Some of my friends I've brought on this trip were with me on Everest.

0:16:06 > 0:16:09'They're the best blind guides in the world.

0:16:11 > 0:16:14'We've got Jack, he's our amazing team doctor.

0:16:14 > 0:16:18'We're gonna be going to high altitude, which is called the "death zone"

0:16:18 > 0:16:24'and Jeff's really experienced at making split-second life-and-death decisions about altitude sickness.

0:16:24 > 0:16:26'He'll also be guiding Tenzin.

0:16:28 > 0:16:30'We also have Stephanie.

0:16:30 > 0:16:35'She's an extreme endurance athlete, she's like the Energiser bunny, she never stops moving.'

0:16:35 > 0:16:39That should always be on the outside of your foot. Does that make sense?

0:16:39 > 0:16:42'She'll be guiding Kyila.

0:16:42 > 0:16:45'Sally's been in and around the mountains her whole life

0:16:45 > 0:16:48'but, more important than that, she's sort of...

0:16:48 > 0:16:52'It's insulting to say the team mom, but that's in my mind.

0:16:52 > 0:16:56'I thought she'd be perfect to guide Sonam Bhumtso.

0:16:56 > 0:16:58'We also have Michael.

0:16:58 > 0:16:59'He's a high-altitude monster.

0:16:59 > 0:17:02'He's been up Everest three times.

0:17:02 > 0:17:03'He'll be guiding Gyenshen.

0:17:05 > 0:17:09'Charlie has all kinds of experience in the mountain.

0:17:09 > 0:17:12'He's climbed K2, and three other 8,000-metre peaks.

0:17:12 > 0:17:18'He's also a dad, so he has just the right balance of love and toughness.'

0:17:18 > 0:17:20Wiggle your fingers, like this.

0:17:20 > 0:17:22'He'll also be guiding Dachung.

0:17:22 > 0:17:24'Gavin is my right-hand man.

0:17:24 > 0:17:29'He's got no ego, he'll do anything it takes to keep the team safe

0:17:29 > 0:17:32'and to get people up the mountain. He'll be guiding Tashi.'

0:17:32 > 0:17:35- Does it feel warm?- Yeah.

0:17:38 > 0:17:41Pull, push, got it?

0:17:41 > 0:17:45So you fall down...OK?

0:17:47 > 0:17:49- Got it?- Yeah.- Try now.

0:17:51 > 0:17:54The worst outcome is that we all die in an avalanche,

0:17:54 > 0:17:58or someone falls into a crevasse.

0:17:58 > 0:18:01You've got to take a project like this so seriously.

0:18:01 > 0:18:02It is life and death.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06Good! Good!

0:18:06 > 0:18:11I knew we needed to train the kids and give them a taste of what we're gonna be doing.

0:18:13 > 0:18:16A little slippy, I'm slipping, help me. Good!

0:18:16 > 0:18:21And so we'll take these kids rock-climbing, work on their bonding and trust

0:18:21 > 0:18:23that has to happen in any climbing team.

0:18:31 > 0:18:36Good, how about right down there? For your foot? Good.

0:18:36 > 0:18:38Excellent.

0:18:47 > 0:18:50'Rock-climbing is very, very tactile.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53'You have to use your feet,

0:18:53 > 0:18:55'your feelings of the hands.

0:18:55 > 0:18:59'You're touching the different surfaces of the rock,

0:18:59 > 0:19:05'the very polished ones and also the rough ones.

0:19:05 > 0:19:09'And every moment you have a different input,

0:19:09 > 0:19:14'so, for the blind, the whole way is really full of experiences.'

0:19:16 > 0:19:18Not so close, maybe a bit down here.

0:19:18 > 0:19:21'I think, for the kids, the actual trek,

0:19:21 > 0:19:26'being together with Erik and the team is the main important thing.'

0:19:28 > 0:19:31Tenzin, stand up, stand up. Let go of the rock, lean back.

0:19:31 > 0:19:35Tenzin, let go of the rock, lean back.

0:19:41 > 0:19:43I thought these kids knew how to lower, so...

0:19:43 > 0:19:45I'll get up there and walk him down.

0:19:47 > 0:19:51No, it's easy. I'll go up and get him down.

0:19:58 > 0:20:01Stand up, let go of the rock, lean back.

0:20:01 > 0:20:04Tenzin, let go of the rock, lean back.

0:20:04 > 0:20:06That's it.

0:20:08 > 0:20:10Let go of the rock. That's it, that's it.

0:20:10 > 0:20:13Yes! There you go! Good boy.

0:20:13 > 0:20:17That's it. There you go. Good boy.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20ROCKS CLATTER DOWN

0:20:24 > 0:20:26(Oh, Jesus!)

0:20:26 > 0:20:31I thought these kids had rock-climbed before and knew the basics.

0:20:31 > 0:20:35I guess we underestimated a little bit, but they'll get it, they'll get it.

0:20:43 > 0:20:48One thing I really want to make clear is Tibet is not Nepal.

0:20:48 > 0:20:56And the thing is, like, you said in your e-mails you have an evacuation plan ready.

0:20:56 > 0:21:00We weren't so sure if you were informed about the circumstances here in Tibet.

0:21:00 > 0:21:03There's no helicopter.

0:21:03 > 0:21:06I totally hear you. Our goal is safety.

0:21:06 > 0:21:10We're on a climbing expedition. I don't want people to say, "I don't feel like going any more.

0:21:10 > 0:21:13"I'm just turning back cos I don't feel like it."

0:21:13 > 0:21:19We're committed, and if we're feeling good, that's what our goal is, to get to the summit.

0:21:19 > 0:21:24I'm sorry, if you're blind, I don't care whether you like it or not, you're a bit of an ambassador.

0:21:24 > 0:21:27What you guys have to realise is that Sabriye and me,

0:21:27 > 0:21:29we probably have most to lose.

0:21:29 > 0:21:33If something's gonna happen, if something goes wrong,

0:21:33 > 0:21:38there are plenty of people out there waiting for us to fall on our nose.

0:21:38 > 0:21:42If we bring our kids up to 7,000 metres and they just fall down

0:21:42 > 0:21:46and hit their bone on a rock and it's broken,

0:21:46 > 0:21:50then people tell them, "Why did you bring them up there?" Do you see what I mean?

0:21:50 > 0:21:55It's maybe not about breaking a leg. It's maybe about worse things.

0:21:55 > 0:21:58I'm sensitive of that, we're all sensitive of that.

0:21:58 > 0:22:02We talked about that quite a bit last night.

0:22:02 > 0:22:06We understand that and are sensitive to that.

0:22:06 > 0:22:12That being said, the thing that I want to make sure that the two of you understand

0:22:12 > 0:22:18and I speak for all of us, is that we are going to a place that is a little bit dangerous,

0:22:18 > 0:22:22by design, and I think Erik will tell you...

0:22:22 > 0:22:29I'd use the word, rather than "dangerous", "potentially dangerous".

0:22:29 > 0:22:31Tashi! Well done!

0:22:31 > 0:22:36'I guess we have different challenges in life.

0:22:36 > 0:22:40'The climbing team and Erik, their challenge is adventure.'

0:22:40 > 0:22:43Don't mind us, we're just here to take you on a trip.

0:22:43 > 0:22:48'They think we should risk something, we shouldn't be cowards. We should just do it, you know?

0:22:48 > 0:22:51'And if we've done it, then we feel even better.

0:22:51 > 0:22:54'And when I hear this,

0:22:54 > 0:22:57'then I get a little stone n my stomach.'

0:23:00 > 0:23:02You've got everything in here?

0:23:03 > 0:23:06- You've got your water?- Yes. - What else do you have?

0:23:06 > 0:23:10'The thing is, the challenge we have is to get the children here to see,

0:23:10 > 0:23:14'to understand, that they actually are equal human beings.'

0:23:21 > 0:23:22My name is Kyila.

0:23:22 > 0:23:24Kyila means "happy".

0:26:14 > 0:26:19Everyone feel my pack. Everyone has a top part of their pack.

0:26:19 > 0:26:21What is in here?

0:26:21 > 0:26:24Feel that.

0:26:24 > 0:26:26Hat. Fleece hat.

0:26:26 > 0:26:29And feel this - what's the next thing?

0:26:29 > 0:26:31Sunglasses.

0:26:31 > 0:26:36If I lay my sunglasses on the ground, I'll never find it.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38So always in the top part of your pack.

0:26:40 > 0:26:46And because we're all blind, we have to remember where we put our things.

0:26:46 > 0:26:48- OK?- OK.- Cool.

0:26:51 > 0:26:56# I can't see me lovin' nobody but you

0:26:56 > 0:27:00# For all my life

0:27:00 > 0:27:05# Me and you, and you and me No matter how they toss the dice

0:27:05 > 0:27:07# It's meant to be

0:27:07 > 0:27:11# The only one for me is you, and you for me

0:27:11 > 0:27:14# So happy together

0:27:14 > 0:27:18# How is the weather?

0:27:18 > 0:27:21# We're happy together. #

0:29:43 > 0:29:44- Are you happy, Sonam?- Yes.

0:29:44 > 0:29:47Why?

0:30:18 > 0:30:20A little rocky. A little rocky here.

0:31:10 > 0:31:12There's a lot of things I'm concerned about.

0:31:12 > 0:31:19- You don't know him, man. - He's a 60lb kid. He doesn't need to be carrying a heavy pack.

0:31:19 > 0:31:21That's a good point, but he's fine.

0:31:21 > 0:31:27If you've got a principle, it's not like you need to get them suffering.

0:31:27 > 0:31:31It's not training. That's not what this is about.

0:31:31 > 0:31:36This is what high altitude does to you.

0:31:36 > 0:31:39- No, explain it to me.- Come on, guys. Let's not all get pissy.

0:31:39 > 0:31:42I just don't want the kid carrying any more weight than he has to.

0:31:42 > 0:31:44In my opinion, he's not.

0:31:47 > 0:31:48Enough. Relax. Come on.

0:31:48 > 0:31:53Come on. Please. I don't want to get in an argument. I don't want you pissed with me.

0:32:03 > 0:32:05Right, right, right! Left!

0:32:07 > 0:32:10'Gavin's been guiding Tashi for three days now.

0:32:10 > 0:32:15'And he's told me he's worried about his health, both physically and emotionally.

0:32:18 > 0:32:20'I think Tashi's always been a bit of an outsider.

0:32:20 > 0:32:22'The other kids at the blind school

0:32:22 > 0:32:25'didn't want to have anything to do with him in the beginning

0:32:25 > 0:32:27'because he came from the streets.

0:32:27 > 0:32:33'It's bad enough being blind in Tibet, but there's an extra stigma attached to being a street kid.'

0:32:33 > 0:32:40'Tashi's moods have been hard to read and there have been fairly significant swings.

0:32:40 > 0:32:44'He'll go from laughing, joking and repeating things

0:32:44 > 0:32:50'and then there were a couple of times yesterday where he almost shut down on me completely.

0:32:50 > 0:32:55'And we'd stop for a break and he definitely was having a hard time, he was definitely tired.

0:32:55 > 0:33:01'And I went to talk to him and he would not answer me in any shape or form.

0:33:01 > 0:33:03'He just closed down into his own world.'

0:33:04 > 0:33:09- Tashi?- Yes?- Go ahead and get changed, please, and put that on. I'll come back in one minute.

0:33:09 > 0:33:11'He has some scars on his chest and his back'

0:33:11 > 0:33:15and they sure as hell look like cigarette burns to me

0:33:15 > 0:33:18and I don't want to jump to that conclusion but...

0:33:20 > 0:33:22they look like them.

0:33:22 > 0:33:28They look like them. It looks like he's got 20 or 30 burns on his chest and back.

0:36:16 > 0:36:18I think we all learned a lesson today.

0:36:18 > 0:36:23It's nice for us to just walk and cruise through these valleys. It doesn't hurt us at all.

0:36:23 > 0:36:28I think if you look at a couple of these kids, the distance of today is a lot.

0:36:28 > 0:36:32We need to start thinking about some objectives for a couple of the kids

0:36:32 > 0:36:34and the reality of where they're going to go.

0:36:35 > 0:36:39I don't mean bring it up in front of them but...

0:36:39 > 0:36:43There is a philosophy of "weed 'em out early", and I don't want to have that philosophy.

0:36:43 > 0:36:47I want to have the philosophy of inclusion,

0:36:47 > 0:36:52get them up as high as they can, realistically and safely.

0:36:52 > 0:36:53'I relate to Tashi a lot.

0:36:53 > 0:36:57'I know that's hard on him, being the last kid into camp.

0:36:57 > 0:37:01'And really wanting to be out there in front with the other boys.'

0:37:01 > 0:37:04- Tashi!- Tashi! Tashi!

0:37:04 > 0:37:06Yeah! Look at the man running.

0:37:06 > 0:37:07Don't kill me now!

0:37:08 > 0:37:14When I was learning to hike, I struggled and I was awkward and I was kind of gangly,

0:37:14 > 0:37:16'trying to figure out how to make the system work

0:37:16 > 0:37:20'and really wanting to keep up with my sighted brothers.'

0:37:20 > 0:37:21Yeah!

0:37:21 > 0:37:26'At first, my dad would actually walk behind me.

0:37:26 > 0:37:31'He would take his hand and wrap my shirt and try to direct me, try to pull me left and right.

0:37:31 > 0:37:35'And there were a lot of days when we would be hiking on a narrow trail,

0:37:35 > 0:37:39'and I'd slip off the trail and he, with his hand wrapped up on my shirt...

0:37:39 > 0:37:42'he'd go bouncing down the trail behind me.'

0:37:42 > 0:37:47I was always thinking, "There's no reason why he can't do this

0:37:47 > 0:37:50"and he can't do that, and we'll work together

0:37:50 > 0:37:51"and find a way to do it."

0:37:54 > 0:37:59'I don't think it was so much about the mountains as about how to keep us close as a family.

0:38:02 > 0:38:08'I remember on McKinley when we stood on top, he was in a Cessna plane circling around us.'

0:38:08 > 0:38:13There they are, there they are! Woo! Woo!

0:38:13 > 0:38:17'He was always there, always there on the sidelines.'

0:38:20 > 0:38:26'The way he thought about us was that I was the broom and his mom was the dustpan.

0:38:28 > 0:38:31'Usually at some point in time, he would shatter

0:38:31 > 0:38:35'and his mom would be there to sweep up the pieces, put him together.

0:38:40 > 0:38:43'The toughest moment was when his mom was killed

0:38:43 > 0:38:48'because it happened, coinciding really, with his adjustment as a blind person.'

0:38:51 > 0:38:55I don't know how...I don't know how I would ever stay on track,

0:38:55 > 0:38:56not only losing my sight...

0:38:59 > 0:39:00..but losing my mom.

0:39:05 > 0:39:10And then when it gets steep down, come up.

0:39:10 > 0:39:13- When it gets steep up, go down. You know?- Yes.

0:39:13 > 0:39:16Up and down, up and down. Left, right, left, right.

0:39:16 > 0:39:19Left foot, left pole, left foot, right pole.

0:39:22 > 0:39:25Good, Tashi. D'you want to keep going? Are you getting it?

0:39:25 > 0:39:30'Tashi's gotten stronger. I don't think he's doing that bad.

0:39:30 > 0:39:35'He's definitely slower than the other kids'

0:39:35 > 0:39:41but I even think we can get Tashi pretty high up this mountain if we allow him to go at a slower pace.

0:39:53 > 0:39:55Turn slightly to your right.

0:39:55 > 0:39:57That's Everest up there.

0:39:58 > 0:40:00- Want to see it?- Yeah.

0:40:00 > 0:40:06I'll show you the top. It's a little lower, it's 15 miles from there, so it's about 20 kilometres.

0:40:06 > 0:40:12That's the top. And then Lhakpa Ri Summit is going to be up there but it's behind a mountain.

0:40:12 > 0:40:14- We can't see it yet.- Uh-huh.

0:40:32 > 0:40:35So, this is our expedition.

0:40:35 > 0:40:40This is us going up just like those early men from all over the world

0:40:40 > 0:40:43used to come right through here on their way up to get blessed,

0:40:43 > 0:40:47to go climb the mountain, just like we're about to get blessed from the monks.

0:40:47 > 0:40:52We're going to make sure that we are safe and that we are protected when we go on the mountain.

0:40:52 > 0:40:54HORNS ARE BLOWN, DRUMS BEAT

0:41:08 > 0:41:10CHANTING

0:42:27 > 0:42:31'I was 12 years old when I became blind.

0:42:31 > 0:42:35'I was in my school with sighted children and they started to tease me

0:42:35 > 0:42:38'and they started to try tricks on me.

0:42:39 > 0:42:42'I didn't know where I belonged.

0:42:44 > 0:42:51'So I decided that I wanted to go to the special school for the blind and visually-impaired

0:42:51 > 0:42:56'and to experience what is life as a blind person.

0:42:56 > 0:43:01'We had teachers who said, "OK, we can give you all the techniques and all the methods you need."

0:43:01 > 0:43:08'And they taught us very difficult things, for example, white water kayaking and downhill skiing.

0:43:10 > 0:43:15'But they said, "OK, you have to try to figure out if the techniques we give you

0:43:15 > 0:43:19' "are the right techniques, and you have to find your own limits."

0:43:21 > 0:43:25'And this actually gave me the idea, if I had the techniques,

0:43:25 > 0:43:29'then the whole world is open to me and I can do whatever I want to.'

0:44:07 > 0:44:10'We're now at Everest Base Camp, at 17,000 feet.

0:44:10 > 0:44:16'So far, we've used trucks to haul most of our gear but from here on we have to use yaks.

0:44:16 > 0:44:20'But we've just been told our yaks are running late.

0:44:20 > 0:44:23'As soon as we hear the sound of those little bells, we'll be out of here.

0:44:29 > 0:44:31'We have to stay very sharp above here.

0:44:31 > 0:44:37'It gets steeper, colder, the air is thinner and that lack of oxygen can really affect your judgment.

0:44:53 > 0:44:55'This is the Mallory-Irvine Memorial.

0:44:55 > 0:45:00'This is for all the people who have died on Everest to be honoured.'

0:45:00 > 0:45:02There's BS Choi,

0:45:02 > 0:45:06September 1997.

0:45:06 > 0:45:088th September.

0:45:08 > 0:45:10September, wow!

0:45:13 > 0:45:17- Here's Bruce Andrews. Want to have a look at that one?- Yeah.

0:45:21 > 0:45:23He was one of my good friends.

0:45:23 > 0:45:26Oh, right. It says, "In memory of."

0:45:26 > 0:45:28- There's lots of them, eh? - People make mistakes.

0:45:28 > 0:45:32Everyone's human, so you get that fear that runs through you

0:45:32 > 0:45:35and you just say, "Don't make mistakes."

0:45:35 > 0:45:37But, you know, we wouldn't be...

0:45:38 > 0:45:43..we wouldn't at all ever consider, you know,

0:45:43 > 0:45:48- trying to make any kind of statement with these kids...- No. - ..or any craziness.

0:45:48 > 0:45:51Because here, you see, all these people died here.

0:45:59 > 0:46:03- I think we've soaked up enough sadness.- Yeah, I think so.

0:46:03 > 0:46:04- Let's head back to camp, eh?- Yeah.

0:46:17 > 0:46:23What does this summit mean to the kids? Because we were talking about this a little while ago

0:46:23 > 0:46:26and Tashi's co-ordination, once he puts crampons on his boots

0:46:26 > 0:46:31is a very big issue, because when you're on steep terrain, you can't be bumbling around.

0:46:31 > 0:46:36And communicate to them that this is about to get a lot more serious.

0:46:36 > 0:46:38It's not just singing songs.

0:46:38 > 0:46:44And also relate back to us, or help them figure out,

0:46:44 > 0:46:50if it's appropriate for them to stop today or to continue on.

0:46:50 > 0:46:51Sure.

0:46:51 > 0:46:55I think we should be more willing - it's hard to think like this -

0:46:55 > 0:47:01I think we should be more willing to pull the plug, than we should say, "Go up."

0:47:01 > 0:47:03I feel ultimately, it comes down to that.

0:47:03 > 0:47:08You've got to understand, this is the difference between Westerners and Easterners,

0:47:08 > 0:47:11If you look at the Sherpas and the Tibetans,

0:47:11 > 0:47:13they could care less about the summits.

0:47:13 > 0:47:16They didn't climb them before Westerners came and started doing them.

0:47:16 > 0:47:20Because it's not important. But for us Westerners, we want to stand on top.

0:47:20 > 0:47:23That's what we want to do.

0:47:23 > 0:47:25Because it's ingrained in our make-up.

0:47:25 > 0:47:29That's why I think there's a difference in attitude and perception about a summit.

0:47:29 > 0:47:34I'm going to say something, you might say this is shallow, but I don't think so.

0:47:34 > 0:47:41With these kids being blind, and getting to the top of a mountain, it is sort of symbolism, I think.

0:47:41 > 0:47:47It is just a great thing to ingrain into your mind and body

0:47:47 > 0:47:49what you're capable of doing.

0:47:50 > 0:47:52The top is not important. OK?

0:47:52 > 0:47:55It is important that we're all together and having fun.

0:47:55 > 0:47:57This is important.

0:47:57 > 0:47:59- And be safe.- And we are very safe.

0:47:59 > 0:48:02And very happy together, OK?

0:48:02 > 0:48:05This is very important. But the top is not important.

0:48:05 > 0:48:09If you go up there, it's nice. If you don't, it doesn't matter.

0:48:13 > 0:48:15Yes? Very, very important.

0:48:15 > 0:48:16BELLS CHIME

0:48:23 > 0:48:26All right, let's go, you guys. Let's walk this place.

0:48:26 > 0:48:28Let's go!

0:49:11 > 0:49:12Is that a drop-off?

0:49:12 > 0:49:15It dropped off to the right.

0:49:15 > 0:49:18Be really careful here, OK?

0:49:18 > 0:49:20Really feel where the side of that ridge is.

0:49:20 > 0:49:25- Great, OK? Really feel with your poles...- To the left or right? - To the right.

0:49:31 > 0:49:36Listen very closely. It is very narrow, OK?

0:49:36 > 0:49:38It drops away to the right.

0:49:40 > 0:49:44OK, right here is a big rock. You want to step over.

0:49:44 > 0:49:47Bring your right foot along.

0:49:53 > 0:49:58When I'm walking, I see in my mind, Tashi stumbling over his own feet.

0:49:58 > 0:50:02If he does it here, and it's narrow like this, then it's over.

0:50:02 > 0:50:06But you're wasting energy by worrying so much.

0:50:06 > 0:50:09At this point, you need to just trust us, OK?

0:50:09 > 0:50:11We're going to take care of you.

0:50:11 > 0:50:14We're not going to let anything happen to any of these kids.

0:50:14 > 0:50:19Sabriye, I'm just going to say, I understand the whole concern.

0:50:19 > 0:50:22I'm a parent, I know how you feel, but we're in good shape.

0:50:22 > 0:50:27We want you guys to feel good and have fun, because this really is about having fun.

0:50:27 > 0:50:30I'm not so sure. Where is the fun right now?

0:50:30 > 0:50:31You're not having fun?

0:50:35 > 0:50:37Give me a hug.

0:50:37 > 0:50:41- I've four boys, so...- OK.

0:50:41 > 0:50:46- It's very difficult. - It's very difficult.- And dangerous. - Dangerous, yes.

0:51:03 > 0:51:04You have to think.

0:51:09 > 0:51:11You don't have thought rights now.

0:51:11 > 0:51:13'We had a last talk last time,

0:51:13 > 0:51:19'and Tashi became really shy and he started to become very, very nervous.'

0:51:26 > 0:51:31'And then we said, "OK, we'll just leave him. It's a big decision."

0:51:31 > 0:51:35'After all, if I were treated like that by my parents,

0:51:35 > 0:51:39'I'm not so sure if I'd have the guts to face them again.'

0:51:43 > 0:51:44You don't know.

0:51:44 > 0:51:45'But then,'

0:51:45 > 0:51:51he came to us and he was saying, "Hey, I really have to talk to you

0:51:51 > 0:51:57"and please don't get angry at me and I don't know how to do it."

0:51:57 > 0:52:00And I said, "Tashi, what's wrong?" And he said, "I lied."

0:52:00 > 0:52:02I said, "What about?"

0:52:02 > 0:52:09And then he was really shy and he said, "Because I'm not half-Tibetan.

0:52:09 > 0:52:11"I'm actually Chinese.

0:52:11 > 0:52:16"I thought I'd better tell you that I'm half-Tibetan

0:52:16 > 0:52:20"because I thought maybe you'd take only Tibetan children."

0:52:20 > 0:52:24'And now he's someone totally different. He even changed his name.'

0:52:24 > 0:52:27Tashi, what's your real name?

0:52:27 > 0:52:28HE ANSWERS

0:52:28 > 0:52:30SABRIYE REPEATS NAME

0:52:34 > 0:52:42I think we have a little confusion about the village of, erm, of Tashi.

0:52:52 > 0:52:54You go through.

0:52:56 > 0:52:59You walk straight. You walk straight. OK?

0:52:59 > 0:53:01BEEPING

0:53:07 > 0:53:08Just so you know,

0:53:08 > 0:53:14there will be a mask and you can put it in front of your mouth like this.

0:53:14 > 0:53:16Then you can breathe.

0:53:29 > 0:53:32- Tashi, do you hear the water?- Yes.

0:53:38 > 0:53:40- Your village isn't so far from here? - Yes.

0:53:40 > 0:53:44How long does it take to walk?

0:53:44 > 0:53:47- Walk now.- To your village from here? - One day.

0:53:47 > 0:53:51- One day.- OK. Let's start walking. - Yes.- Yes!

0:53:53 > 0:53:56There's the sink. Water.

0:53:56 > 0:53:59OK. Toilet.

0:54:00 > 0:54:04Here is the bathtub.

0:54:04 > 0:54:06OK?

0:54:07 > 0:54:10OK, take care.

0:55:15 > 0:55:18We have arrived at Old British Camp ahead of our yaks.

0:55:18 > 0:55:21This is where Mallory and Irvine came in the '20s,

0:55:21 > 0:55:24on one of the very first expeditions to Mount Everest.

0:55:24 > 0:55:27It also marks the beginning of what people call the "death zone",

0:55:27 > 0:55:31and the very real danger of people getting cerebral or pulmonary oedema.

0:55:31 > 0:55:35That's when your brain or your the lungs fill up with fluid

0:55:35 > 0:55:39and you literally have got hours to get down, or you die.

0:55:39 > 0:55:42Headaches and coughing are pretty common at this altitude.

0:55:42 > 0:55:45But they could be signs of oedema.

0:55:45 > 0:55:50Jeff is keeping a close eye to make sure no one develops any life-threatening conditions.

0:55:51 > 0:55:55We should be OK if we move up slowly and we take time to acclimatise.

0:55:56 > 0:56:01Today was a tough day for a bunch of reasons but we're here

0:56:01 > 0:56:04and we're getting warmer.

0:56:04 > 0:56:08Tomorrow is another day. That said, I'm going to handover to Jeff.

0:56:08 > 0:56:13I think it goes without saying, we're over 18,000 feet.

0:56:13 > 0:56:16Tonight, I'd say that at least one person will get a headache.

0:56:16 > 0:56:19If you do get a headache that doesn't go away,

0:56:19 > 0:56:22and you wake up in the middle of the night and get a headache

0:56:22 > 0:56:24and it won't go away, and you can't go back to sleep,

0:56:24 > 0:56:26you need to know where my tent is.

0:56:26 > 0:56:28- Right, Tashi? Dachung?- Yeah.- Good.

0:56:30 > 0:56:33There are things we can do to make it better

0:56:33 > 0:56:36but I want to make it better before it gets worse.

0:56:39 > 0:56:42Good bread, good meat, good gosh, let's eat!

0:56:45 > 0:56:47- Paul?- Yes, I'm here.- Oh, yeah.

0:56:47 > 0:56:50- Sabriye?- Yeah.- Cool.

0:56:50 > 0:56:55So, you guys know that Michael has this thing that forecasts weather,

0:56:55 > 0:57:01and it says that a storm will be coming in the day after tomorrow.

0:57:01 > 0:57:04The consensus is that we should try to do

0:57:04 > 0:57:07what we were going to do in two days, in one day.

0:57:07 > 0:57:09It's about 2,000 feet.

0:57:09 > 0:57:10It's a longer day

0:57:10 > 0:57:15but we'll all probably be pretty tired when we get into camp tonight.

0:57:15 > 0:57:17The Sherpas and the Tibetan staff are going to run ahead

0:57:17 > 0:57:21and have the tents and everything set up by the time we get there.

0:57:21 > 0:57:24We're just going to come into camp, pile into our tents,

0:57:24 > 0:57:26eat dinner and go to bed.

0:57:26 > 0:57:31It's still going to be a fun day and it'll be a challenging day.

0:57:33 > 0:57:36You know, I'm happy. I'm excited. I think we're all good.

0:58:08 > 0:58:10TIBETAN SONG PLAYS

0:58:20 > 0:58:23- Tashi?- Yes.- I want to show you something.

0:58:23 > 0:58:26Up there, is a very big mountain.

0:58:26 > 0:58:28- Mountain?- Yeah, which one?

0:58:28 > 0:58:29Which is the biggest?

0:58:36 > 0:58:38This is Erik's mountain.

0:58:41 > 0:58:43This is Erik's mountain.

0:58:46 > 0:58:47Tashi's mountain.

0:58:50 > 0:58:53OK, are you ready for lunch?

0:58:53 > 0:58:55- Lunch!- Yeah, I'm hungry.

0:59:05 > 0:59:07Legs tired?

0:59:09 > 0:59:11Little bit. Chest tired?

0:59:12 > 0:59:14Ask him if his legs are tired.

0:59:20 > 0:59:24Sabriye, what do you think the best way for us to assess the kids is right now?

0:59:24 > 0:59:28I think really tired is tired.

0:59:28 > 0:59:32That's pretty much a sign.

0:59:32 > 0:59:33We need to make a call.

0:59:33 > 0:59:35Let's go.

0:59:47 > 0:59:49All right, Sabriye?

0:59:55 > 0:59:57Come on up, boys.

1:00:04 > 1:00:08'For me, blindness has a lot to do with imagining things.

1:00:08 > 1:00:11'It's a constant imagination, actually.

1:00:11 > 1:00:15'You imagine everything - what you'd smell, feel or hear.'

1:00:19 > 1:00:20We'll keep going up.

1:00:20 > 1:00:27'Sometimes we want to really stop and enjoy with all our senses.

1:00:28 > 1:00:35'The kids told me that it is not so much fun to just climb or to just walk,

1:00:35 > 1:00:40'because they had never really time to tell a story or think of a story

1:00:42 > 1:00:44'or to just smell or to listen.

1:00:44 > 1:00:47'For example, icicles falling down.

1:00:47 > 1:00:51'And the whole herd of yaks with the different bells.

1:00:51 > 1:00:52'It's beautiful.

1:01:01 > 1:01:05'And so I had the feeling, is it really the right thing,

1:01:05 > 1:01:09'this goal to get every child to the summit?

1:01:09 > 1:01:13'Is it really something we would do for the kids,

1:01:13 > 1:01:18'or is it just something we would do to show something?'

1:01:59 > 1:02:01Everyone got in safe last night

1:02:01 > 1:02:06but the gap between the strongest and weakest is definitely widening.

1:02:06 > 1:02:12At 20,000 ft, the oxygen is so low you have to stop every few steps to take a breath.

1:02:12 > 1:02:17But Gyenshen is in high spirits and is motivating his buddies, Tenzin and Dachung.

1:02:18 > 1:02:21I think these three guys will get to the top first.

1:04:22 > 1:04:24How does your head feel right now?

1:04:26 > 1:04:30All better? No headache, no headache at all?

1:04:36 > 1:04:39- It's totally gone.- Totally gone? - Yeah.

1:04:59 > 1:05:03We are packing up to move on to our last camp.

1:05:03 > 1:05:06I know we've reached a critical point in the expedition.

1:05:06 > 1:05:11The bad weather Michael is predicting hasn't materialised but I know it's coming.

1:05:11 > 1:05:16Sabriye thinks Tashi and Kyila need a rest and wants to stay here for another night.

1:05:16 > 1:05:20The yakkers are freaking out as there's nothing for the yaks

1:05:20 > 1:05:22to eat up here and they're out of food.

1:05:22 > 1:05:28They've said if they don't drop our gear off at Advanced Base Camp today, they are heading down.

1:05:28 > 1:05:32So we have to get there tonight or we lose our shot at Lhakpa Ri.

1:05:43 > 1:05:45He feels like he needs to throw up.

1:05:45 > 1:05:48OK. I tell you what, Tashi,

1:05:48 > 1:05:53today we've got at least three or four hours' walk uphill, OK?

1:05:53 > 1:05:56Do you feel like you have enough energy in your legs

1:05:56 > 1:05:59to walk uphill for three to four hours?

1:06:03 > 1:06:05- You want to walk up?- Yes.- OK.

1:06:24 > 1:06:25Do you have the exact name?

1:06:30 > 1:06:32- OK.- It's a family name?- Yeah. OK.

1:07:01 > 1:07:03It's not that easy, Tashi,

1:07:03 > 1:07:06because there's nobody here called Dong.

1:07:31 > 1:07:34OK. You got something.

1:07:41 > 1:07:42- Really?- Yes.

1:07:44 > 1:07:46Really? They go looking for him?

1:08:14 > 1:08:17He will first go in.

1:08:17 > 1:08:22He will ask your parents to come out, OK?

1:08:23 > 1:08:25Are you a little bit afraid?

1:08:26 > 1:08:28- A little bit.- A little bit!

1:08:28 > 1:08:29Don't worry.

1:08:31 > 1:08:33I think a little bit.

1:08:34 > 1:08:36Don't worry.

1:08:37 > 1:08:40Somebody is coming out.

1:08:54 > 1:08:56- OK, Tashi?- Yes.

1:08:56 > 1:08:58Is this your father?

1:09:54 > 1:09:56"Thank you," he says.

1:10:00 > 1:10:01What does he say?

1:10:01 > 1:10:04I'm... How do you say? Um...

1:10:12 > 1:10:14Yeah. Here's your brother, here.

1:10:16 > 1:10:17He's looking, like, "Whoa!"

1:10:17 > 1:10:20You look very much alike.

1:10:20 > 1:10:23- Like me?- Yes, like you.

1:10:23 > 1:10:25What's his name?

1:10:25 > 1:10:26TASHI ANSWERS

1:10:27 > 1:10:29His brother, yes.

1:10:29 > 1:10:32Did you ask if your mother is around?

1:10:36 > 1:10:37- She go to the shop?- No, no, no.

1:10:56 > 1:10:58So, he didn't know what happened to Tashi?

1:11:03 > 1:11:06He didn't know what happened to Tashi.

1:11:16 > 1:11:20- Would you like to...- Would you like to tell him now what has happened?

1:11:20 > 1:11:24Do you remember this, when you were little?

1:11:48 > 1:11:52I know it's not really like it should be.

1:11:52 > 1:11:55What would you do, if you were in his situation?

1:11:57 > 1:12:00It's very difficult, huh? You understand their situation?

1:12:03 > 1:12:06- Don't worry, yeah? - It doesn't matter.

1:12:06 > 1:12:11It's too important, everything, that you've found them, to be angry. Right?

1:12:11 > 1:12:13A little bit. A little bit.

1:12:13 > 1:12:18I really wish, without telling you I don't trust you, I trust you.

1:12:18 > 1:12:24- Trust is not...- But I really wish to have some opinions from the other guides as well.

1:12:24 > 1:12:26Who do you want to bring in?

1:12:26 > 1:12:32- I want to bring in Ollie.- Ollie's never been to the Himalayas before.- Sorry?

1:12:32 > 1:12:35- Can you understand that? - I understand that completely.

1:12:35 > 1:12:38I've already given my input for how to get Tashi down,

1:12:38 > 1:12:43- which is maybe he could get on a yak and go down.- Yeah.

1:12:45 > 1:12:46How about Tashi?

1:12:46 > 1:12:49There's one boy who has no appetite,

1:12:49 > 1:12:51- he didn't eat. - We might send him down.

1:12:56 > 1:12:59It's a logistical nightmare to split the team.

1:13:02 > 1:13:07The only concern with me, with that, believe me, I'm all for us sticking together,

1:13:07 > 1:13:12but medically, I feel like it is my responsibility to make sure that no-one gets really bad.

1:13:12 > 1:13:15And I've seen people die from altitude illness before.

1:13:15 > 1:13:20That's why I don't have any reservations about sending people down.

1:13:20 > 1:13:23Tonight, we're way up there.

1:13:23 > 1:13:25We're very, very high.

1:13:25 > 1:13:28One option is that we all turn back right now.

1:13:28 > 1:13:30Wait! Before you get frustrated,

1:13:30 > 1:13:34when you come to the mountains, you come with a certain amount of a commitment.

1:13:34 > 1:13:38You're doing something, because if you get cold feet and decide to go home,

1:13:38 > 1:13:40nobody would ever climb any mountains.

1:13:40 > 1:13:42And I don't think we're at the point -

1:13:42 > 1:13:47I don't even think we're close to the point - where we consider turning the team back.

1:14:09 > 1:14:11Look out for the rock.

1:14:21 > 1:14:25Slow down a bit, Tashi, and concentrate.

1:14:47 > 1:14:49Stop. Just stop.

1:14:51 > 1:14:54- Does something hurt?- No.- Are you sure?- Yes.- Where did you fall?

1:14:58 > 1:15:00Jeff, do you copy? Over.

1:15:08 > 1:15:13Jeff, I have an extremely tired Tashi down here.

1:15:13 > 1:15:17We've stopped several times. I would like a second opinion, please. Over.

1:15:24 > 1:15:28I'm just gonna go up on to the top, Ollie, and just indicate our...

1:15:37 > 1:15:40Just tell me if you get any colder.

1:15:40 > 1:15:42How are your legs? Are they nice and warm now?

1:16:13 > 1:16:14You don't think so?

1:16:17 > 1:16:19I'm not being influenced by this.

1:16:19 > 1:16:22- No.- I'm going to make the call and I think we're gonna go.

1:16:22 > 1:16:25OK, I'm with you. Saddle him up, let's get going.

1:16:25 > 1:16:27Sitting right here's not doing us any good.

1:16:27 > 1:16:29Mike, what's the story here?

1:17:38 > 1:17:40We could have turned back today,

1:17:40 > 1:17:47but I thought it was premature to turn back. So, we all kind of made this collective decision to push on,

1:17:47 > 1:17:53and, you know, we hope the kids really do well throughout the night and tomorrow,

1:17:53 > 1:17:58especially tomorrow and the next day, which are primarily rest days.

1:17:58 > 1:18:04And everyone will hopefully recover their energy and be ready to maybe look at a summit.

1:18:04 > 1:18:08But we're really going to have to take a hard look

1:18:08 > 1:18:12at who are the kids that have the co-ordination to wear crampons

1:18:12 > 1:18:15and manoeuvre around crevasses and be roped up.

1:18:15 > 1:18:20I don't want this trip to do the opposite of what we intended, which is to separate people.

1:18:20 > 1:18:25But so many expeditions of the past, there might be 20 people

1:18:25 > 1:18:29and if they can get one person to the summit, everyone succeeds.

1:18:31 > 1:18:33Yay, Tashi!

1:18:33 > 1:18:36We're here. Congratulations, Tashi.

1:18:37 > 1:18:41Let's bring him in here and we'll get a mattress.

1:18:45 > 1:18:47Do you want to lie down?

1:18:47 > 1:18:50You're here. You made history, 21,000 feet.

1:18:50 > 1:18:53I'm proud of you. We're here.

1:18:54 > 1:18:58The mountain right behind me is Lhakpa Ri. That's our target.

1:19:05 > 1:19:07Let's draw this together, real quick.

1:19:07 > 1:19:12We got very excited about the fact we were at base camp. We're at ABC.

1:19:12 > 1:19:14Come on, let's double the cheer!

1:19:14 > 1:19:15Base camp, yeah!

1:19:17 > 1:19:21And I would like everyone, with the exception of our young team members,

1:19:21 > 1:19:27to stand up, raise your glass, please, to these fine young people, these young team members.

1:19:27 > 1:19:29- Come on.- Kyila's not feeling well.

1:19:29 > 1:19:33She's just got a really splitting headache.

1:19:33 > 1:19:36So we were just sitting in the tent with her.

1:19:36 > 1:19:37SABRIYE COUGHS

1:19:37 > 1:19:39He's checking her lungs.

1:19:51 > 1:19:53How are her lungs?

1:19:53 > 1:19:56- I'm walking her down tomorrow morning.- OK.

1:20:58 > 1:21:02It's tough, it's tough, it's not good.

1:21:15 > 1:21:19So, after three hours of debate, we came up with a great plan.

1:21:21 > 1:21:25Sonam Bhumtso has a headache, the altitude is getting to her.

1:21:25 > 1:21:29We thought Kyila needed a companion as well.

1:21:29 > 1:21:31They like to walk together anyway.

1:21:31 > 1:21:36We're going to send Tashi and Sonam and Kyila down.

1:21:36 > 1:21:38They'll have two days to get down.

1:21:49 > 1:21:51She has many more peaks to come.

1:22:17 > 1:22:21And when you go down, you'll feel stronger.

1:22:21 > 1:22:23Your head will stop hurting,

1:22:23 > 1:22:25and your stomach will feel better.

1:22:25 > 1:22:30And you'll go down and you'll feel better and then you can go to Shigatse.

1:22:30 > 1:22:34We'll meet you. We'll come down and meet you in a few days. We'll be down there with you.

1:22:34 > 1:22:35We'll all go back.

1:22:38 > 1:22:40We'll all go back to Lhasa together, right?

1:22:45 > 1:22:47Are you excited to go down?

1:22:48 > 1:22:50It'll get warmer too.

1:22:56 > 1:22:57Do you know how high we are?

1:22:59 > 1:23:0221,000 feet.

1:23:02 > 1:23:0421...

1:23:04 > 1:23:0621,000 feet.

1:23:06 > 1:23:12So you can tell your families you came to 21,000 ft,

1:23:12 > 1:23:14Advanced Base Camp on Mount Everest.

1:23:15 > 1:23:17Smile, please.

1:23:17 > 1:23:19Don't be so sad.

1:23:24 > 1:23:26We have two sad girls.

1:23:30 > 1:23:31Anyway...

1:23:33 > 1:23:36We're going to do a couple of pictures.

1:23:36 > 1:23:40This is one of those where whoever wants to be in the picture gets in there.

1:23:40 > 1:23:43What's going on?

1:23:43 > 1:23:48- Someone help her sit down.- Have you got something like a dam jacket that I can put under her, somebody?

1:23:50 > 1:23:53Kyila? Hey, honey, does your head hurt again?

1:23:55 > 1:23:57If you don't speak to us, we don't know.

1:23:57 > 1:24:02Please talk to us so that we know what's wrong.

1:24:02 > 1:24:05If she's this bad,

1:24:05 > 1:24:08I'm going to go ahead and give her an injection.

1:24:08 > 1:24:10Kyila, talk to me.

1:24:10 > 1:24:12Say something, please. What's my name?

1:24:13 > 1:24:15Huh? What's my name?

1:24:17 > 1:24:20Say something, please. What's my name?

1:24:22 > 1:24:24Huh? What's my name?

1:24:28 > 1:24:30Is it your head?

1:24:30 > 1:24:32What's going on there?

1:24:37 > 1:24:39There she is.

1:24:48 > 1:24:51Stop crying and put a smile on your face, OK?

1:24:51 > 1:24:53OK?

1:24:53 > 1:24:55Say goodbye to Erik.

1:24:57 > 1:25:01OK, I hope you have a smile on your face today when you get down.

1:25:06 > 1:25:08Take care, huh?

1:25:08 > 1:25:10Goodbye.

1:25:47 > 1:25:50The most important thing, for me at least, was

1:25:50 > 1:25:53that the kids learn about solidarity

1:25:53 > 1:25:59and that they really get into the whole thing that we should look out for the weakest

1:25:59 > 1:26:03and that we should really be concerned about the weakest.

1:26:03 > 1:26:11Therefore, I'd have wished very secretly that we'd have all gone down today

1:26:11 > 1:26:14and down as a team.

1:26:14 > 1:26:19They are not here really because they wanted to climb on the top.

1:26:19 > 1:26:22They wanted to be with us and they wanted to be with the team

1:26:22 > 1:26:27and they wanted to get to know Erik and they wanted to get new friends.

1:26:27 > 1:26:30It's exactly what we wanted with this whole trip.

1:26:30 > 1:26:32Let's get out of here.

1:26:32 > 1:26:34We don't have to prove another 300 metres.

1:26:34 > 1:26:39We've proved 6,500 metres and that's enough.

1:26:39 > 1:26:43- And the kids, they climbed the mountains already.- Exactly.

1:26:43 > 1:26:47And they've proved that they can survive in this world as blind people.

1:26:47 > 1:26:49Yes.

1:26:50 > 1:26:52Exactly.

1:26:52 > 1:26:54Good.

1:27:09 > 1:27:13What I want to make certain of this evening is that every single person in this tent

1:27:13 > 1:27:17is on the same page about where we're going over the next few days.

1:27:17 > 1:27:23I think it's critically important that we put our cards on the table

1:27:23 > 1:27:27and we're clear about where we're going and what we're doing

1:27:27 > 1:27:32and that we're saying the same things publicly as we're saying privately and honestly.

1:27:32 > 1:27:37We're saying privately, in front of the camera, and out on these meetings.

1:27:37 > 1:27:40I have an extreme level of concern that that's not always the case.

1:27:40 > 1:27:44- I think you're pointing at us. - I'm not pointing at any one, Paul.

1:27:44 > 1:27:46Wait, wait, Gavin.

1:27:46 > 1:27:51Erik talked to us and I think you picked up a few words out of a conversation or an interview

1:27:51 > 1:27:52that might have pissed you off.

1:27:52 > 1:27:56What I heard was 45 minutes' worth

1:27:56 > 1:28:02of...of talk about the neglect that the guides had shown towards the kids.

1:28:02 > 1:28:09Gavin, we're not talking behind the scenes something different than we're talking here.

1:28:09 > 1:28:11If there's something which bothers you,

1:28:11 > 1:28:15we probably would tell it to you right away in your face and we'd say,

1:28:15 > 1:28:17"We mean it's like that and that and that."

1:28:17 > 1:28:20I don't know that you've trusted us from the start.

1:28:20 > 1:28:22We did.

1:28:22 > 1:28:26You asked everyone around us and I'm a little upset.

1:28:26 > 1:28:29Gavin, I want to say one thing.

1:28:29 > 1:28:32We talked to the kids, we talked to them today, these three here.

1:28:32 > 1:28:34We said, "There are a few options.

1:28:34 > 1:28:39"If you stay here, you've got to do the climbing, or we could call it off and then we go down."

1:28:39 > 1:28:42And they all said, "Then we go down."

1:28:42 > 1:28:48From the start, I think we were all clear that we were going to go to the summit of Lhakpa Ri

1:28:48 > 1:28:50and see how high we could get.

1:28:50 > 1:28:54I think that was always very clearly communicated.

1:28:54 > 1:29:00I think that you guys want to protect your kids so much that maybe the reality of what we were doing

1:29:00 > 1:29:05didn't quite equate with what we were all getting at, being mountaineers, and it scared you.

1:29:05 > 1:29:11OK, the one statement I want to make is I had the feeling right now

1:29:11 > 1:29:14that you were telling us we were over-protective.

1:29:14 > 1:29:21- No, we're not.- No...- I think the fact... Maybe you didn't say it, but I had the feeling you said it.

1:29:22 > 1:29:26- She had the feeling, she said. - "I had the feeling," I said and I'm allowed to have feelings.

1:29:26 > 1:29:29If it's not like that, I'm very happy.

1:29:29 > 1:29:35But there's always a thin line between over-protection and and letting go, yes, there is.

1:29:37 > 1:29:42Finally, close to the last night of the expedition, we're finally communicating.

1:29:42 > 1:29:44Good. That's good.

1:30:26 > 1:30:29We're only 1,500 ft from the top of Lhakpa Ri.

1:30:30 > 1:30:32We had done...

1:30:32 > 1:30:3499 per cent of the journey.

1:30:34 > 1:30:37We just had one per cent to go.

1:30:37 > 1:30:39We weren't that far, but we were done.

1:30:39 > 1:30:43For me, I'm a traditional mountain climber,

1:30:43 > 1:30:47I want to get to the summit, so part of me felt like failure.

1:30:47 > 1:30:52But for these kids I think it was different and I kind of had to change my perspective.

1:30:52 > 1:30:55Say something in Tibetan to get the kids to look over again.

1:30:55 > 1:30:58WORDS SPOKEN IN TIBETAN

1:31:05 > 1:31:07Come on, dude, just take a photo.

1:31:12 > 1:31:16'I think this summer should be something else.

1:31:16 > 1:31:20'There are other things which are much more beautiful.

1:31:20 > 1:31:23'I don't know exactly how to describe it,

1:31:23 > 1:31:29'but Erik came with the brilliant idea to visit the ice palace

1:31:29 > 1:31:31'right underneath the Lhakpa Ri Summit.'

1:31:32 > 1:31:34This could be a fish.

1:31:42 > 1:31:44It was something very special.

1:31:44 > 1:31:50The kids, they were destroying things with their ice axes,

1:31:50 > 1:31:54but also they made new things and new sounds.

1:32:02 > 1:32:05There was a big pile of ice which was discovered by the kids

1:32:05 > 1:32:10and the kids, they were jumping on those big piles and they said, "This is the ice elephant."

1:32:13 > 1:32:18And they were saying Dachung was the princess of the ice palace

1:32:18 > 1:32:22and Gyenshen was the big king and they had beautiful costumes

1:32:22 > 1:32:27and the costumes looked like silk, but they were actually made of ice and snow.

1:32:29 > 1:32:37You could feel everywhere where you put your hand, you could feel glass or ice sculptures.

1:32:37 > 1:32:41You could feel different things hanging down or coming up.

1:32:41 > 1:32:45That was the real blind summit.

1:32:51 > 1:32:54That's a dagger.

1:33:05 > 1:33:07And you climb holes like that?

1:33:07 > 1:33:08Oh, yes.

1:33:12 > 1:33:14How do you know it doesn't fall against you?

1:33:14 > 1:33:19It sometimes does fall down. Yeah. Yeah, but the whole thing doesn't fall down.

1:33:19 > 1:33:22Big chunks of it will fall down and they'll go past you.

1:33:26 > 1:33:28CRASH!

1:34:15 > 1:34:19'We woke up to one of the coldest mornings I've ever felt in the mountains.

1:34:19 > 1:34:21'Dachung can't feel his feet.'

1:34:21 > 1:34:23One degree Fahrenheit.

1:34:23 > 1:34:27'The yaks are finally back and we're so ready to pack up and get down.

1:34:34 > 1:34:39'I honestly thought in my mind when we were talking about coming down in one day,

1:34:39 > 1:34:44'I was thinking, "About halfway, we're going to set up a camp." And it didn't happen.

1:34:48 > 1:34:52'The kids were ahead of us by an hour the whole day.

1:34:56 > 1:35:02'We got down to about 8.30 at night, and walked into the tea house.'

1:35:02 > 1:35:06- The first blind female one-day descent.- One-day descent.

1:35:06 > 1:35:11'I think the kids have experienced the mountains to the fullest'

1:35:11 > 1:35:16and they worked as hard as they possibly could and gave everything they had.

1:35:16 > 1:35:18That's all you can ask for.

1:35:21 > 1:35:26It's funny, because people always talk about freedom of the mountains, how it makes you feel so free.

1:35:26 > 1:35:30But when I stand on the summit, I don't feel free.

1:35:31 > 1:35:34The mountains make me feel human.

1:35:34 > 1:35:39It connects me to all those human frailties, like the warmth that I need

1:35:39 > 1:35:42and the food and the water and the friends around me.

1:35:45 > 1:35:51Sabriye said something that has really sunk in over the last few days.

1:35:51 > 1:35:54It's the idea that when you suffer together,

1:35:54 > 1:35:59that's when you make the closest connections with the people around you.

1:36:00 > 1:36:04For me, this trip has been a little different from what I thought.

1:36:04 > 1:36:09It was a lot more about friendship and about togetherness than it was about mountains.

1:36:24 > 1:36:27GYENSHEN SINGS

1:36:34 > 1:36:38'Gyenshen has changed to a very, very different person.

1:36:38 > 1:36:42'Before the mountain, he was rather shy. He easily cried.

1:36:42 > 1:36:47'At the end of the whole trip, he started to laugh a lot.

1:36:47 > 1:36:49'He started to sing a lot.

1:36:49 > 1:36:54'He was getting up, and playing the crazy rock star, you know.

1:38:14 > 1:38:20"The Totnes School of English is pleased to invite Kyila from Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, PR China,

1:38:20 > 1:38:23"to attend a general English course..."

1:38:23 > 1:38:29'Kyila has a similar drive to do something, to change something, than me.

1:38:29 > 1:38:34'Now, she's going to England to start her real future.'

1:38:34 > 1:38:36Congratulations!

1:38:36 > 1:38:40'When she comes back, I'm very confident that she,

1:38:40 > 1:38:48'together with our house parents and other staff members, that she can mainly run the centre.'

1:38:58 > 1:39:00Good night!

1:39:10 > 1:39:14# Imagine me and you, I do

1:39:14 > 1:39:18# I think about you day and night

1:39:18 > 1:39:20# It's only right

1:39:20 > 1:39:22# To think about the girl you love

1:39:22 > 1:39:25# To hold her tight

1:39:25 > 1:39:27# So happy together

1:39:27 > 1:39:29# If I should call you up

1:39:29 > 1:39:30# Invest a dime

1:39:30 > 1:39:33# And you say you belong to me

1:39:33 > 1:39:35# I lose my mind

1:39:35 > 1:39:37# Imagine how the world could be

1:39:37 > 1:39:39# So very fine

1:39:39 > 1:39:42# So happy together

1:39:42 > 1:39:47# I can't see me lovin' nobody but you

1:39:47 > 1:39:50# For all my life

1:39:50 > 1:39:53# When you're with me

1:39:53 > 1:39:56# Baby, the skies will be blue

1:39:56 > 1:39:58# For all my life

1:39:58 > 1:40:01# Me and you, and you and me

1:40:01 > 1:40:03# No matter how they toss the dice

1:40:03 > 1:40:05# It's meant to be

1:40:05 > 1:40:07# The only one for me is you

1:40:07 > 1:40:08# And you for me

1:40:08 > 1:40:12# So happy together

1:40:12 > 1:40:15# How is the weather?

1:40:15 > 1:40:19# Be happy together. #

1:40:19 > 1:40:21Thank you.

1:40:48 > 1:40:52Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing by Red Bee Media Ltd