It had the promise of a Himalayan Grand Slam. Twenty-four climbers from 12 nations, aiming for the summit of the world by the two most difficult routes. The attempt was finally called off on 22 May. By that time seven climbers had walked out, 11 had been sent home with severe illness, and one - Major Harsh Bahuguna of India - was dead.

Five of the original BBC team of eight stayed with the climb until the last day, and were filming with sync-sound at the highest altitudes ever achieved.
This is an incredible record of human decline which begins as the star climbers of Europe and America leave for Everest at the head of an army of 900 porters, and which ends with the bitter accusations of the final day. This is not just a mountain story, it is Everest - the route to a bitterly exhausting failure: 8.10 a contemporary human statement - an international disaster in microcosm.

Produced in collaboration with the Television Services of Australia (ABC), Bavaria (BR), France (ORTF), Italy (RAI), Japan (NHK), Norway (NRK), Sweden (SR), Switzerland (SRG), United States (Time-Life Films)
(Death, disputes - and victory for the mountain: page 74)