Everest Imax (Also)

By David Breashears, narrated by Liam Neeson

"Filmed in the IMAX format, this film had the luck (or lack thereof) to be shot during the same fateful and fatal climb of Mount Everest chronicled in Jon Krakauer's book, Into Thin Air, in which a group of rich hobby climbers found themselves trapped by a blizzard near the summit. The IMAX film contains footage of those people, but focuses on its own group, as they make their assault on the top of the world's highest peak. Some startling footage of the mountain and the approaches--and, as in Krakauer's book, the depiction of what is involved in this kind of adventure (particularly the pain and suffering)--makes you wonder exactly where the fun is. But documentary film is about showing you something you're not likely to see otherwise, and this movie certainly fills the bill."

Found On Everest,

5.1.99: a unique team of climbers led by Everest veteran Eric Simonson finds the remains of legendary alpinist George Mallory, possibly the first to actually climb Everest in 1924. the climbing world erupts in a torrent of debate about all aspects of said discovery.

3.15.2001 Simonson gathers nearly the exact same team once again on the north side of mount Everest in an attempt to solve the mystery once and for all. "Found on Everest" is the inside story of this expedition. a feature length documentary, this film follows each climber on three search rotations at 27,000 feet, and on a summit bid thwarted by a rescue of four abandoned climbers from 28,500 feet: the second highest rescue in history.

(7summits:) This is actually two movies in one; the first being about the Mallory climb and the search for his stuff is mostly interesting for historians; it has some nice footage and they did find old camps and artifacts, but this part also contains too much dialogue that will not interest everybody. The second part is about the rescue of 7summiteer and good friend Jaime Vinals from Guatemala and his guide Andy Lapkass. For us this was the interesting part; it's amazing that the climbers set their personal goals aside to try the rescue while everybody at basecamp tells them it won't work.. 

Overall: nice fast intro about the approach trip, great images and perfect editing/directing; impressive work from a small independent filmmaker who has also made great films about off-piste skiing.

 Although not mentioned on the Soulstice website, the DVD version has some extra's including the Puja Ceremony, a nice slideshow, an alternate ending and a 5 minute monologue of Eric Simonson in the beginning of the climb.

For the first part: , for the 2nd part: , total 4stars.

Above All Else - The Everest Dream

Also

Follow Canadian climbers Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke as they lead their North American team on their third attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point in the world. Above All Else: The Everest Dream takes you behind the scenes as they plan and train, then gives you a Sherpa's-eye view of the proceedings from arrival to departure. The ascent is made difficult as the climbers are subjected to incredibly high winds, respiratory illness, and bickering, but these troubles fade before the much more dangerous descent. Exhausted, closer to death than ever before, they must struggle to return to the base before the nearby storms arrive and make return hopeless. Adding to the excitement is the use of satellite technology to keep the team in contact both with family back home and with a classroom of school kids on the Internet. Inspiring and uplifting, Above All Else: The Everest Dream takes you where few others have been before.

Everest the death Zone, Nova Documentary

"Because it is there" is the reason so many men and women have risked death to climb Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on earth. NOVA follows a scientific investigation of high-altitude physiology in Everest: The Death Zone, which examines the biological and psychological changes experienced by a group of climbers during their ascent. Jodie Foster's narration accompanies the team as the NOVA photographers capture the stark, alien beauty of the mountain; the drama reaches a crescendo on the descent as it becomes unclear whether or not an ill climber will make it. Well worth watching by anyone interested in mountain climbing or the limits of human endurance, Everest: The Death Zone is at once cautionary and inspiring."

Also )

"Surviving Everest, produced by National Geographic, bills itself as a "collector's edition" and is really three videos in one. The first segment of a half-hour's length is titled "Surviving Everest" and features informative interviews with men who have made it to the summit and back. Their insights into the horrendous conditions faced by mountaineers on the world's highest peak are moving, and their explanations of particular obstacles (such as the treacherous Khumbu Icefall) on the way up the mountain add much to one's understanding of the feat. The second part of the video, lasting for nearly an hour, is titled "Return to Everest" and is a profile of Sir Edmund Hillary, who in 1953, along with the Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, first conquered Everest. Hillary has often returned to Nepal, and his involvement helping the Sherpa people is lovingly chronicled. The final segment of the video is a brief interview with Hillary that surprisingly--considering the high production standards of National Geographic videos--suffers from an odd audio problem in which Hillary's thoughtful answers are very clear but the questions put to him can barely be heard. All in all, this is a highly informative tape for those with a general interest in Everest, and the photography, as befits a Geographic production, is never less than spectacular" (The movie is mainly about Hillary after the climb and the sound quality is not what is to be expected from NG, that's why Amazon 2 clients rated it only , HK, 7summits.com)

click here for boxed set

"The story of Everest begins simply enough, with the British survey of the Himalayan Range to determine if Peak 15 is indeed the highest mountain in the world. Balloonists prove that it could be possible to survive at such a high altitude, beginning the race for the peak. Thirty years of defeats, failure, and death passed before two men would stand on the roof of the world. Since then, there have been new routes to find, new nations that wished to claim the peak. The stories of these men and women and the expeditions they served is told in Into the Thin Air of Everest.

From George Mallory to the 1996 tragedy, this series explores the major personalities and expeditions covering an 80-year span. Two faster-paced videos, Death on Everest and The Quest, are paired with the classic expedition documentary The Conquest of Everest, giving the series a great modern perspective with a good background of the history of the mountain. Those who know the mountain best tell the story of Everest: the guides, expedition leaders, and legends such as Sir Edmund Hillary.

The demonstration of the technological advances in clothing and equipment that give the climbers a better chance to succeed, and sometimes to survive, is presented in contrast to the equipment of the pioneers who braved the mountain in clothes better suited to a stroll in the Scottish Highlands. The film also covers the major controversies in Everest's history--the questions that will never be answered, such as did Mallory make it to the top, and the questions that have no answers, such as whether the commercialization of Everest should be allowed. The men, the women, the mountain, the dream, the nightmare, the quest, the conquest--all these are the stories told in Into the Thin Air of Everest. Among them are the heroes of Everest who made it and those who did not: Mallory, Hillary, Norgay, Hornbein, Unsoeld, Whittaker, Messner, Hoey. This documentary captures the timeless challenge of Everest: to stand on top of the world for no other reason than because it is there"

3 Pal productions Everest movies (3):

Everest North Wall ( only)

In 1982 Lou Whittaker led a team of Americans as one of the first teams to attempt Mt. Everest from the North after China started to open up Tibet to Westerners. The team composed of a who's who of American climbing at the time: Jim Wickwire, Phil Ershler, Eric Simonson, Larry Neilson, Geo Dunn, and Marty Hoey, who was attempting to become the first American woman to summit. But there was a secondary goal to their attempt: In 1981 teammate Chris Kerrebrock died in a training climb on Denali, and while dying asked Jim Wickwire that he, or one of the team members take his trumpet mouthpiece to the summit of Everest. This film is the story of that team.

There is so much drama presented here. In the team's attempt on the peak with no Sherpa support. On the hostile weather and unexplored terrain. On the attempt to get Kerrebrock's mouthpiece to the summit. And on the ardous, and tragic events of the climb itself. Plus biographical vignettes of team members Wickwire, Frank Wells, Dave Maher, and including a nice section on the beautiful Hoey.

Perfectly shot by Steve Marts (Fairweather, Winds of Everest) and scored by Alan Hovannes, with narration by Robert Redford. In the day of fast paced MTV style television, and commercialized guided trips up Everest, this film, Everest: North Wall, may seem a bit dated, but it is of historical importance, and plays like a beautiful tribute to climbing from a day gone by as well. Perfectly made, with a dramatic, compelling narrative. A sequel of sorts can be seen in Winds of Everest."

only)

"In 1982 Lou Whittaker led the first American attempt on Everest's Tibetan (north) side. But tragedy and harsh conditions turned the team back (see Everest: North Wall). Lou returned with an even stronger team in 1984, filmed here, and this time faced even more horrendous conditions, but the team's willpower would not be driven back without a fight. The strengths of this film are that it shows somewhat of a who's who from a golden age of American Himalayan mountaineering (compared to the commercialism of today), with John Roskelley, Jim Wickwire, Phil Ershler, Geo Dunn, John Smolich, Peter Whittaker and many more, and it is very well filmed by Steve Marts. But all the same it failed to utilize two enormously dramatic potential storylines: One, regarding the death of teammate Chris Kerrebrock in 1981 on Denali, who asked upon dying that a team member take his trumpet valve to the summit of Everest (barely touched upon here). The will to accomplish that feat, is a tremendous story in itself (see Jim Wickwire's book, Addicted to Danger). The 2nd element missed upon, which I will not reveal (again, see Everest: North Wall), is talked more about, but again, I felt not capitalized on for emotional storytelling. None the less, this film is an important historical event and extremely well filmed." Narrated by John Denver

Review by "Snowleopard": "In 1990 Jim Whittaker (first American to climb Everest, in 1963. See "Americans on Everest" tape) led a large team of climbers from the USA, China, and the former Soviet Union to climb Everest. While there were language barriers, and medical emergencies, the team was very successful. Viewers younger than about 30 may find the comradery shown (or simply filmed to show) to be corney, given the long ago demise of the Cold War. Something that the filmmakers attempted to use for narrative. But on a historical level, this was an interesting concept ten short years ago. Of the three Everest films produced by Pal Productions, this one is my least favorite (Everest: North Wall, and Winds of Everest being the other two)."

Everest Unmasked( only)

"First Ascent of Everest without supplemental oxygen by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler in 1978. This is the actual expedition documentary filmed by highly acclaimed adventure filmmaker Leo Dickinson. Winner of "Best Expedition Film" at both the Banff Film Festival and Telluride Mountain Films at the time. This film documents a milestone, an illustrious chapter in the history of mountaineering. It also has some rare historical footage of the early Everest expeditions: the tragic Mallory expedition, the pioneering Shipton expedition and the successful first ascent expedition by Edmund Hilary.

For Messner and Habeler, two of the finest Alpine climbers of our time, the expedition is a combination of confidence and fear. They both feel they can summit Everest unaided, "by fair means" but have no way of knowing the consequences - can they return without brain damage due to excessive exposure to the thin, freezing air? As they begin their climb their progress is rapid and confidence is high. Habeler recovers from a bout of food poisoning and they make a bid for the summit. Bad weather drives them back. The situation is now critical. Both men have been at high altitude for a long time. They set off in bad weather conditions. They stumble and crawl up, struggling for breath, inching toward their goal.

They have climbed Everest without oxygen masks, and have survived. Now they have to go back down. Messner who has lifted his goggles too often is snow blinded. They have made a pact with one another, for survival's sake, to abandon the other should he become incapacitated..... Everest Unmasked captures the dangers, the suffering and the elation of this historic milestone expedition."

"Outstanding, Oscar-nominated documentary chronicle of Edmund Hillary and company's successful expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. As dramatic as the most complexly plotted fiction; breathtaking photography by Thomas Stobart and George Love"

"This is the actual film of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary's historic first ascent of Mt. Everest. While not as dramatic as other films on the subject (if only because the outcome is known), it is none the less very well made, and an important historical document in filmmaking. Some viewers today may feel the film is dated, and even trite in spots. But the narrative moves very well, and its superb historical content make up for that."

Everest:Climb for Hope (only)

"Awarded the gold medal for Best Information/Documentary at the New York International Film Festival, this video traces the journey up Mount Everest's rarely attempted North Call by the climbing team that was formed by Ernie Sniedzins to bring attention to his daughter's debilitating struggle with the mysterious medical condition known as Rett Syndrome. The video offers vivid footage of the team's journey through Nepal, from Katmandu to Kodari, and then through Chinese customs in Zhangmu on to Shegar, Rongbuk Monestary, and Everest Base Camp in Tibet. In just under an hour, we follow the team's expedition through mud, landslides, moraine, and up into Mount Everest's heights. Works such as Everest: Mountain Without Mercy and Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster have increased awareness of the physical and psychological challenges that Everest presents to those who would reach the summit and trace the journeys of climbs that resulted in numerous casualties. Everest: Climb for Hope is the documentary of a Canadian team's ascent of the same merciless Everest, but without a single death"

Stuart Peacock: "Everest, In the footsteps of legends". 

Stuart Peacock was a member of a commercial Everest NRidge expedition and brought his handycam; from all the footage taken he created this videotape.

It shows the entire journey: through the streets of Kathmandu, over the dry roads of Nepal and Tibet, in BC, ABC and up to the summit. Stu is not professional cameraman as many shots are shaky or pan too fast. I was a bit scared when I saw that the video tape was 3 hours long (ever watched a 3 hour home video? ;)). But the footage is about 80 minutes, the editing is not Imax quality and the voiceover sometimes a bit too dry. But if you can just watch past this then you will see one of the most complete overviews of the NR climbs I have ever seen, including amazing shots of the way to North col, the ridge, the 3 steps (never saw this so clearly before) and the summit! While the part until BC is just another home movie that does not come close to a professional expedition film, from ABC it exceeds most of the big budget stuff.

Might be too amateuristic for some people, but anyone seriously interested in climbing the North Ridge of Everest should watch this video too see what it's like.

- Running time: approx 80 minutes, private production, 

- A sample clip and ordering info via http://www.everestvideo.co.uk 

- available in VHS PAL/NTSC/SECAM & DVD-R PAL/NTSC - The price is £15 + P&P

Nova Documentaries about Mallory and Irvine (2):

Lost on Everest (Nova, 2000) (only)

In 1924 British "gentleman climbers" George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted to reach the top of the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest (28 years before the successful expedition of Sir Edmund Hillary). Mallory and Irvine were last spotted 1,000 feet from the summit, at which point they vanished, never to be seen again. Seventy-five years later, a nephew of a member of the 1924 expedition sponsored a search for the bodies of Mallory and Irvine, hoping to prove that they had been the first to conquer Everest. The PBS documentary series Nova was there to record this exciting quest. We follow the searchers as they brave the world's harshest climbing and weather conditions. Their efforts are amply rewarded when they find Mallory's frozen remains, the name tag on his clothing still intact, a moment of discovery that's thrilling to witness. Archival footage of the 1924 expedition provides a fascinating counterpoint as the viewer is struck by how incredibly underdressed and ill prepared the 1920s climbers were compared to today's trekkers, with their high-tech clothing and equipment. Also engrossing is the analysis of the clues surrounding the body, in the attempt to settle the question Did Mallory and Irvine actually attain the summit, or not?

Nova: Everest - The Mystery of Mallory and Irvine (1986)

The first NOVA documentary about this subject. Did George Mallory and Andrew Irvine reach the top of Mt. Everest in 1924, nearly 30 years before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? This award-winning film, produced by renowned climbers and filmmakers David Breashears and Andrew Harvard, takes a fascinating look at Mallory's courageous attempt and the enduring mystery surrounding his disappearance atop the mountain. Featuring remarkable archival expedition footage from 1922 and 1924, it also includes candid interviews with Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Chris Bonington and rare eye-witness accounts from the last two surviving members of Mallory's team.

Mount Everest: The Fatal Climb (1999)(only)

3 quite different reviews from viewers:

#1:"An excellent documentary of one man's obsession to climb Everest which ultimately cost him his life. The struggle, the endurance, the pain and then the thrill of getting to the summit was incredible. Mark Whetu recalls the events extremely well, but for me the ultimate point of the film is when upon reflection of the loss of his friend he says `It's not that life is too short it's that your dead a long time.'"

#2: "If you were hoping for the visual rehash of THE CLIMB or INTO THIN AIR keep looking. This video's another poorly shot saga of a middled aged dude with summit fever and the guide who lost his toes deciding between nobility and a life wracked with guilt. There's not much to engage the viewer on a personal, emotional level in spite of the dramatic circumstances. But if watching a talking head shot of a moody guy in a tent is your idea of good video...."

#3: "The Fatal Climb takes you as high as you can go on Everest - the summit! The story is inspiring and tragic all at the same time, with live footage from the very spot (just above the 2nd Step on the North Ridge) where disaster strikes. It is a story of one man's obsession with reaching Everest's summit (at all costs) and another man's battle with feelings of incredible guilt. I thoroughly recommend this video to anyone who has ever wanted to see what it's really like at extreme altitude and how dangerous it really is. This video will make you laugh and cry - it's incredible!"

Fairweather & Ascent (only)

"This video is actually comprised of two films. The first is "Fairweather" which runs about twenty eight minutes and has some historical value. The second is "Ascent" which runs about eleven minutes.

The "Fairweather" film was shot over a quarter of a century ago by Steve Marts and is a little on the grainy side. If you are a climbing enthusiast, however, it is a film well worth having. It is shot in the Fairweather Range in Alaska, an area so remote that in order to get there you either have to get dropped off by a small plane or motor across Glacier Bay in a boat. Four climbers chose to do just that. Steve Marts, Jim Wickwire, Alan Givler, and Dusan Jagersky made the journey. There are some magnificent scenic views with ice everywhere one looks. We are talking really remote, nearly virgin territory. There is some great footage of their approach and their ascent. With very little dialogue, it is truly a film about climbing and exploration, as they scale an unnamed, unclimbed peak. Unfortunately, four ascend, but only two are able to complete the descent, as tragedy struck their party just shortly after their successful summit. The film is dedicated to the two who did not return. If one would like to know the details about what happened, one need only read Jim Wickwire's book, "Addicted to Danger".

The second segment of the video,"Ascent", has no dialogue, and is silent but for the clink of an ice hammer on an ice screw, the crunch of crampons on ice and hard packed snow, and the sound of heavy breathing, as two climbers make there way up to an ancient, dormant volcano in the Cascades in the Pacific Northwest. The viewer sees them climb over rock and ice, as well as over snow bridges, and leap over crevasses. There are some truly great vistas to be seen."

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997)

Also

"Based on Jon Krakauer's bestselling book, Into Thin Air re-creates an ill-fated 1996 expedition to Everest that claimed at least five lives, including those of two world-class climbers. Only 90 minutes in length, the film jumps right into the action at Everest base camp and compresses the two-month trek into just a few days of exhilarating adventure. Periodic voice-overs by Krakauer (Christopher McDonald) provide essential background information and guide us through the invisible, intensifying effects of altitude and stress. Krakauer joined the trip to write an article on the commercialization of Everest, but as conditions on the mountain deteriorate he is forced to focus all his energy on survival.

Unfortunately the film fails to really develop any of its characters before thrusting them onto the harrowing face of Everest. As a result, it's difficult to understand the relationships that play out as the group struggles to the summit and back. While the trio of leading actors is solid, only Nat Parker (who plays guide Rob Hall) has enough screen time to develop an interesting, complex character. Peter Horton's portrayal of unconventional guide Scott Fischer is almost hyperbolic and McDonald's Krakauer is stiff and difficult to read.

While the film succeeds in creating a palpable sense of agony and suspense, those in search of a more thoughtful, detailed account of the expedition will be better served by reading the book."

Aconcagua

Aconcagua: The Roof of the Americas (only)

Amazon: "One of the Seven Summits, Aconcagua is part of the world's longest mountain ranges and is second only to the Himalayas in height. As such, this Argentinean peak is attracting a growing number of climbers each year, and this video tracks one group's attempt at ascension. While it effectively demonstrates the difficulty of mountaineering in general, and conquering Aconcagua specifically, this 70-minute tape is often confusing in chronology and could use some of the organized structural overview of other outdoor and nature videos. Still, the breathtaking camera work and the daily drama of the 14-day climb (hint: not everyone will make it) cannot be denied. With climbers facing extremes of hot sun and bitter cold, 70-mile-per-hour winds, altitude sickness, and other maladies, it's no wonder that only a third of the annual 3,000 climbers make it to the top and that 16 of them died during the year this video was shot."

Other reviews:

- "Seventy Minutes of Inspiration and Information"

- "Buy this video if you've thought about climbing Aconcagua"

Denali

Ascend Denali

"Denali, one of the "7 Summits", is the highest peak in the North America. Known for it’s extreme cold and harsh conditions, Denali ranks amongst the most dangerous mountains in the world. Climbers come from all corners of the globe to test themselves on the slopes of Denali.
The Ascend Denali DVD is a comprehensive guide to the most popular route on the mountain, the West Buttress Route. You’ll gain valuable insight from Bradford Washburn, the leading expert on Denali, regarding the types of challenges to expect and what hazards to be aware of on the mountain. You will be able to follow the progress of climbers in two seperate Expeditions as they experience first hand what it takes to climb to the top of Denali. Also included on this DVD is an in-depth Video Gear Guide (the first of it’s kind) specifically for Denali. This is and iDVD title with weblinks for Travel Information and Guide Services (weblinks require the DVD to be placed in a computers DVD player with an internet connection). Note: DVD weblinks not supported on Mac platform."

Having watched the DVD myself, I can say that overall it is useful as a very basic orientation rather than a preparation, with some remarks:

- the main character seems to underestimate the mountain. Fortunately he survives the first attempt in one piece, but it should be stressed that Denali should definitely not 'be your first big mountain'.

- Notable is late Bradford Washburn in some excellent pieces of interview, quoting Scott about the severity of Denali.

- The gear review (more than an hour) starts off with things that a Denali climber should already know and is more suitable for starting climbers (so NOT Denali climbers). But further on in the gear review, you will learn some more Denali specific issues which can be helpful when preparing.

- The info is a bit outdated, for example the Clean Mountain Can (for human waste) is not mentioned.

So, it will help get a good picture of what a Denali expedition is like, including failure on a trip (and success on a next one) so after watching this you can determine if this is something for you to work towards in the coming years or not. If so, do get the guidebooks on Denali as well and only climb when very experienced. Do not count on a guide to mask your inexperience. If you are experienced and planning on Denali, then the gear section should be old news for you, but the route videos and route descriptions will still be very useful as an aid to planning and understanding the mountain.

The producers also have a DVD; Ascend Mt. Rainier, a bit more professionally made DVD about climbing Mt Rainier in Washington state, USA. It might be useful to watch and climb that first, be totally confident on mountains like Rainier before even thinking of Denali.

Denali Wilderness (1979) ( only)

(Not about climbing, but it might get you in the mood for Alaska..., 7summits.com)

"Mt. McKinley-North America's highest peak-provides a majestic backdrop for an Alaskan adventure you'll want to experience time and time again! Grizzly bears, caribou and sheep are nature's players in the Denali Wilderness story. You'll have a front row seat to an unforgetable life and death struggle between a grizzly bear and bull caribou. Witness a graceful caribou outsmart a hungry wolf. See the gorgeous flora and fauna that blanket Denali's floor. This video lasts 30 minutes.

The Living Edens - Denali: Alaska's Great Wilderness (1997) (only)

(Not about climbing, but it might get you in the mood for Alaska..., 7summits.com)

"This video looks at Denali wildlife through four seasons, primarily focusing on how the animals struggle to adapt to extraordinarily difficult weather conditions, seasonally limited food supply, predators, and an annual brief period of voracious insect life at Denali National Park in Alaska. It illustrates the balance of nature vividly. I cannot imagine how the videographers themselves endured these severe conditions to obtain some of the incredible footage found in this tape. I have visited Denali in the summer and found this tape, which also looks at the other three seasons when Denali is largely devoid of human visitors, fascinating. Be warned that there is some animal-death footage (a moose calf is stalked and killed by wolves); I mention that only because some people don't want to see that kind of thing. Animal death occupies a very small part of the tape, however, and to omit it altogether would not do justice to a story about a place where animal lifespans are naturally short. There are very few "signs of man" in this video (no narrators strolling through the bush on camera). You get the feeling that you are there observing nature, alone."

Kilimanjaro

The IMAX movie made by Dave Breashears shows a Machame/Western breach climb of Kilimanjaro

Amazing views of a great climb.

Average Amazon customer review:

Available on , run time 70 minutes

40 minutes, Narrated by James Earl Jones, brilliant shots of one of the most amazing places on earth.

"There is a place on earth where it is still the morning of life and the great herds still run free. Africa: The Serengeti takes you on an extraordinary journey to East Africa to view a spectacle few humans have ever witnessed: The great migration. Journey with more than two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope as they travel over 500 miles across the Serengeti plains. Filmed in IMAX/Omnimax format, Africa: The Serengeti vividly details life and death in an unforgettable film experience. Filmed entirely on location in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa: The Serengeti brings you spectacular vistas and dynamic aerials. It also features Africa's greatest predators--lions, crocodiles, and cheetahs--in deadly pursuit of the migrating prey. 40 minutes, eight language tracks."

Average Amazon customer review:

No further info available, has anyone seen this?

DVD Release Date: February 24, 2004
Run Time: 60

DVD Features:
Available Audio Tracks: English
Printable materials for educators

& at Amazon

There is a new small scale DVD about a special Kilimanjaro climb, called Kilimanjaro for Hope.
In this movie, 20+ climbers from the US climbed the less traveled Western Breach side of Kilimanjaro, including a night in the Crater.
They climbed to raise funds for a children's hospital (there one of the baby's in a very critical position is named Hope) in Florida and a homeless children's care center in Tanzania, both of them are also featured on the DVD.

Not everybody made it to the highest point of Africa, it is a good overview of what a Kilimanjaro climb can be like: rough hiking, anything from sun to snow and many altitude problems. They were wise enough to take about 8 days, that's why most of the (inexperienced) climbers still made it to the summit.

The DVD is made professionally with menus & extras, including a nice interview with the guide, extra shots of the Children's hospital and care center as well as some basic info about gear for Kili etc..
There is only one camera and that is noticeable as also the camera woman gets affected by the altitude, but she keeps on filming and the result is not the most professional IMAX type of film, but a good an honest overview of what it can be like to climb Kili without making it any easier than it is.

Recommended for anybody planning to go to Kili or interested in the charity.

See more information about the movie & how to buy it (only $16 for DVD, $12 for Video) here, directly at the special website www.kilimanjaroforhope.com