If you want to say Lotse Face, Khumbu Ice Fall, South Col Route and Hillary step and recognizing what the prayer flags is all about with confidence and without blinking an eye, then Everest — the IMAX film is a must see for you. For 45 minutes you’ll be dazzled by the beauty of the Himalayan Mountain Ranges and the greatest of them all, Mount Everest. This is a documentary of a 1996 Everest Film Expedition (10 years ago) of David Breashears (director) who summitted Mount Everest himself to bring this documentary to life. The show debut last March 1998 and now finally it reached the shores of the tropical island paradise of the Philippines, yoohoo! The stars of the show were: Ed Viesturs (America’s leading Himalayan mountaineer; currently seeking to climb each of the world’s 14 highest peaks without supplemental oxygen -10 down, 4 to go), Araceli Segarra (First spanish woman to climb Everest), Jamling Tenzing Norgay (the tenth member of his family to climb Everest; his father, Tenzing Norgay, made the historic first ascent with Edmund Hillary in 1953).
It was a documentary of the beauty and danger of Mt. Everest. Fortunately and unfortunately they were a witness to the May 1996 Mt. Everest Tragedy which claimed the lives of eight people including the famous Rob Hall of New Zealand. It was emotional and educational at the same time. You’ll truly appreciate how lucky our three pinoy climbers (Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata, and Romi Garduce) in climbing Everest and returning home safely as heroes! My P150 was worth it, and only the IMAX 70mm format can bring this kind of dramatic cinematography and I would agree that this is the next best thing than being in Mt. Everest yourself.
Please read this before watching this show: Ed Viesturs on IMAX Everest ( The Exclusive Mountain Zone Interview )
Again, after 53 years ever since Sir Edmund Hillary made the first historic attempt, we all should be proud that we have three (3) pinoys who were successful in climbing Mt. Everest! With only 2,000 who successfully reach the peak and a 9% mortality rate (186 died ever since), I’m glad our Pinoy climbers were not part of the mortality rate statistics. Congratulations again, Leo Oracion, Pastor Emata and Romi Garduce for bringing pride to the Philippines!!
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just an update on ed viesturs. he ticked off his last 8000er (annapurna) last year after his third try, becoming the 12th person in the list, plus being the 5th to do it all without oxygen.