The Cerro Torre Disaster

In January of 2022, two groups of world class climbers began their bids for the summit of one of the most technically demanding mountains in the world. This is the story of their fateful climbs.
Thank you all so much for watching! If you enjoyed the video, please leave a like and a comment, and if you want to see more videos like this one, consider subscribing to the channel!

[@christopherseivard8925]

Just to weigh in; two years ago, I suffered a grand Mal Stroke; I lived, but I am trying to recover. I live for KZbin. Thanks. Your stories are fascinating. They help me concentrate.

[@carlnordstrom7533]

Hang in there! It's good to know you're on the rebound. There's lots of interesting stuff on KZbin for sure, literally any subject, and you can change what they serve up by using the search function, it changes what they offer next time you click on KZbin.

[@Sunset553]

I hope you’re having a good day and that your recovery is going well

[@TheSkateNsnow]

Hey Christopher! Hope you are doing well and that you’re healthy! This is one of my favourite channels on KZbin.

[@fumanpoo4725]

I too stroked out. Hope you are better!

[@MrTwotimess]

So sorry for what happened. Get strong, soon!

[@zarasbazaar]

That ice rime mushroom is simultaneously one of the most interesting and most terrifying things I've seen. I can't imagine climbing inside that.

[@mRibbons]

Right? I feel like Ive seen a lot of disaster videos and morbid channels, but I've never seen that particular phenomenon before.

[@LastAvailableAlias]

Who knows how firm that ice is when you anchor to it. Is the bit you are on going to shear off?

[@chicagogyrl4846]

Why would anyone want to climb this vertical, snow capped thing??! 😂

[@dinosaur4714]

So cold and foreign to human sensitivity

[@adamproductions4529]

Its scary interesting

[@youtubeis...]

Going back up there to save that guy was extremely brave and heroic

[@gabriellaminelli2717]

Immagini bellissime e impressionanti ..un pensiero per chi non è tornato

[@lisaschuster686]

@@gabriellaminelli2717 Like he said!

[@Tooooooooooooooob]

For anyone who is curious, Google translates Gabriella's Italian into English as "Beautiful and impressive images .. a thought for those who have not returned".

[@jerometaperman7102]

Hero is a word I cannot apply to mountain climbers. I understand that it is very difficult, requires a high level of multiple skills and an even higher level of physical fitness. Of course, there is also a very high level of danger. I have respect for those who do dangerous things in order to save people's lives but I cannot offer any respect for those who do it for nothing more than bragging rights. It's their right to do it, if they choose, but I don't believe they deserve any accolades for it. It's no more respectable than seeing how long you can stay inside a burning building.

[@craigstephenson7676]

@@jerometaperman7102they literally went back up the mountain to try to save the other climbers

[@vindictivetiger3958]

Messner's comment about Cerro Torre is apt: a shriek turned to stone. It has a striking presence.

[@mulder2400]

it was a mega titan dragon, the head is the South Sandwich Is. and the body is the Andes mts. ... lol

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

It looks to have been created from the agonizing death of a much bigger mountain.

[@Ye4rZero]

I paused the video for a few seconds when I heard that, it's [petry

[@bobreeba5515]

Good lord that's morbid

[@lisaschuster686]

Has no one here read any poetry? It’s a vivid simile.

[@ShadeCandle]

Wow... I've had a punctured lung, and the thought of climbing down that cliff in that condition defies my imagination. I had to hike a kilometer out to the road when it happened to me, on gently sloped land, and I could barely do it. This blows my mind.

[@tatianahawaii13]

How did you manage to puncture your lung?

[@beverlyhitchon4901]

It is always staggering yet so very heart warming to hear that fellow climbers always go out of their way, and put their lives at risk to try and save a stranded fellow climber. So sad when any climber looses their life. May they all rest in peace.

[@ruger8412]

As a paraplegic I can say he wouldn't of wanted to live this life. I was an avid outdoorsman & now im lucky to camping once a year or two. It changes every aspect of your being, how others perceive & treat you. Rip brother!! Godbless

[@bradsillasen1972]

Refreshingly candid. Limitations happen at many levels. My operational philosophy is to do the best with what you got. That doesn't mean I always achieve it.

[@davidburkholder7360]

Sorry to hear about your paralysis. Being stuck in a body will come to an end soon and this is being worked on now.

[@boydownunder007]

There is hope as each day passes for new discoveries and treatments such as eco-skeletons to assist the body as well as advanced Robotics. Medicine has come a long way and there are now more people than ever before with Ph.D. working on these solutions. All I can say is you are where you are and at least you can inspire and help others in the same situation as you. If I as a healthy person trying to help these people they will say "really you don't know what it is like as you are fit and healthy" but you can say "i know exactly what it is like" and they will believe you. You can especially help those that have had accident that was fit and healthy but are now paraplegic = give them a reason for living and hope Amen

[@ziggybender9125]

I suggest to you my favorite hobby, Dota 2. It's free but addicting, there's a whole community though and if your stuck in a chair it's a good hobby to have because there's something extremely rewarding when you start to understand things better and make good plays.

[@mjleger4555]

I have taken care of patients whose life was critically changed by just one simple mistake, or dare, or even accident, so I understand how paraplegia can completely change your life. It's also tough to help patients that have little hope of recovery from their paralysis, I feel for every one of them and often, their courage and efforts astound me. I hope the day will come when we can change the lives of paraplegics with a neurosurgical procedure that will make them whole once more. We must hope that is just around the corner and strive to make it happen! Good luck to you, my friend, my heart is with you!

[@Tuberuser187]

Aguilo trying to descend with his injuries to try and get help was simply heroic, then the other climbers trying to rescue the stricken climbers. Poor Pesche, rest in peace.

[@ExtremeDeathman]

What's also scary about the southern Andes are the weird snow conditions. It's like the snow in these mountains is extra sticky to form steep merangs, high serracs and fill even the most difficult slopes. Just to explode into violent avalanches at the most impossible of times.

[@mjleger4555]

I skied one summer in Portillo, Chile many years ago. I thought it was spectacular, if not a bit scary!

[@MGJDMNJ]

Tragic and yet a testament to human will. Him even being able to climb down with such injuries shows you what people are capable of when pushed to the limit. RIP

[@E3ECO]

I remember watching something about a climber injured somewhere remote after a fall into a crevasse. Broke his legs and probably more. His partner abandoned him, assuming him dead, but the guy dragged himself over several miles to his base camp, meeting his partner and another man just before they were about to break camp and go home. Amazing struggle for survival.

[@incorrectobydefault2392]

Joe Simpson and Simon Yates. Siula Grande, 1985. The book and a film made after are called Touching the void. I specially recommend you the book, even more terrifying than the film. Very interesting

[@mjleger4555]

@@E3ECO It is truly astounding the lengths a human can go to in their efforts to save others OR themselves! I read about a man who fell into a crevasse, broke his arm and had some other injuries, not to speak of the dangers of being inactive stuck between cold ice walls! He waited for a while, but then realized help was not coming and that they assumed he was lost. Somehow, even with a fractured arm, he managed to get himself up out of the crevasse and to base or wherever it was that he got help. I don't remember how many feet he was down in that crevasse, something like 60 or so, but stuck, yet he got out and it must have been extremely painful to get out! The courage for survival is amazing and how the human being can manage to save themselves is often the stuff of nightmares and incredible stories of human mental and physical fortitude in the worst adversity. Those people's stories of brave mettle under extreme stress and danger, are the encouragement that helps others to strive to save themselves in next to impossible situations and gives them the strength and determination to fight for their lives, bless them all!

[@john26razor340]

As someone who hikes a lot in Canada for fun, I really appreciate these mountaineering stories. Keep up the great work!

[@KevAlberta]

What’s your stomping grounds for trails. I’m in the Alberta Rockies

[@john26razor340]

@@KevAlberta The Alberta Rockies as well

[@ruanof7]

Great work? really?, instigating other doubters to climb along with them so one of them can die? .. Yeah... Great work !

[@KevAlberta]

@@ruanof7 I think he meant great work on the creator’s video-making and story-telling skills. Oh yeah and one more thing, you sound like a prick mate!

[@guangdali6460]

@@ruanof7 There's a danger to almost any outdoor activities. When you decide to go on it, you go on your own choice. If I were to attempt this and suffer a disability should I be lucky enough to live, it would be a joke to blame this kind of KZbin channel. This is storytelling, this is not an invitation.

[@raquellofstedt9713]

Bravo to Aguilo to climb down for help with those injuries, and bravo again to those other three climbers to break their descent to go looking for him and Pesci, in spite of their exhaustion. After hearing of groups who rather callously leave their comrades to die without giving a fraction of the effort to recover them, my respect really goes out to you gentlemen.

[@Torrque]

Two quick things come to mind: The altitude of Chomolungma FARRR exceeds what Cerro Torre presents. Read; profound exhaustion. MOST “climbers” of Chomolungma are NOT climbers. Read; they’re tourists who’ve laid down a large amount of money to fight against their own hopefulness to ‘achieve’. Summation; RESPECT to REAL climbers!

[@malcolmabram2957]

"I have climbed Everest?" "Wow" "I have climbed Cerro Torre!" "Never heard of it mate."

[@markgouthro7375]

I'm so impressed by their willingness to help each other.

[@craiggerrard5117]

It's difficult to even imagine that level of bravery and concern for others.

[@pieterveenders9793]

@Skummeh Most mountaineers despise Everest and the type of people it attracts, because >95% of the people who climb it aren't even mountaineers, but rather egomaniacs, rich tourists and bucket listers, people who have never done any "real" climbs in the high mountains and only go to Everest so they can brag about it afterwards. Seeing as they aren't real climbers but just massive ego's with enough money, they have none of the climber ethos, and hence the thought of helping others doesn't even come into their thoughts when they see another person dying.

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

It's a very human response. When we see one another in danger, we often just act. These men and women also share a bond very few humans have. They are brothers and sisters of the mountains.

[@chapeaux110]

it's kind of an unspoken bond. if you were up there injured and in mortal risk, you'd want other people to come and help you, too. so, when the situation arises, you help to the best of your capability

[@barbaralamson7450]

You are very descriptive in your telling of these tragedies that one can actually have the very breath taken away for a moment. Very well done, as always. Thank you.

[@MathiasG0769]

There's a bit of a mix up for the first ascent. Daniele Chiappa, Mario Conti, Casimiro Ferrari and Pino Negri were the first to ascend the mountain in 1974. Jim Bridwell and Steve Brewer climbed the compressor route in 1979.

[@jamesharden5259]

Bridwells last interview was epic straight up G smokin cigs talkin shit on verge of death

[@poutinedream5066]

More Italians just lyin 🤣. Just kidding, I don't know anything about the subject. Being half Italian myself, I hope it really is the case. History is not kind to Italy 😏

[@simonedallachiesa9804]

Those were the Ragni di Lecco, weren't they? I think I have their book on the Cerro climb. In October 1975 I was part of a group of six climbing the Segantini ridge to the Grignetta. We got stuck because of the verglas and had to overnight on a northern snowy ledge. The next morning the Ragni came to rescue us!

[@mattarellopazzosgravato9041]

@@simonedallachiesa9804 yes they were

[@meesalikeu]

yes but bridwell and brewer were first to summit over the ice.

[@Ashesandrust1]

The first undisputed ascent was made in 1974 by the "Ragni di Lecco" climbers Daniele Chiappa, Mario Conti, Casimiro Ferrari, and Pino Negri.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I've never heard of this mountain range. It looks positively scary, no erosion at all.

[@theodoresmith5272]

The southern Andes look like they are on another planet. From peru, Bolivia, and Chile it's really a unique place.

[@vindictivetiger3958]

liking for the comment and the name

[@NeilRaouf]

it is stunning

[@thejudgmentalcat]

@@vindictivetiger3958 👍

[@huzcer]

When you are up at the base of these granite towers you wonder how they could possibly be climbed. The Torres del Paine National Park is an amazing place to hike.

[@mjleger4555]

Why anyone would wish to ascend a slippery icicle way up in the sky is beyond my comprehension, but then, I have acrophobia, so I'd never do that! But I guess once you've climbed some of the most difficult places on Earth, you are always looking for a challenge, even if it kills you!

[@bs1820]

It’s not much different than drug addiction. Always chasing that first high.

[@johns3106]

@@bs1820 Actually, it’s quite a bit different from drug addition. There are MANY positive things about mountaineering (physical fitness, camaraderie, goal setting,achievement [just to name a few]), while a drug addiction has none of this. The fact that you can die doing both of these is immaterial…you can die in a car crash on your way to work, but that doesn’t mean driving is ANYTHING like mountaineering OR drug addiction!

[@denysvlasenko1865]

@@johns3106 Well, taking huge risk climbing mountains seems pointless. It seems there are more useful ways to have a thrill. Become a policeman, fire fighter, or a disaster rescue team member. > you can die in a car crash on your way to work Not with the same probability, though. And at work, you (presumably) do something useful for the society.

[@johns3106]

@@denysvlasenko1865 I’d be pretty worried about someone who became a cop or firefighter “for the thrill”. But, putting that aside, why are you so offended at someone taking part in an activity that MIGHT put their life at risk…it in no way affects you…as I said there are many rewards to mountaineering, but someone like you (who wants to tell people what to do with their lives) will never understand that the rewards are worth some risk. Oh…and what do you do for fun?…watch others play sports?…sit on the couch and play video games?…go out to the bar and drink? There are LOTS of people who do less positive and meaningful things than climb mountains!

[@denysvlasenko1865]

@@johns3106 I'm not offended, why do you think I am? > and what do you do for fun? I write software which has several billion installed copies.

[@trashcanhands19]

Recently found your channel man & been binging yr back catalogue...Cheers!!

[@tahlulabang]

Pretty much the scariest looking mountains I've ever seen.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Id say its a toss up between this and the Trango Towers

[@benjaminbeasley]

For anyone interested in climbing in this mountain range, I recommend the book "Enduring Patagonia" by Gregory Crouch. Amazing book - probably my favorite climbing writing of all time.

[@jmbaug1229]

Thanks 👌🏼

[@ecka4x4]

Hard to believe humans can climb these things & yet some like Alex Honnold & Colin Haley done the Torre Traverse in under 24hours & also done the Fitz Roy traverse. Blows my mind!

[@bujfvjg7222]

Even harder to believe helicopters work...

[@bluegreenglue6565]

Human endeavor is at once "triumphant and tragic." The scaling of mountains is a feat that goes on all over the world, countless times a year, outside of public knowledge. I'm glad to have discovered this channel, to increase my understanding of such a dangerous passion.

[@Strype13]

I'm shocked I had never heard of this mountain. What a fascinating combination of mountain climbing, rock climbing, and ice climbing all rolled into one. Such a tragic event for the fella that didn't make it. My sincere condolences to Pesci's family and loved ones.

[@Ansset0]

In that case you should not be let out of a mediocre high school.

[@Strype13]

@@Ansset0 You've deemed my highschool to be "mediocre" based on the fact that it didn't teach me about some random obscure mountain several thousand miles away? I presume it's because they were busy teaching me things that would actually be useful and/or applicable in the real world and didn't pertain specifically to mountain climbers -- a hobby practiced by less than 2% of the global population.

[@bujfvjg7222]

Heard of Devil's Thumb in Alaska? The north face is probably top 3 hardest abd most dangerous climbs left, in fact it has never been climbed to date!

[@annettegenovesi]

This story could have been very confusing with the two teams but you made it so easy to understand. A mesmerizing story and they were all so brave.

[@gotrik.a]

Another great video!! 👍🏻 Always look forward to your uploads!

[@OnlyOneNetra_50]

**New Subscriber‼️.. Great content! & I have watched your videos back like it’s a marathon! For 4yrs I’m so hooked & fascinated by the sport of mountaineering.. So peaceful & beautiful landscapes & So scary lol.

[@heartsky]

I would hope to have such a supportive community, good on all those climbers who knew Corrado Pesce and those that didn't know him but helped, sounds like a great group of people to know.

[@plywoodcarjohnson5412]

Cool. Well done! Great upload, thx!!!! We all have our mountain to climb. And one day we will get no further.

[@paulgrey8028]

What a scary looking climb, especially that ice rime. Amazing effort to rescue an injured climber.

[@anselmareich3549]

I can't believe the survivor actually managed to climb at all to get help, while having a punctured lung and broken bones. And bravo to the other climbers, who came to his rescue and helped to look for the other, despite being exhausted themselves.

[@jusztinnemeti6380]

I"m 2:40 into this and already, hell with that. No way in hell I'd attempt that crazy. R.I.P Pesce. Much respect for your incredible bravery and talent.

[@wiwi_life]

Cesare Maestri (the first Italian there in the 50s) in a book about his efforts to the summit said that one day he and his companion were like half way to the summit and a roof of snow and ice came falling down on them. He thought they would die, but the winds there were so fierce that the wind pushed back the avalanche, made snow and ice to float away from them.

[@miarena111]

well on their first attempt his companion actualy did die. his name was TONI EGGER.

[@thegamerboneless2864]

Paralyzed, man o man that can be the worst thing possible.. and augillo not sure the spelling is correct, is a beast, to climb down with those injuries are insane

[@Bearrrrrrrrr]

Like the others said... "Why have I never heard of this Mountain!?!?" I took geology and meteorology and both subjects could use a reference from this Mountain!!!!!

[@annelbeab8124]

Torres del Paine National Park- heard of that?

[@rrios283s73]

The courage to even attempt this is unbelievable, congratulations to reaching the top

[@canislupus1853]

Marc-Andre Leclerc....Master....did this solo....first ever. Faster, stronger, better.

[@argonk]

3:49 The ascent by Steve Brewer and Jim Bridwell dates back to 1979, not 1974, and was an ascent in alpine style (probably the first in this style, I am not sure about it). However, you are missing a big part of the story here. The first undisputed ascent of Cerro Torre was actually made in 1974. The feat was accomplished by an expedition of the Italian mountaineering group Ragni di Lecco, with four of them reaching the top: Casimiro Ferrari, Mario Conti, Pino Negri and Daniele Chiappa.

[@brianrodman1033]

Also missed by the video creator is the infamous compressor is now (finally) gone as I understand it.

[@miarena111]

also left out and if you ask me, the most important climb on cerro torre - the first and i am not sure if not the only freeclimb on cerro torre, done by DAVID LAMA and PETER ORTNER. the movie can be seen for free on the red bull website.

[@RoldanRR00]

The first thing that came to mind was the parable of The Tortoise and the Hare. Excellent narration by the way.

[@Strype13]

Lol, wow. This guy made it up to the "ice mushroom" then just quit and declared himself as the first person to summit? "The ice on top doesn't count... cuz I said so." What a clown.

[@terrykavanaugh2481]

Great video! Keep them coming!

[@chrisvickers7928]

I remember the fuss 20 years ago when 2 climbers, an American and a Canadian, summitted without using the compressor route and then climbed back down removing the bolts as they went. I don't know if it's still controversial.

[@meesalikeu]

i seem to remember this too -- but if they didnt use compressor and removed their own bolts then so what its on them. maybe they needed them for the next andes mountain.

[@Mudpuppyjunior]

@@meesalikeu They didn't remove their own bolts, They removed the ones Maestri had placed years before. It's generally accepted by most climbers it was the right thing to do.

[@IAmTheDawn]

I was consulted by Tommy Caldwell when he attempted his summit of the Cerro's, and I raised time and time again with him that you need to be bringing some sort of firepower along with you on these trips. It helps in terrible situations like these and can ultimately save lives.

[@skahler]

Interesting story, what a crazy, scary, and exotic mountain

[@danmosure7349]

Keep up the good work sir from Ontario Canada

[@avalanche15301]

here too in northern ontario

[@royfearn4345]

I first read about Cerro Torre in the late 1960s in a colour supplement and I remember well its reputation then as a killer. It was described in the article as resembling a gigantic hypodermic thrusting vertically into the Andean skies. Interesting to read this account. Thanks.

[@meesalikeu]

nigel what the heckkers is "a colour supplement"? and do you mean hypodermic needle? that would be a very 1960s description.

[@HyperSarcasticAvocado]

What is a colour supplement? Like a vitamin that helped you to see colour when the colour tv came out?

[@tonyarichards5430]

I love your voice. So soothing.

[@stefanoallari2154]

The first undisputed ascent of Cerro Torre was actually made by Daniele Chiappa, Mario Conti, Casimiro Ferrari e Pino Negri, the so-called Ragni di Lecco, on January 13, 1974.

[@meesalikeu]

yep but not up the ice mushroom summit.

[@Vinlyguyx420x]

RIP Corrado Pesce Very admirable the other climbers tried to go back for him!

[@SilentKnight43]

That peak just looks like it's sole purpose is to mess with humans and give'em a real bad day.

[@Tripperchris]

A tragedy, but also a remarkably heroic effort.

[@darlenelong4073]

Love your Podcasts and Love the Title Morbid Midnight

[@akdragosani]

One of my Favorite Vids 👍🏻

[@susanmeans9309]

I enjoy your channel!

[@wronghandright4795]

I want you to know that your chanel has inspired me and my girlfriend to summit 4 Appalachian peaks in the last 45 days. And we intend to continue ramping up conditioning to one day summit a real peak. Thank you bud. Please continue making these videos.

[@whiteyfisk9769]

Wow, what is that, all of 300ft of elevation gain?? Dont yall hurt yourselves lol

[@wronghandright4795]

@@whiteyfisk9769 you're a small person aint ya

[@whiteyfisk9769]

@@wronghandright4795 no, im actually 6'6" and 220lbs. But i just live where theres actually real mountains and have climbed them. The Appalachians have soul, but they are not any feat to climb.

[@picasso7721]

That was amazing thank you.

[@whiskeybuck8985]

Wow. I hope his last moments were not to brutal and he was taken swiftly. God Bless these men

[@WalkthePlanets]

Incredible story of the will and of humanity and yet the fragility of life.

[@beyrutphl]

I can not get over the way your narrate man. Edit: but great content of course

[@sizzleMoose]

Had to pause at that dubious ledge. The confidence that takes, let alone the mountain.

[@dfrank5757]

Great content!

[@GraniteMtn618]

Thank you for your in depth account of the lives lost on the hills

[@joelvaldez5577]

I'm no climber in any way, but isn't it wise to have a GPS gadget when doing this activity? or is there no signal on such places?

[@mattarellopazzosgravato9041]

the first undisputed ascent was made by four italian climbers in 1974

[@tatianahawaii13]

This story made me cry.

[@sauce1232]

Can you do a video about Elisabeth Revol and Tomek on Nanga Parbat ?

[@climbeverest]

As soon as I saw the image of the peak I did not want to see or hear about this disaster

[@TJ-si7ug]

That's just craziness,I do not in any way shape or form look at that mountain and say "ya know what?I would love to get up there"😂😂😂😂

[@TheBruceKeller]

Good lord. I watch a lot of climbing videos and tbh this one looks so much scarier and demanding than K2 or Everest or anything. Just that ice cap near the end to summit... eek.

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

Mountains have personalities. There definitely gentle giants, as well as little monsters.

[@OmmerSyssel]

Under given circumstances ice climbing the 'top', most likely would have been the easy part of the climb.

[@TheBruceKeller]

@@OmmerSyssel'Easy' sure, I'd just be paranoid about a huge chunk falling off with me on it.

[@drats1279]

think again. You can breathe on this mountain from top to bottom. The 8000-plus meter peaks, even the easy ones, literally take your breath away and that alone sets them apart from this little hill and others like it.

[@devilslawyer1646]

be good if you included how may attempts had been made on the summit, and how many of those succeeded

[@cullyx2913]

Excellent content

[@KellJell]

When you do something that intensely, for so long, it seems you would know in the back of your mind, that one day, statistics will catch up to you. But still, so sad.

[@fastinradfordable]

Lots of people believe they are impervious to death, cause, you know…. It hasn’t ever happened to them b4

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

There's a misnomer about the "adrenaline junky" world... Folks seem to think we don't realize we're human or mortal or they seem to think we have a death-wish or just don't consider the risks. ALL of that is utterly BULLSH*T. For the adrenaline junky, fear is the drug of choice... It's that simple. If you don't know the risks, then what's to be afraid of??? Without fear, to trigger the adrenaline, then where do you get your "high"??? You don't. To get the ultimate high, you ABSOLUTELY MUST simply be willing to pay the ultimate price. There isn't any other way about it. It requires pushing your mind, your body, and your very soul to its collective limit... Then and ONLY then do you get what you're after. It's difficult, dangerous, and unforgiving... BUT we neither have a death-wish, since we can't get "high" if we're dead... DUH... NOR do we neglect the actual risks in the game... whatever that particular game is. We know and accept very DAMN WELL what's going on, and what we're doing... It's imperative that more people learn this, because too frequently, untrained and inexperienced "adrenaline junky wannabe's" take this misnomer and rush into stupid situations and cut their lives horribly and NEEDLESSLY short. Accidents DO happen, and when you're on the edge of human limits, that CAN be deadly... BUT make no mistake, the CORRECT way to chase that rush is to get trained and LEARN what the risks really are. Don't mistake the dark humor, down-playing humility, or the casual "cow-boy" nature of an adrenaline junky in true form for ignorance or negligence. We are a laughable bunch, and it CAN seem like we're just twisted the wrong way... BUT the reality is that nothing could be further from the truth... AND that's evident by the "rescuers" so many people suggest we put in harm's way... THEY ARE US! No normal person takes up a job to go rescuing people from inhumanly difficult situations. There simply isn't enough pay to get YOU to do it, is there??? Think about that. Most of the "rescuers" are fellow junkies, the same niche and breed who don't even accept compensation, and most of them pay their own way "out of pocket" to go on rescues... They buy much (if not all) their own equipment, or join clubs to use dues to fund the operations. ;o)

[@OmmerSyssel]

Ever studied traffic accident statistics, or the dangers connected with your kitchen?

[@cpt0118]

To reach the peak you need all the rock and mountain climbing techniques ! No wonder few people have reached the summit.

[@drats1279]

3:50 Good to see Chuck Norris during his mountain climbing era taking on this little hill. Tough break for the climbers but very noble of the 40 plus who attempted the rescue.

[@carlswenson5403]

As a multi-discipline climber, mountaineer and climbing historian, I've taken my time to read everything I possibly can about every mountain and "disaster" that you've covered on your channel so far. In this video you allude to Cerro Torre no longer being the hardest mountain in the world to summit, just curious to what your source was here, as well as your hypothesis on which peak has taken its place

[@john26razor340]

Any books you'd recommend (ie for interesting mountaineering stories)?

[@arnisbrown5848]

Wondered the same, only the Trango Towers came to mind.

[@carlswenson5403]

@@john26razor340 If you're interested in Cerro Torre specifically you should read "The Tower" by Kelley Cordes. If climbing classics are more your thing I always recommend "-148" or "Annapurna" edit - after having a peek at the bookshelf it occurs to me that people are the backbone of good climbing stories, and I neglected to include some good books about people. "Freedom Climbers" is about Polish mountaineers and is spectacular (as is anything by its author Bernadette McDonald). Both "Kiss or Kill" by Mark Twight and "Beyond the Mountain" by Steve House are also in my Highly recommended pile

[@carlswenson5403]

@@arnisbrown5848 High difficulty technical rock climbing at extreme altitude is certainly very difficult, but in that respect its kind of a one trick pony. I would think Conrad Anker would have something to say about the fin on Mt. Meru being more difficult because it includes both alpine ice and mixed climbing. In that vein I'm sure that the Slovak direct on the south face of Denali or the Shining wall on Gasherbrum IV are much more difficult, but the claim about Cerro Torre is that its easiest route is fantastically hard, and both GBIV and Denali have much easier routes to the summit

[@john26razor340]

@@carlswenson5403 these are awesome recommendations, thanks!

[@angelabordack]

I could and would never climb that mountain. It looks hellish!

[@EvilestGem]

These true climbers are made of different stuff. Heroic legends all of them!

[@benisaten]

Place looks horrifying. Like a home for Ring Wraiths or worse.

[@Ammon6]

Looks really beautifully scary

[@eyeroll5060]

Just a side thought question. How is it that climbers have to aclimate to help stave off altitude sickness(among other things) but u can go up in an unpressurized helicopter, higher than a mountain, w\o suffering altitude sickness? Ive often wondered about this

[@ethanbrock5453]

You would still get altitude sickness. Thats why passenger jets are pressurized.

[@fastinradfordable]

Wim Hof Nuff said. If you dnt knw who he is. Research him. I mean, you can keep Living a shit life if u want. But I recommend a -not shit life- Thru Wim Hof He disproved the ‘death zone’ and hiked Everest up to 7200meters In shorts and crampons. That’s like…. More than** Twice as high as this mountain.

[@Syclone0044]

@@fastinradfordable How does one “disprove the death zone”...while stepping over 100 corpses to get there?

[@eyeroll5060]

@Skummeh thank u sir. A very well articulate answer

[@OmmerSyssel]

@Skummeh altitude sickness doesn't depend on what you are doing, it's highly personal and still open, why some are more affected more than others. By the way, it's long overdue using metrical system, like the rest of the modern world.

[@brmillgr]

The sail boat that got caught in the halloween storm, hurricane grace, no name storm aka the perfect storm was named Satori

[@pcmaclean]

Visually stunning. Unfortunately, the narrator has the cadence and monotone of a computer

[@pcmaclean]

A hair-raising and incredible story nonetheless

[@jeffshackelford539]

I think this is what Marc Leclerick soloed. That's unbelievable.

[@Ghoulieanna]

I find it kind of funny that somewhere along the line someone looked at a mountain and said “I want to be on top of that for fun”

[@themorosepittbull257]

Are you the son of the guy who has the Scary Bear Attacks KZbin channel? The cadence is eriely similar

[@alveyjohn]

This is a tough one to listen to. That unique spike of rock certainly draws climbers to it. I'll stick with hard Alpine climbs in Europe. I salute these men that challenged this particular peak. God bless them all.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Jim Bridwell!!!! What a legend!

[@stevenesbitt3528]

Might sound daft, but how do they verify a first summit? I guess a photo would be the most logical thing, but is that the only way?

[@lostbutfreesoul]

This has given me ideas for D&D settings. I never thought about a mushroom of ice on a spire, that just screams Fantasy and yet here it is, in reality. If a White Dragon burst out of that thing and ate the first climbers to scale it... wouldn't have been surprised.

[@jaredmehrlich6683]

Beautiful!

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

Nerd, hush.

[@pacificaifyouplease8560]

Adds context to Marc-Andre's achievement

[@DaOndee]

Bone chilling and tragic story. Also, should have mentioned David Lama in the intro.

[@ilanamillion8942]

It looks like it should be situated in Mordor. Those are scary looking peaks!

[@jedgarren2901]

I STILL cannot believe that Lama free-climbed Cerro Torre INSANE

[@jaykerr533]

Was his body recovered? Or is it still there to this day?

[@cmdrTremyss]

3:40 "The Ice wasn't part of the mountain" pfff. Well, I can hike to the bottom and claim, I've climbed the mountain, but the rock walls are not part of the mountain either, so I just stopped there. Jokes aside what madness drives people to attempt such a suicidal ascend?

[@poutinedream5066]

I was just on another video where they said "he didnt bring much gear as he was going to make the climb "alpine style." Denali. Alone. I commented he might as well have said "I won't be bringing much gear cuz I'm a beast." It must be a mindset that only they can understand. I surely can't relate. "Compressor route" 🤣 Ngl, that's funny.

[@jakewest2524]

Sheer stupidity...

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

@PoutineDream I don't think it's so much "I'm such a beast" as it is "I secretly want to die doing what I love".

[@youcancallmeana]

So what is considered the most difficult mountain in the world to climb these days?

[@patrickganahl5126]

Maybe Monte Sarmiento on Tierra del Fuego. As I know it was only climbed twice. The weather down there is mostly awfull.

[@akdragosani]

Amazing Story.. Tragic ending…

[@bitey-facepuppyguy2038]

That spike of granite? with the rime ice on top looks like something out of a cartoon.....say the original Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It would be unnerving to be perched on a mountain that looks so precarious that it might just disintegrate into a huge rockfall without warning.

[@M.Mae.M]

WOW!! Hats of to those who climbed this peak

[@F24586]

Heroic Italians for their rescue efforts. Just the type of character you want by you’re side.