WOMEN’S ANNAPURNA EXPEDITION: Tragedy and Triumph | Arlene Blum

In 1978, a team of women lead by Arlene Blum reached the top of Annapurna. It was a triumph. But tragedy also awaited them…
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[@kvltizt]

“3 deaths per 10 successful summits” literally more dangerous than space flight lol

[@naibswife]

the 21 year old annie made a decision that saved her life not to follow the 2nd summit pair since she saw the danger and followed her intuition that their decision making skills were compromised. she and margi were young but pretty mature for their ages considering they could have recklessly followed along. not having sherpas follow them was such a grave error…

[@user-ze2vt8wc8f]

I recently remember something I considered doing that didn't feel right but I gravitated to 'logic' in my head that said I should go on with it. It was a mistaken choice, but fortunately it wasn't a serious matter. That still, small voice is God. We are best served to listen.

[@g0inturbo]

You should take autobiographies by a grain of salt

[@bees5461]

Many years ago I read Arlene Blum's book, Annapurna, A Woman's Place. She was remarkably honest about her own imperfections and she also credited these young women for using their intuition and the good sense they exhibited, which prevented them from doing something foolish. This women who took on this expedition were truly amazing mountaineers. They not only had to think about their skill and decision making, but had to deal with the sexism. In spite of the fact that prior to this expedition many male teams perished on many mountains but it wasn't attributed to the fact that they were men.

[@stucaz1816]

She was smart enough to realize they couldn't do it without men

[@godzilla928]

​@@stucaz1816 nice try xd

[@ASpectacular3777]

I climbed Mt. Rainier half a month before 9/11/01. They call it North America’s toughest endurance climb because you have to ascend and descend over 9,000 feet in under 48 hours! Intense. No other mountain in North America requires that type of effort in that short of time frame via a Guided Climb (I went with RMI). It surely is a sprint not a marathon. Along with Denali, people train for Everest on it. Also, not many people know that Ranier is one of the 16 deadly Decade Volcanoes in the world. Makes it a very unstable mountain to climb due to extreme geothermal activity. Out of several hundred people; only 40 people passed the fitness test. I went with my brother, but being 17 years older than me, he did not pass the test so he went backpacking on his own. We climbed stairs in tall office buildings in Chicago after work to prepare. I was hesitant to climb without him. Yet I attempted. I was one of two females; rest all male. The other female was 6’2”. I was 5’6” and 120lbs carrying all my food, water, ice axe, crampons, everything. You have to eat about every 3 hours heavy calorie-laden food. You’re eating about 8,000-10,000 calories each day yet I lost 7 pounds over 3 days! Backpack wasn’t too bad as weight was displaced on hips. But you have to learn pressure breathing to sustain the long workout carrying all the weight of the backpack climbing at a fairly quick pace. I started out leading the pack, but was the last to arrive at Base Camp. In fact, I had to think of people that p*ssed me off and get angry to make the last hour of climbing as I just wanted to quit. Once there, it was difficult to sleep in the bunkhouse with all these snoring people. Lol. The adrenaline I had coursing through my body made it difficult to impossible to fall asleep as well. We started out at 7am to climb, making base camp (Camp Muir) by 5pm. Then we ate and were to go to sleep immediately by 8pm because at midnight we were woken up (yes, after 3 hours of sleep) to summit. It was pitch black and I was so so tired (as was everyone). The turning point came when we had to put on avalanche beacons around our neck so they could find you/your body if something went wrong. THAT was the sobering moment for me that made me chicken out. I already had a blister from my boot that mole skin helped but hard to climb with boot pain and I also had trouble sleeping the night before the ascent due to snoring in the bunkhouse and excitability in anticipation. Then we all roped up. I was roped up to 3 huge males. Now if I fell, they would be strong to help me, but what if one of THEM fell? What help could I offer? They far, far outweighed me, even if I was able to successfully self-arrest with my ice axe and crampons into the rock. I was the weakest link. Did a quick risk assessment and determined too many odds were against me and took off my equipment. When sun rose, I had the most beautiful vision of the mountain countryside. I saw Mt. St. Helens nearby with her flat top/cone blown off. I went at the “safest” time of the year; end of summer in August. Hopefully that was when all the snow was mostly melted and risk of avalanche low. The vista was breathtakingly beautiful to see the world from that altitude. I picked a warm pile of skree (black stone pile) and sunbathed up there at 10K feet and waited as most would come back with altitude sickness. Out of 40, 11 summited. But I lived to see many more adventures and did not put myself or fellow comrades at risk.

[@KDSima]

That is an interesting story. Thanks for sharing. I always have had a fear of failure, low self esteem. I think if I am fortunate enough to have another life I am going to work to overcome that. At 64, it is a bit late to get much of a start, although I try in small ways.

[@pussycats456]

It’s a kind of strength to acknowledge your weaknesses, we all have some. Interesting story, thanks for sharing it.

[@rt66vintage16]

It's wonderful that you accepted your limitations as a woman and bowed out gracefully and let the men carry on. Really the right style of feminism.

[@ASpectacular3777]

@@rt66vintage16 Ahh, the troll came to troll. You watch a video on Women’s Climbing Achievements, then slam a woman. I guess that’s how misogyny works. There were 4 that never made it to Base Camp due to Altitude Sickness, they were forced to turn around and go lower. One other male stayed behind with me refusing to attempt the summit. So, there goes that theory of yours…Then we can count all that came back to Base Camp unable to summit, again due to altitude sickness. 10 men and 1 woman made it to the top.

[@ASpectacular3777]

@@pussycats456 Not sure how you see weakness; the avalanche beacon scared me-brought fun to a screeching halt as the reality of the risk hit me. Throw in the pain of a blister and I bowed out. That is not weakness, that is intelligence, lol.

[@whocares7093]

I have so much respect for Arlene Blum. She seemed so mature and rational in handling the group's conflicts and planing the whole expedition. She prioritised safety over ego and respected all of her teammembers.

[@judyo923]

Yes! I agree. I think this group worked so well as a team. And as for the deaths - I see video after video about men who've been affected by summit fever who have perished on Everest. Of course, women can be overcome by the same affliction as well. It was an unsound decision (obviously looking back) to travel to camp V without Sherpas, only the two of them, so late in the day, on such a dangerous mountain. But Blum was right - she could not order them - anymore than Chris Bonington could have ordered Ian Clough or Mick Burke who perished on his expeditions, off the mountain.

[@bschneidez]

The way she talked about the expedition beforehand reflected well on her as well. From the excerpts in the video, she wasn't out there saying women are just as strong as men or that society hated women somehow. She just knew some women could handle this and wanted to show the world. From what the video showed me she seemed very grounded and reasonable. Impressive, especially for radically feminist women since they are usually bad at that.

[@joelstiffarm2996]

No, she did not prioritize safety. She was guided by a chip on her shoulder, she did not display leadership skills, and it cost lives. She pushed to publicize it. This was an ego trip masked as women's empowerment. The sheer lunacy of bringing a mass group with not enough group training, not enough group dynamic development, and poor leadership top to bottom establishment caused confusion, miscommunication, and failure to know when to quit when danger arose.

[@Skybaby79]

If she "prioritized safety" she wouldn't have tried this in the first place. *People lost their lives*

[@TheMerryPrangster]

​@@Skybaby79come on Eileen

[@smittysmeee]

Sexism aside, it's a good point about not doing extreme climbs if you have small children to take care of, for Moms and Dads alike. Follow your own adventurous heart before you have them or after they're grown, not while they need you. Just my humble opinion.

[@djclawson]

If you weren't allowed to be parent, there would be very few climbers and sherpas. That standard is only applied to women.

[@luisaharkey4046]

this is their profession, they make money by writing guide books or being great mountain guides. Truckdrivers have a similar chance of dying and no one tell them not to have children.

[@gwenjackson8583]

@@luisaharkey4046 Good point. Many occupations are high risk. Hell, just living in certain areas can be high risk.

[@gwenjackson8583]

@@djclawson honestly, I’ve seen both male and female climbers criticized for doing dangerous climbs while having dependent children. At the same time, there is a reason that custody is almost always given to mothers when there is a divorce…in our culture they are perceived as the most essential parent out of the two.

[@wyssmaster]

@@luisaharkey4046 truckers actually provide a valuable service to society; climbers provide nothing

[@TechnikMeister2]

What moves me deeply about this documentary is about Arlene Blum's selflessness. It's a great story of leadership and putting the interests of the team ahead of individual ambition. That make a person a hero in my book. Having been on active service in the military, it's often the person who is not wishing to be in the limelight or be the one to charge ahead who is the most valuable. Its the person who knows that for a team to succeed, it requires the efforts of the stoice, quiet and caring that makes it possible for the rest to be successful.

[@pageribe2399]

Ronald Reagan once said that you can accomplish just about anything if you don't care who gets the credit.

[@23Revan84]

Definitely me, I am no leader but wants to get things done, succeed, everyone goes home.

[@idfrancisco5057]

I was literally looking for a documentary yesterday about Arlene Blum and you released this 3 hours ago THANK YOU! I just finished reading her book, its triumphant but at the same time a tragedy.

[@andrewv.9142]

Thanks for treating this topic with respect. Very frustrating to hear about everyone trying to invalidate the climb at the time. I don't know what else they could've done in terms of Sherpas. At least they gave them credit, unlike many other expeditions. Annapurna is not like Everest, no one can drag you up there lol. And it sounds like the second team fell into a crevasse, which it's not like having or not having Sherpas can prevent... especially if they were dead right after fall.

[@Mutiny960]

Gave them credit...WHEN? They advertised it as "Female-Only" around the entire planet. To them the "male" sherpas provided nothing of substance. No better than pack animals. The level of white-woman entitlement is sickening.

[@principecaprincipeca2243]

That second attempt was doomed from the beginning. They got blinded by summit fever.

[@CalebAchsah]

Thank you for including their individual words, thoughts, and reactions to the experience. Arlene's writing is wonderful!

[@Vic-Meow]

You did a great job editing this video. I especially liked how you arranged the quoted text near the photo of the people being quoted. Excellent composition.

[@MarbleFox162]

41:16 I grew up with mostly sisters, so I have an idea of how rough someone’s period is. Imagine having menstrual cramps while freaking ice climbing! These women are bada*s!

[@MoonlightCircus]

I've hiked through menstrual cramps and its miserable. However, *if* you can push through the pain, the movement does seem to help and it eventually passes. Sucks in the meantime though; it's kind of like ignoring being stabbed in the gut.

[@MarbleFox162]

@@MoonlightCircus Yeah, I couldn’t do that. That blows my mind.

[@blammela]

And the exhaustion, and the bleeding, and the period shits, etc etc

[@TwoBs]

Thank goodness for birth control pills (along with the shots, inserts, patches, etc.) Got an event coming up? Plan to be going hiking and camping over the next several weeks/months? Don’t want to deal with the aggravation of cramps, fatigue, headaches, etc. brought on by a cycle? If you take oral contraceptives, just skip the placebo pills and you’ll skip your period for that month. Want to skip several months? Then don’t take the placebos until your next prescription’s refill. I have a host of issues with my system and have been told I’m too young for a hysterectomy (even though I’ve already had a child and don’t plan to ever have anymore), and oral contraceptives are all I can take without adverse side effects, so having my gyno encourage me to skip my period whenever I don’t feel like dealing with the issues that are exacerbated by my cycle was music to my ears. I like having more control over that stuff now compared to the misery and stress I was dealing with every single month. Would much rather deal with it 4-6 times a year than 12 - more time to enjoy things. I’d highly encourage any other women dealing with such to consider bringing it up with their gyno to see if they can do it.

[@KingoftheJuice18]

The responses to this group among members of the climbing community sound like Twitter comments. It just shows you that people have always had these tendencies; social media just multiplies how much damage can be done and how quickly.

[@YackYum]

"Deciding to ascend this 8000-er is akin to saying you're ready to die". Damn! - me out loud.

[@drats1279]

stupid remark by the narrator. This is not a climber thought just a silly narrator's attempt at hyping his video.

[@PlatinumLemur]

Me too out loud. It's a risk.

[@cass6474]

Same! Really puts it into perspective how dangerous and deadly it truly is!

[@jessepitt]

Did he say 3 deaths per 10 successful summits?

[@technomickdocumentalist2495]

Yes he did, unreal stats TBH.

[@Cherabreena]

I thoroughly enjoyed this documentary. I've never heard of this particular group of mountaineers, but I really appreciate that you took time to add the information about who each of these women are/were, instead of glossing over it like "any other tragedy story". Well done. It's also so frustrating hearing about the blatant misogyni the women had to go through no matter what they did. Can't win with chauvinists.

[@anandnairkollam]

Ironic, how annapurna's peak is just at the point of the death zone and yet has the highest death rate. You don't even spend much time in the death zone.

[@ghuntressart669]

Such a riveting story and a marvelous documentary! Thank you for a superb job in the telling and production of this bitter-sweet story.

[@heather173]

So glad to have such a long episode, I really appreciate all the work you put into every story.

[@clever2627]

They didn't know about the innuendo, I thought that's what they were going for

[@MountainCry]

I've listened to a lot of these types of stories, but I didn't know this one. Great job organizing and laying out the story!

[@MsMaxine306]

Yep! That's for sure!!

[@eeeee5318]

You might be the only person on KZbin dedicated enough to read WHOLE books in preparation for their videos. Hats off to ya buddy!

[@katieswanhamilton3743]

This was very well researched. Good on you for sharing these women’s experiences unabashedly, honestly. I for one very much enjoyed this video.

[@charlesmahoney3296]

I was on Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands that spring. I am a guy from Colorado, Ski Patrol, and bought one of the t-shirts. I really wish I had bought more. I wore that one out. What a mountain. What a team. Triumph and tragedy.

[@jessepitt]

I grew up on Stuart Island and went to high school on San Juan. Orcas is a nice island.

[@gabriellekahts6787]

Great video! Such high quality! Thanks for sharing their story.

[@thexxit]

"They lack the emotional stability...." 🤣 Have you ever seen anything more emotional than a male who is being challenged! Look to their reactions of women joining these climbs - practically apoplectic.

[@nunyanope4988]

Right!! Plus the fact that every conflict and war is started by men.

[@dirremoire]

​@@nunyanope4988 Great sarcasm!

[@andrewg3196]

​@@dirremoire huh lol how the fuck is that sarcasm

[@brandonsexton9017]

@thexxitt your comment just proved their point.

[@thexxit]

@@brandonsexton9017 Oh yes, Brandon, I forgot a woman making a comment on youtube must be hysterical. You've proven my point, Brandon, butthurt over my comment. Good luck to you, incel.

[@tess4-2]

The consensus and difficult decisions on who was to ascend to the top is the most heroic part of this story, a story of true teamwork and leadership. From the beginning to the sad end, these women planned, and negotiated so respectfully to achieve the most impressive goal: two women and their sherpas planting the flags, but all together conquering Anapurna.

[@DVFHAFYT]

Lol. true leadership would've been telling those two women they can't go, or that they can go, not being hesitant on them going but letting them go anyway, sounds like no one was a true leader there.

[@OpossumOnTheMoon]

@@DVFHAFYTbro they are grown ass women, it wouldn’t have mattered if she said not to go they still would have gone. She discouraged them and that alone shows her leadership. A good leader cannot prevent people from making terrible decisions

[@aprilkane]

Thank you Archie, been waiting and waiting for another one! ❤🎉

[@mpazinambao2938]

There was a woman growing vegetables in water bottles while climbing cold ass mountains. What's my excuse?!🤦🏿‍♀️

[@muddydog6605]

Yeah, I need to stop blaming my vegetable growing efforts on the "High altitude in the Welsh mountains"

[@prevost8686]

Common sense maybe?

[@mpazinambao2938]

I've started growing my plants!!! I think my excuse was laziness...

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

@@prevost8686Best comment of entire thread award😁👍

[@NotMadNomadZephyr]

Great in-depth storytelling. Awesome research and narration! Always look forward to your uploads..thanks Archie and team!! 🙌

[@dcnole]

A very interesting story, and a good lesson that just like successful high-altitude mountaineering is achievable by both genders, so is succumbing to summit fever. I have a ton of respect for Annie Whitehouse after hearing this story. She was scheduled to go for the 2nd summit attempt, yet she had the wits to realize that it was all wrong when the sherpas were unable to continue and oxygen was gone. Then she had the steadfastness as one of the two youngsters on the team to say no to her more senior and more accomplished teammates who were pushing her to go against her better judgment. That takes a lot of character. I hope she never felt like her absence contributed to the sad fate of her colleagues. In all likelihood, she would have died along with them.

[@jussyi1188]

Such a fanTastic job you do documenting and sharing such journeys. I feel so pulled into the stories. The wait for next video is very much welcomed. Great job Archie.

[@lizhengerer3987]

Men use sherpas on climbs. The Nepalese economy depends on the climbers. This is a very difficult mountain. More technical than Everest. The book is excellent and if you follow climbing you would know.

[@Ryzen776]

The issue is not the use of sherpas, it's claiming it to be a all women expedition while discarding the contribution sherpas did. It's not because they're sherpas that they shouldn't be counted as part of the team.

[@rickwrites2612]

​@@Ryzen776 yea this, Sherpas are considered members. So that was her dilemma about them, in addition to some of the male Sherpas being sexist about athleticism.Which to be fair was extremely common in the West then as well, when a woman joined the NYC marathon in 70s, some make runners and the males in charge of race literally tried to drag her away, but she, her husband and a couple other guys wouldn't let them and she ran it. In the US we literally had to make a law to give girls and women the opportunity to play sports, it was ridiculous.

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

Yes- I agree. To call themselves “all women climbing team” they should’ve used all female Sherpas. If they couldn’t find any you can still do it- but don’t claim no men helped you

[@MystLily]

I don't think having the male sherpas with them undermined the all-woman team because a normal men's team would use the same sherpas so I can't see the difference given the sherpas are used for their experience on the mountains and sex has nothing to do with it as you're looking for the best guides. I hadn't heard of this story so it was wonderful to hear it but very sad that the last two women died and such a shame the last sherpa was sick and couldn't go but ultimately it was the woman that chose to go when the conditions weren't favorable

[@bonoff3369]

The sherpas are not white so they don’t count as men/human in the eyes of these women. If the Sherpa were white men they would never have said it was an all women expedition.

[@justlucky8254]

Would there have been so many issues from the sherpas, mostly about money, had the climbers been men? Would the sherpas have went on strike for money in the middle of the job had their employers been male? Probably not. The power dynamic changes from one situation to the other for obvious reasons.

[@DVFHAFYT]

....the sherpas are men..it's not an all woman team then..makes sense?.. Also, 1+1=2 if you didn't know.

[@TashaBryanUK]

Amazing Archie, never fails to bring the talent! Great video, much love from the UK 💜

[@wildlyawakened]

Imagine climbing a mountain on your period...no thanks! Haha.

[@hgrunenwald]

I love your videos and this is my favorite one so far. I love the level of detail you put into this and I love that all of your videos tell such a full story. The length is great, too. I am looking forward to watching the rest now that I have found your channel.

[@djohnson9083]

So glad to see this video. Missed you! Very very entertaining and interesting content. Thanks!

[@emmymoloto9685]

Hi Archie! Thank you so much for converting feet to metres I really appreciate it as I'm in South Africa ' & I only understand metres honestly ☺️😊🥰

[@kixigvak]

Anybody interested in climbing understands meters. No need to mention feet except when discussing frostbite.

[@ameperdue6953]

Women's arrogance and hubris resulted in a tragedy.

[@compassioncampaigner728]

Respect for the high quality effort you put into these riveting presentations.

[@roxy629]

Personality differences are greater than gender differences.

[@jasongibbs3713]

I disagree. We all know that men get along with each other better than women do anyway

[@roxy629]

@@jasongibbs3713 my statement does not contradict yours

[@Mutiny960]

@@roxy629 It sure does, you're just too stupid or too much in denial to understand that. Their statement means that all thing being equal (including varied personalities) the males will get along better because they are male. Which means the greater difference is gender. But what am I doing...your types don't listen to logic, only FEELZ based BS.

[@pussycats456]

In general, men have greater physical strength, with exceptions of course.

[@awkwardautistic]

That's pretty subjective.

[@zztop4996]

This is a fabulous video. 2nd time watching. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@hubertdenise3100]

Big red flag is the food situation.When she mentions how they have only candy bars and instant breakfasts, and that all they’ve had today for food are 3 different candy bars.You need lots of food cause you need lots of food for such strenuous activity, sugar only gets you so far and it’s best to have lots of protein and carbohydrates.They were having too little, and if they got in trouble then they would run out of food quickly.

[@OtomoTenzi]

RED FLAGS, you say? 🚩🤔🚩 Not to mention, you would also need to have doctors and scientists run many rigorous tests on your body just to make sure if you are even physically and mentally FIT ENOUGH to climb that mountain before you should even attempt it. Let alone, ANNAPURNA??? You'll also need to spend at least a few days or weeks even, down at base camp in order to 'acclimatize' properly before the climb even begins. I'm not real sure if they even figure out how to do THAT! And with the obvious doubts about nutrition you brought into question; I would seriously wonder just WHO was the person in charge of getting those food supplies for them? Ego is one thing, but watching your friends DIE up there is another! 💀

[@kamakaziozzie3038]

@@OtomoTenziyeah but muh feminism

[@Jan2010new]

Great video and narrating. Very nicely done! Thx much.

[@williammcallister3566]

Your work is so incredible man

[@raptoress6131]

This was a wonderfully put together documentary, especially how you highlighted all of the climbers and included Arlene's descriptions.

[@Daysha38]

A candy bar for breakfast and lunch? What happened to the 12,000lbs of food that was shipped over? Crazy.

[@OtomoTenzi]

They didn't even wanna bother carrying it up, maybe cuz it was TOO DAMN HEAVY... You'd figure they were prolly burning like at least 10,000+ calories a day just from all that crazy-ass cold weather and vigorous climbing? An average candy bar would prolly only give you like between 200 to 300 calories. NO DOUBT you would need to eat way hella more than just candy bars!

[@bubbafrump74]

Absolutely amazing video. I think it's amazing and awesome that everything I watch, is being made by REGULAR, but veery talented people. Not a huge crue with unlimited resources! It blows my mind, and inspires me. Thank you so much!!! Awesome.

[@RachelRuns3440]

This video is fantastic. Must’ve taken so much work to put together. I’m really grateful to have watched it and learned about these women. Thank you for your research.

[@houseofsolomon2440]

Dying during descent is an unsuccessful descent, not an unsuccessful summit. "Summitting" is merely reaching the highest point on the mtn. It doesn't mean making it down alive.

[@elichouinard3850]

absolute banger as usual!

[@pederblomker6138]

Great job telling the story

[@franklinschneider1273]

This guy is best of the best for this genre on KZbin. Great storyteller, great details. Thank you

[@chuckyxii10]

To be entirely fair, it kinda is a dick move to expect the sherpas to go up multiple times no matter who is on the expedition. I'm also sure that's not the only time it's happened either

[@belovedobserver]

Yes, I feel bad for the sherpas. They are the true mountain masters imo.

[@animula6908]

Not really. Not if they’re setting up camps. This is normal on deep dives too. They have to prepare to make huge accomplishments possible at all.

[@timothydudley3106]

Anyone attempting to push another person to make an extra risky move is so wrong if you ask someone and they say no decision done no one should ever do anything without the help of a Sherpa!

[@23Revan84]

I agree with that, they shouldn’t push another into summiting without air and support of sherpas. Annie made the good call and glad she stuck to her decision on not being pressured into summiting, she could have died too. 😊

[@anniebrestanova2413]

whoa, this is probably the best mountaineering video i watched yet... thanks a lot

[@beany1987]

Climbing a 8000m peak to prove a point is brave but also kind of very egotistical aswell, going in with that mindset will motive you but may also cloud your judgement. Seams to be a tone that both men and women have alot these days when climbing these huge peaks and often ends in death.

[@benisaten]

Respect Nature.

[@robertgold2378]

Man rely on man just like women!

[@PlatinumLemur]

That's how I see it.

[@tomashertz1155]

Brilliant! I'd like to thank you for your best effort to date.

[@chk859]

As a mountain lover and avid climber I simply loved this story and I salute all these women. Bravo. The highest I have done is 19,000 odd ft up Kilimanjaro, as well as Mt Kenya and the Rwenzories Mountains. What a wonderful documentary about a brave and determined group of woman. I wish I could join such a group. ❤ I will get the two books mentioned. ❤

[@briAction]

This is really well done a great story. Thank you!

[@latiefaadamsdidacontikitou3724]

Luv this video...such inspiring women.

[@em84c]

I want to read Arlene's book now. I love her descriptions of the women

[@megnotmegan1966]

I still have my copy that my mom bought me when it came out. I’ve read it many times over the years ❤

[@juliegray4262]

This is ok. The book is amazing well written and so captures the feelings and emotions of the expedition and all that took part. This is great for putting a visual to the book so you can imagine the individuals faces. Thank you for sharing this incredible story Arlene.

[@Grinningfartking6969]

Ego is a death wish

[@amaramilligan349]

I really don’t get the desire to climb mountains. Couch potato forever!

[@chubbydinosaur9148]

I kinda get the challenge part but oh lord... I love my bed way too much. A good hike in the Eifel mountains/hills is the best I can do 😂

[@anais4766]

Nature is addictive, if I don't make out of the house, I don't, but once I did, the longer I am out there, the better I felt. Sort of tranquility you don't get by sitting at home. Yet once I am back, the lazy and easy comfort is hard to get out from. So I am a couch potato by nature, outdoor spirit by heart. 😂 Said by a person whom hike once or twice a year, either never get out, or out for days, often alone.

[@dann5480]

How much do you weigh Amara?

[@slimecorn]

You can be a normal weight / skinny and be a couch potato as long as you eat healthy lol

[@tessaducek5601]

Climbing mountains, Skydiving, Bungee jumping....... Nope! I appreciate the breath taking pictures and kudos to those who enjoy the challenge...

[@maryplatzer6842]

Excellent video, I really like how you added in parts of the audiobook

[@akse]

I really enjoy reading about mountain climbing history and all. For some reason this was a new one for me (or had forgotten already) but interesting! Thanks.

[@erickent4248]

I am terrified of heights, hate the cold, and have a bum ankle from a bicycle accident, but I love stories of mountaineering. Never heard about these ladies before, but now I will look for Arlene's book.

[@HyperSarcasticAvocado]

I wonder how much of the infighting was due to these women always being told no by others and having to overcome that. Also, I was reading up on Blum and learned that her daughter is pretty much a genius. Very cool!

[@ohoto3896]

excellent channel and narration maboy.

[@beachbumgirl8041]

Great job 👏🏻 with that and I look forward to seeing what else you present

[@stephengarner8628]

I never heard of this climb before, but then again I am not a climber. I have to say though I would salute them all for their guts and determination. The negative talk from male climbers of the day was utter nonsense. It always has been. I am a man, but know when a man says women can not do something there are always going to be women who will say. 'Oh really, in your face' Men and women are equal and if there is one thing I can say every time men put women down they are dooming themselves to be proven wrong. Here are a few examples. First world war, woman can not fix cars, run a farm, make things like guns. Yet women took on every job men said they were incapable of. In fact women making the shells for artillery made better ammunition. They drove and fixed tractors. Woman can not fight. Yet history has proven women do fight, women fought the romans in Germania. It was Boadicea who led the Iceane to revolt against the Romans Sacking Colchester, and Londinium, They were brave women on that climb everyone of them, and it is always sad that people die on such adventures but that is what it means to be human.

[@mwal223]

I wonder, did Annapurna have the same reputation it did now, as the most deadly mountain in the Himalayas?

[@schmowder1911]

I was wondering that too. Seems like they had the skills and cohesion to be quite successful. But Annapurna has so much randomness. You can be a phenomenal climber, but that won’t matter if an avalanche randomly strikes. Why not K2 or something where they’re not so severely at the mercy of fate?

[@aprilkane]

@@schmowder1911 K2 is just as bad lol

[@julix9039]

Very successful climb, Two experts on Everest lost a lot of their climbers in two days..nobody questioned their expertise.

[@frsings]

Amazing work!

[@Heavyisthecrown]

She was mad they wanted a woman to cook at base camp then hires women to hire a base camp 😂😂😂

[@margarita.casilda]

So much risk means lost own life..stupid pride cost very high price...sick thinking

[@amberrodriguez851]

I don’t know what it is about these stories I like so much… but damn. They’re amazing stories.

[@alandolezalek9088]

Very well narrated. Really enjoyed.

[@elizabethannegrey6285]

Thanks for a wonderful video.

[@justlucky8254]

I'm really shocked that details about who would summit and whatnot weren't discussed and agreed upon before they even got close to the mountain. I'm also shocked that there were such issues being debated by people who should've all understood how climbs like that worked. They are barely on the mountain and it went from "women band together and prove the men wrong" to "every woman for herself because we each have a personal point to prove that is more important than the other individuals and more than the collective." A few things happened that leaned towards proving things, but proving the wrong or even opposite things.

[@dl6860]

Of course, was an emotional oestrogen-fuelled shit show.... typical

[@OtomoTenzi]

@@dl6860 Oh yes! 👍

[@OtomoTenzi]

NOBODY ever even forced 'em to go up there in the very first place... Men did NOT make the call here. Even like the most average and common household women out there, could still find PLENTY of meaning and purpose in life; WITHOUT ever having to climb the world's tallest/highest mountains. Let alone, ANNAPURNA??? Let's try to keep in mind, that the DEATH RATE is like 32% up there. It was THEIR CHOICE, and obviously THEIR FUNERAL!!! ☠💀☠

[@animula6908]

It makes sense to me. You’d want to see who strongest climbers on that mountain are.

[@baskoning9896]

You know the story of the ten woman that did not need no man? Nine died.

[@philipr1567]

You know the story of the man who had a low opinion of women? He could never find a partner and lived a lonely life with only his hand for company.

[@OtomoTenzi]

@@philipr1567 And WHO is this lonely man that you speak of? Can you please tell us his full name? And how exactly, do you know so much about him and his left hand? 🤔

[@loreleisato7481]

Very interesting channel, thank you for the hard work and the professional editing. Also, thanks a lot for the ad of the metric system alongside the imperial 😅

[@melbaamos_wholebeingsynergy]

This was a fantastic documentary. I enjoyed it very much!

[@indecision6616]

Hey Archie another great video I always love the videos you make you always put so many details in the story. I really love your crime Channel I wish you would upload on there more there's a lot of Stories on there that I have never heard and I thought I have seen them all. I have watched every video on both channels and enjoyed every single one of them keep going in your channel will blow up that's for sure. Oh by the way Archie where is the other female narrator that you always use? Don't get me wrong she's okay the new one but the other woman narrator used before I personally liked much more

[@thetruth1862]

The one thing abot these high level climbers men or women, they speak on the mountains and the technical climbing almost like art

[@CalebAchsah]

@thetruth1418 - Yes, their writing is simple, descriptive, and elegant.

[@nowistime8070]

thanks for telling this story

[@alejandropalazonurtubi3520]

Awesome content!

[@johnross775]

The two women dying at the end only shows how strong and tough they were besides brave. No climber can pick what random disaster befalls them but these two knew the risks and I 'm glad as a male that females are just as brave as us men. Awesome show as always great narrating tyvm.

[@jennyfulcher8035]

I've watched the movie several times as well as read Irene Blum's book several times and am always in awe of these strong, resilient and brave women who succeeded in spite of the obstacles and misogyny against women mountaineers during the 1970s. Jenny

[@rickwrites2612]

Yea it's amazing how sexist sports were in the 70s, the first woman to run the marathon a bunch of men including ones in charge tried to drag her out but luckily she had other guys on her side to block them. Like they literally tried to physically stop her from running because she was female, in Easy coast US in 70s. Unbelievable.

[@sylentknight]

women being naturally weaker than their male counterpart is not misogyny, it's science.

[@jennyfulcher8035]

@@sylentknight Maybe so, but women usually have more endurance than men. Plus women still contend with misogyny when climbing with men.

[@DVFHAFYT]

@@jennyfulcher8035 Bullshit. Water is usually more dry than sand. See I can do it too.

[@belovedobserver]

@@sylentknight I doubt these women denied that men have an advantage 😂 most of them were probably more educated than you. They wanted to prove a woman could make the summit despite not having the biological advantages that men possess. How would you feel if most of your peers said men like you should just stay at base camp to help cook only? “ItS sCieNce” No shit Sherlock.

[@amelielambert2337]

What a beautiful documentary. I loved the way you recounted the stories of these incredible women. I couldn't keep the tears from my eyes.Those two deaths seemed so unnecessary, but the human mind and its desires aren't always rational. I can only hope that their family found some solace knowing these two died doing what they loved and following their hearts. Much respects to everyone involved, the climbers as well as porters, cooks, sherpas, filmimg crew, base camp manager... and all those who supported them. As a masters student of geology, the gesture of the sherpa Chewang made me quite emotional ❤️ Finally, to all mountaineers out there: you all rock 😍

[@madamlt5758]

I could never do any of this as I have MS and Crohn’s disease. Just watching these people in these pictures makes me tired.

[@Heavyisthecrown]

This was not an all women climb… they had men carrying their gear… still awesome tho.

[@justlucky8254]

It would be nice if you stuck with either first names or last names and didn't alternate between each of them. It's a short story and it includes a lot of people who all have first and last names.

[@letdanielletellyou]

It’s been a month since your last video. I love how you tell these stories. Hope to have another one soon

[@alaistairgram2907]

great video, keep it up

[@justlucky8254]

He explains that the sherpas went on strike but made sure to schedule their strike so as to not lose pay. "The team had multiple issues with the sherpas, mostly about money." First, all of the comments I read regarding sherpas tend to heap praise upon them and exclaim how absolutely amazing they all are. Did this expedition happen to end up with all of the bad sherpas in the same group? Also, I have to wonder if they would've acted the same if the members of the expedition were men. We all know that people act differently when they know that violence is an option and that they could lose and possibly quite badly.

[@misterb3577]

I don't think that's the case here, though. We're talking about an insanely dangerous mountain to climb, where 3 out of every 10 people to summit have died. Imagine being paid only marginally more than the already low pay for the region to carry pounds of someone else's stuff up the side of a mountain. A mountain that is very likely littered with the frozen bodies of would-be explorers and Sherpa alike. The fact that they went on strike on the side of a mountain makes me think something changed to make them more wary of the expedition, like a subtle change in the weather that they noticed, or something ominous spooked them. Something that a group of climbers hyper-fixated on reaching the summit might not notice or acknowledge as a serious issue.

[@storytimewithunclekumaran5004]

Crampons + Tampons !!!!!!!!!!! lolz oh my god .. great band name..???

[@terraflow__bryanburdo4547]

For mountaineering in general: "Fools with Tools"

[@roxy629]

@@terraflow__bryanburdo4547lmao that’s a good one 😂

[@dann5480]

🤣🤣🤣 Period cramp..ons 😆😆

[@houseofsolomon2440]

🙃

[@animula6908]

No. Terrible. 🤮

[@nero2987]

Love your videos holmes