Everest Climbers Banned During Torch Ascent
Chinese climbers will carry the Olympic torch to the summit of Mt. Everest in May. To squelch the possibility of protests, all other climbers have been barred from hiking above Camp II during the torch's ascent.
Extreme weather fluctuations on the mountain give climbers a fleeting window of opportunity to reach the peak, so the ban may put some climbers at a disadvantage. Tensions are high and Nepalese soldiers guarding the slopes have been given the authority to use deadly force to squelch any protests.
Mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears discusses the conditions on the mountain and how climbers keep up their morale in tough situations.
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