Climbers gear up for the annual assault on Everest, and the mountain is ready to rumble. Ice falls and avalanches pose a constant threat as the mountain warms and terrain shifts. Rival teams will have to work together to tackle the treacherous South Col rout.
With a rogue storm front closing in on Everest, the window for a summit bid is closing rapidly. Former football player John Golden and his guide John Shea defy the weather and strike out for the top, putting their skills and his surgically-repaired knee to the ultimate test.
Former astronaut Scott Parazynski vies to be the first person to fly in space and stand atop the world's highest peak, while 66-year-old Dawes Eddy wants to become the oldest American to ever reach the summit.
Hundreds of climbers head for the summit on the same day, leading to human traffic jams on the icy slopes of Everest. With their oxygen supply running low and hypothermia setting in, Russ' guides take matters into their own hands in their bid to get to the top.
As a violent weather front threatens to slam the door on climbing season, Russell gives the go-ahead for his final team of climbers to begin their ascent to the summit. His weakest group of the year will have five days to get to the top and back.