`EVEREST' PUSHES VIEWERS TO THE LIMIT.Byline: - David Kronke Watch just a few minutes of Discovery Channel's ``Everest: Beyond the Limit'' and you're forgiven for wondering what kind of masochist would go through such an ordeal. The laundry list laundry list A popular term for a long list of Sx, diseases, or etiologies that share something in common–eg, differential diagnosis of acute abdomen of maladies one can suffer in Mount Everest's ``Death Zone'' 7/8 frostbite frostbite (chilblains), injury to the tissue caused by exposure to cold, usually affecting the extremities of the body, such as the hands, feet, ears, or nose. Extreme cold causes the small blood vessels in the extremities to constrict. , of course, but also brain swelling brain swelling n. A localized or generalized increase in the bulk of brain tissue due to congestion or edema. that can induce anything from life-threatening disorientation disorientation /dis·or·i·en·ta·tion/ (-or?e-en-ta´shun) the loss of proper bearings, or a state of mental confusion as to time, place, or identity. to madness 7/8 certainly seems to diminish the notion that it's a glamorous hobby. This year's climbing season is the second deadliest on record, with 11 dying on the mountain. ``It's a pretty stupid game to be playing,'' concedes Russell Brice Russell Brice, (born 3 July 1952) New Zealander, is a mountaineer and CEO of Himalayan Experience[1], a climbing expedition company. He has summitted Cho Oyo, Himal Chuli and Mount Everest twice and is most well known for leading the 2006 expedition on Everest which was , who tonight sees his record of leading expeditions for 13 years without a death end when a sherpa dies before the ascent even begins. He estimates he has lost 80 percent of his friends to climbing accidents. Only one thing to do to make it more dangerous: Add a 15-person documentary crew. (Three in the crew suffered injuries or illness.) ``Everest: Beyond the Limit'' offers a gripping look at this quixotic quix·ot·ic also quix·ot·i·cal adj. 1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality. 2. quest. The six-part series follows eight men on one team who attempted to summit the mountain this year. Among those participating is Los Angeles firefighter Brett Merrell, who sold his motorcycle and mortgaged his home in an effort to achieve a childhood dream. Last year, he had to turn back before beginning his ascent due to his inability to sleep for eight days straight. Tim Medvetz, a Harley-Davidson customizer in Hollywood, also tries but is hampered by a bad back after a motorcycle wreck. Giving it a shot 7/8 against even worse odds 7/8 are Mark Inglis, who apparently didn't learn his lesson when he lost his legs below his knees in an earlier mountain-climbing misadventure misadventure n. a death due to unintentional accident without any violation of law or criminal negligence. Thus, there is no crime. (See: homicide) MISADVENTURE, crim. law, torts. An accident by which an injury occurs to another. (he treks on specially designed carbon-fiber legs with built-in crampons), and Mogens Jensen, an asthmatic hellbent on reaching the peak without supplemental oxygen. More rational people, of course, would be content simply to read a book. Take up chess. Start collecting stamps. Of course, you won't be seeing any of them on TV. EVEREST: BEYOND THE LIMIT - Three stars What: Six-part documentary series follows a team attempting to summit the mountain during one of its deadliest seasons. Where: Discovery Channel. When: 10 tonight. In a nutshell: Gripping look at a dangerous hobby. |
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