Over the weekend I had the opportunity to view Everest, the new movie depicting the tragic 1996 climbing season at Mt. Everest.

From the time when Mt. Everest was first climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 until the early 1990s, only professional climbers attempted the highest peak in the world. Things changed when climbing guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer decided that they could guide amateurs up the mountain. Not surprisingly, others followed suit, hoping to capture hefty climbing fees from well-heeled clients.

Then 1996 happened – the single deadliest year on Mt. Everest until the recent 2014 avalanches that claimed even more lives. There have been several books and movies based on the 1996 tragedy, the most notable being Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air (see the Hiking Lady review of Into Thin Air). While much of the event still remains controversial to this day, the movie Everest gives what I consider a fair depiction, based on the books I have read on the subject.

While the character development was a bit weak, this is more than made up for with the cinematography. The breathtaking scenery of Mt. Everest, Base Camp, and Nepal alone are worth seeing this film!

Happy movie going!