Deadly Ascent

The scientific mystery at the heart of this NOVA episode revolves around the perennial deaths of experienced climbers attempting to reach the summit of North America's highest peak, Alaska's Mt. McKinley (also known by its Native American name Denali). The fatalities result from extreme cold and high altitude, but the exact physiological cause remains elusive, so NOVA followed a physically fit team of researchers up the mountain, equipped with the latest diagnostic technology (including NASA-designed "thermal pills," which are swallowed to monitor the body's core temperature) in a dangerous effort to determine the human body's "point of no return." Their training begins with simulation exercises in subfreezing "cold rooms," then advances to Denali itself, where spectacular vistas combine with unpredictable weather, underscoring one climber's assertion that the ascent can be "deceptively easy" one day and fatally unforgiving the next. While it focuses on the medical investigation, the program also looks at survival tips, training for extreme climbing (including the proper use of an ice axe to prevent or stop a potentially fatal fall), and emergency procedures for mountain rescue and evacuation by helicopter. One climber experiences frostbite and the onset of altitude sickness, while a failed rescue effort elsewhere on the mountain serves as a sobering reminder that things can go very wrong, very quickly. Still, the overall message of Deadly Ascent is uplifting, indicating that studies like this one have made considerable progress in our understanding of the human body's tolerance for enduring extremes. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)