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The spectacular Frontline documentary on PBS by David Breashears on the 1996 Everest tragedy includes interviews with expedition members and interactive maps of the mountain and the accident. The documentary is a fantastic case study in risk management, judgment and decision making and is highly recommended as a Scouter training tool.
On 10–11 May 1996 eight people caught in a blizzard died on Mount Everest. Over the entire season, 12 people died trying to reach the summit, making for the deadliest day and year prior to the 16 fatalities of the 2014 avalanche and the 18 deaths resulting from avalanches caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.
I don’t see it on Netflix yet, so I sent a request to add that title.
My favorite book on leadership is the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership. It is clear and includes several quick case studies. Every trek leader should have a copy.
I read the first Krakauer book. It was a dark cautionary tale indeed. I will have to wait to see how I am going to adapt the DVD as a training tool (it won’t be available for a while yet.
I am not looking at it as a ‘how to’. Sometimes the most important part of a work of art is the ‘negative’ space in a painting or the poignant moments of silence in a symphony. The Everest story is grim and compelling I think it will catch the Scouts imagination and, if handled properly, will be a memorable example of the dynamics of leadership.
I have not read the Gonzales book, but will look into it.
Greetings,
I’m somewhat familiar with the story from Krakauer’s book and Ed Viesturs’ memoir. I have not seen the Frontline documentary. From what I have read, the story is not particularly pretty, full of what not to do, but not necessarily what to do. How do you plan to use a 2 hour documentary as a training tool? How do you use a total screw-up to show boys what they should be doing? Or is that the point?
Have you read Laurence Gonzalez’ book Deep Survival? How do you think it compares to the Frontline documentary as a teaching tool?
Best regards!