Analysis of the Everest Film - Movie Review Example

Case Study of the “Everest” Film This essay is based on the Everest Film narrated by Liam Neeson in 1998. The documentary film features a team of three climbers who climbs the Everest Mountain in Nepal. Ed Viesturs, Araceli Segarra, and David Breasears are members of the expedition team. There descriptions of the training required in climbing Mt. Everest aids in the discussion of fourteen questions. Question 1 As a guide in an expedition team looking forward to climb Mt. Everest, I would use a certain criteria for selecting the potential participants. First, I would consider whether the participants are willing to pay for guided expedition, pay for their own expedition or join an expedition team for logistics reasons only. In this case, I would select those willing to climb through a fully guided expedition team. Secondly, the potential participants should have similar goals, for example, reaching the summit of the mountain. Then, I would select the physically fit people in mountain climbing in terms of aerobic conditioning and stamina. The next consideration would involve checking the past experiences of the willing participants in mountain climbing. Those potential climbers should have basic training in mountaineering and have enough experience in extreme attitudes, expedition life and understand how their bodies perform when climbing mountains (Hornbein and Doug). Question 2 In that list of potential participants, two wealthy candidates are very determined to participate in mountain climbing for their first time. I would consider the motivations behind their need to climb before selecting them. Mostly, they would have two competing motivations, which include personal challenge and publicity (Hornbein and Doug 45). The personal challenge comes with the belief that because you have money, you can easily manipulate the expeditions and successfully climb the mountain. First time climbers often decide to participate due to publicity and prestigious reasons. In this case, therefore, I would not select them because the wealthy climbers can be disastrous up there where teamwork is needed for success. I cannot select them because they believe in “independent” expeditions where you can, as well, rely on local logistics and successfully reach the summit. I believe in a fully guided expedition and thus other expeditions are excluded especially when dealing with risky tasks of mountaineering. Question 3 I would charge each potential participant $30K owing to the fact that the expedition team consists of 7 climbers including the guide. The individual cost is higher than the shared cost and thus for this expedition I would opt for the shared price so as to cover my own costs. The saved money would help me offset my training and purchase of equipment. The amount charged has been decided by considering certain costs. They include; fees paid by climbers, visa, liaison officer, climbing permit, park fee, fixed rope, insurance costs, and so on. In addition, the gear, tents, food and route management costs are included in the list. The estimated cost of the required permits and documents will be $13K for 6 persons. When the food, tents and gear costs are included, for a group of seven; we need $30K for the guided expedition (Hornbein and Doug 47). Question 4 The “Everest” film depicts the challenges faced during climbing, which include; thundering avalanches, fierce storms and thin misty air that limits breathing. In addition, the moving glacier limits movement of the climbers at the great heights of a mountain. For example, according to the film, eight people died after they were struck by a storm in 1996 Everest disaster. The low temperatures and rugged landscapes also pose a great threat to the climbers. Usually, it is advisable and indeed a requirement for all climbers to have enough experience in mountaineering. Otherwise, they can perish in their attempts to reach the summits of a mountain. Other than the natural disasters, organizational failure is also a challenge in mountaineering. Since climbers operate in guided expedition teams, there can breakdowns in communication, misunderstandings and other team conflicts. The 1996 Everest disaster is believed to have happened due to team work failure particularly when conditions got worse at the top of Mt. Everest (Hornbein and Doug 49). Question 5 There is need to consider the weather conditions before setting off the journey every day. Weather forecasting from the central stations would help in analysing the weather conditions up the mountain. For example, on a cloudy or foggy day, there should be little or no movements. Other than the weather conditions, it is important to consider the health of the climbers. Some could have breathing problems or aching muscles that would limit their progress to the next level on the mountain (Hornbein and Doug 50). The fixed ropes should be installed properly on the sides of the mountain landscapes. Also, it is advisable to check the performance of the gas masks and cylinders, as well as, the effectiveness of the tents in protecting the climbers from the adverse weather conditions. Question 6 It is recommended that the team members stay together so as to ease coordination and management by the expedition guides. The guides/leaders would be able to direct the climbers when they are in a group, unlike, when they are scattered. It makes more sense to have a cohesive group in such harsh environments so that in case of accidents rescuers can be alerted immediately. However, when the conditions get worse at some point there should be allowance of separation amongst the members. Such considerations are there in order to avoid directive leadership that led the 1996 disaster on Mt. Everest (Hornbein and Doug 52). For example, the ever-moving glaciers can make a climber deviate the guide’s orders to save his life. At some points, the guides cannot reach out to all the climbers and hence the mountaineers can move away as far as they are saving their lives. Question 7 The expedition team need to make decisions when approached with complex situations, such as falling avalanches and foggy conditions. Also, they should make decision on whether to progress on with the journey to higher peaks of the mountain. Decisions concerning mechanical failure or tents, communication gadgets or even the fixed ropes are also necessary in mountaineering. The expedition guides should consider whether all the climbers can adapt the harsh conditions before moving on (Hornbein and Doug 53). Those that are challenged should be bailed out, for example, with heavy jackets, supplemental oxygen cylinders, food, gears, and so on. Based on the weather forecast conditions, the guides should make firm decisions that promote the welfare of each climber. The climbers can make decisions on how to move on in case there are mechanical failures of the fixed ropes, oxygen cylinders or camp tents in the absence of the guides. Question 8 Usually, in mountain climbing the intermingling of the expedition teams lead to conflicts over certain issues, for example, the routes to follow up on the mountain. As a result, the organization of the team breaks down for a while and thus posing a danger to the climbers. In situations where we disagree on certain issues, I would an emotional appeal approach in our argument so as to get valid conclusion. This can be achieved by listening to the views of the arguing parties and appealing to them to consider my arguments. In this way, we can get a solution within a short period (Hornbein and Doug 56). For example, an understanding of the complexity of situations up the mountain would lead to conflicts among the guides. In such a scenario, it is important to present facts that promote the safety of the climbers instead of arguing to establish your position in the team. Question 9 One of the most important goals of the expedition team is learning and development. The team members should learn how to approach challenging situations even without the help of the guides. This includes climbing with ropes and skating on glacier. Development comes in when the team want to expand their knowledge and experiences in mountain climbing (Hornbein and Doug 57). For example, by using little or no supplemental oxygen when climbing like Ed Viesturs of the “Everest” film. Another significant team goal is to reach the targeted heights. Of course, every climber wants to reach that peak point and thus it becomes a common objective in the expedition team. Helping each other in times of danger is a potential team goal. Climbers would not expect orders from their guides in case one of their fellows is sliding back on the rugged landscapes. Question 10 The individual members of the expedition might have the goal to reach the summit so that they feel satisfied. The guides, as well, will have the same goal even when they are directing others. The climbers would not have the dream to reach the peak of the mountain, but could also have other motives, for example, having adventurous experience, seeking the glacier, the mountain vegetation and more. Similarly, the guides would be coordinating the team members so as to have an experience in harsh environments. As stated earlier, the participants could have many motives when climbing the mountain, for example, to gain experience or become popular. The expedition guides are most likely to have such motives in their attempt to enhance their experience in mountain climbing (Hornbein and Doug 59). Question 11 In mountain climbing, the team goals are more important than the individual goals since not everyone can get the ultimate satisfaction. The participants are directed by their guides, but, do not follow their own decisions. In addition, mountain climbing is governed by the expedition guides, unlike in other leisure activities, such as travelling, where you can make your own decisions. The team goals are aimed at achieving the objectives of each individual participant and thus are very important (Hornbein and Doug 60). Question 12 Sometimes the decision making process may fail when climbing the mountain. Also, the communication among the team members through the phone, face-to-face or email may fail at some point on the mountain. Such failures may reduce the morale of the climbers in achieving the team goals (Hornbein and Doug 61). As a result, they will feel dissatisfied and exhausted in the harsh environments. In complex situations, for example, during fierce storms and falling of avalanches, failure in decision making may lead to death or injuries. Question 13 As an expedition guide, you can experience problems when dealing with climbers who have individual narcissism disorders. These people grow up feeling superior may be due to wealthy or power granted to their family members. As a result, they develop strong personalities, which make them superior over the others. That disorder is a major cognitive issue that can affect your decisions as a guide when you are giving directions. Also, some people may develop negative social cultural behaviours related to racism and ethnicity. Such issues may affect you decisions since you want to satisfy the needs of each member (Hornbein and Doug 66). Question 14 Directive leadership approach in expedition teams is believed to limit the adaptability of the individual members in the mountainous environments. For example, the 1996 Everest Disaster is connected to directive leadership and teamwork failure, which led to the death of eight climbers (Hornbein and Doug 65). The complex weather patterns and team dynamics are classified as the contributing factors to expedition team work failure. In situations whereby the individuals have not adapted to the environments there is a likelihood of accidents in case they are forced to adapt. Democratic leadership seems to be the solution to this problem. However, it can lead to breakdown of the team making it hard for guides to give directions. Works Cited Hornbein, Thomas F and Doug, Scott. Everest: The West Ridge. Seattle, WA: The Mountaineers, 2002. Print. Read More