40 Days at Base Camp (2011)

I have watched a lot of programs about Mt. Everest. I am not a climber but the subject has always interested me. I found this to be an excellent documentary following ordinary people trying to reach the summit.

I was led to watch 40 Days at Base Camp by Amazon Prime video, with one of those "Because you watched" this scenarios. This is a low key entry of the genre of Everest mountaineering films. I say low key because this its not follow famous or star mountaineers, and it doesn't rely upon a tragedy or scandal to hold its viewers.

Instead the program follows a few groups of amateur climbers as they pursue their goal of reaching the top of Everest. One of the climbers was making the attempt despite, or perhaps because of, his condition of having an ostomy. A condition that I coincidentally share, so that made it a bit more interesting for me.

The program lasts under an hour, which doesn't seem long enough to present a full, well-rounded picture of the efforts of these climbers, but I felt that they did a great job of covering many issues involved in going for the summit, both from each team's perspective and for several individuals on those teams. It was an interesting documentary even for someone like me who has watched many of these shows.