Rusty's Ascent

January 01, 2019 | 25 min

Everest-obsessed since childhood, Robert “Rusty” Baillie fulfilled his dream of joining an Everest expedition in 1982. He was buried in an avalanche that killed several Sherpas, but dug himself out. After a rest day, the summit attempt resumed, and Rusty cheated death a second time. This portrait of a professional climber asks the big question: Is it worth it?