Everest

In this biography of the world's tallest mountain, we learn about the birth of Everest in an ancient seabed, and why it's still rising.

We find out exactly why high altitude is a problem and what it really does to the body. We meet the mountaineering pioneers who raced to be first to the summit, from Mallory and Irvine's 1922 expedition through to Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who reached the top in 1953. We look at some notable climbs, world records, and some of the darker stories from these adventures.

We also meet the Sherpas, the local mountain people who risk their lives on every expedition, and consider what makes them do it. And, of course, we cover the environmental and economic impact all these expeditions have on the mountain and on Nepal.

We even find out how to climb Everest, from base camp to summit.