Inside the high-stakes, death-defying world of scaling Mt. Everest

In April, 2013, a group of Sherpas, the iconic Nepalese mountain guides, hung off the side of the mountain they call Sagarmatha, installing 3,000 feet of the 12 miles of fixed ropes added to Everest each year to aid inexperienced climbers. 

Because it was dangerous work, the Sherpas carried hundreds of pounds of rope, ice screws and carabiners — most Western climbers took a rest day so the experienced crew could complete their task in relative safety.

Three experienced Europeans didn’t rest though, and their climbing eventually led to a shower of snow and ice landing on the rope workers below. 

The Sherpas angrily converged on the Europeans, the insults flying.

Then a European climber foolishly called one Sherpa a “machikne,” a severe slight in Nepali referring to a person who enjoys sexual congress with his mother.

The Sherpas packed up and silently went down the mountain, leaving the job unfinished.