"Meru" is an amazing documentary about the obsession of a world-class climber named Conrad Anker, and it tells the story of the 1999 avalanche that killed his friend and partner Alex Lowe. That accident also took the life of a young climber named David Bridges. Now, 16 years later, the bodies of the two climbers have been discovered. In this week's story, a former mountaineer returns to the Himalayas for one last climb...to bury his long lost friend. See photos below.
Note: This story contains explicit language.
For more information on Meru: Amazon, iTunes
Documentary clips in today's intro:
When We Were Kings (1996) - Leon Gast's one-two punch of a movie about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" between champion George Foreman and underdog challenger Muhammad Ali.
The Fog of War (2003) - Errol Morris points his "Interrotron" at Robert McNamara for a view of American history through the eyes of one of the architects of the Vietnam War. (Amazon, iTunes)
Jesus Camp (2006) - The title says it all! (Amazon, iTunes, Netflix)
Paris is Burning (1990) - The seminal document of New York's drag scene in the 1980's. Tyra Banks would be nothing without these ladies! (Amazon, Netflix)
Guests: Joel Koury, a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney; former high altitude mountaineer.
Pictures below courtesy of Joel Koury. Click to enlarge images.
Joel Koury in Tibet
Setting out on the first day on Shishapangma
Hiking to the ABC
Hiking to the ABC
The Advanced Base Camp
The plateau between the ABC and the glacier
The plateau between the ABC and the glacier
The monument built by the group for Alex and David
The monument and the group
Building the funeral pyre