The Everest Obsession

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Reaching The Summit

20240408

20251110 (R4)
20251111 (R4)

Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993.

In this episode, she shares her summit story and hears the experiences of Sir Chris Bonington, Lakpa Rita Sherpa and Margaret Watroba.

The global obsession with Everest, from those who have been to the top.

Ten years since an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on Everest, we hear what it's like to climb to the highest point on Earth.

This was first broadcast in April 2024.

In April 2014, an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on Everest, we hear what it's like to climb to the highest point on Earth.

[LISTEN NOW]

Disaster On The Mountain

20240409

20251111 (R4)
20251112 (R4)

Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993.

She hears how the deadly avalanche unfolded, plus the role sherpas play on Everest, and the risks they have to take.

Sound design: Craig Boardman

'I heard the rumble of the avalanche. This one just felt different.'

As climbers get ready to summit Everest in April 2014, an avalanche caused by ice fall buries sherpas above Base Camp.

This programme was first broadcast in April 2024.

[LISTEN NOW]

A Daring Mountain Rescue

20240410

20251112 (R4)
20251113 (R4)

Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993.

We hear about a high altitude rescue and how climbing the mountain has become commercialised, including Sir Chris Bonington's early experiences on Everest.

Sound design: Craig Boardman

A high-altitude helicopter rescue begins, after an avalanche above Everest Base Camp.

A high-altitude helicopter rescue begins, after an avalanche above Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Sherpas were carrying loads through the ice fall when the disaster struck.

This was first broadcast in April 2024.

[LISTEN NOW]

Bringing The Bodies Home

20240411

20251113 (R4)
20251114 (R4)

Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993.

Lakpa Rita Sherpa explains how he took the bodies of his colleagues home to their families, after they were killed in the avalanche. The anger of sherpas is heard around the world, as Everest is effectively closed to commercial climbers.

Sound design: Craig Boardman

Grief turns to anger in the sherpa community, after a deadly avalanche.

The moving moment that bodies of the sherpas are returned home to their families. Surviving sherpas demand better working conditions and effectively go on strike.

This was first broadcast in April 2024.

[LISTEN NOW]

05 LAST

The Future Of Climbing Everest

20240412

20251114 (R4)
20251115 (R4)

Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993.

We hear what draws people to climb Everest now and different ideas about adventure from guests including Sir Chris Bonington, as well as concerns about climate change and overcrowding.

Sound design: Craig Boardman

Is Everest still an adventure?

We hear why people still climb to the highest point on Earth and whether it is still one of the greatest adventures

This was first broadcast in 2024.

[LISTEN NOW]

OMNI

20240601

Is a global obsession with Everest creating unnecessary risk for the people who work there? On 18 April 2014, an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on the mountain. They were picking their way through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall carrying heavy equipment for climbing companies. The tragedy shone a spotlight on the commercial side of the mountain, where hundreds attempt the summit each year, supported by sherpas. Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993. In this series, she explores how climbing Everest has changed, creating both opportunities and challenges.

Sound design: Craig Boardman

A deadly avalanche shines a spotlight on the global obsession with Everest

Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993, explores how climbing Everest has changed, creating both opportunities and challenges.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Reaching The Summit	20240408	20251110 (R4) 20251111 (R4)	Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993. In this episode, she shares her summit story and hears the experiences of Sir Chris Bonington, Lakpa Rita Sherpa and Margaret Watroba. The global obsession with Everest, from those who have been to the top. Ten years since an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on Everest, we hear what it's like to climb to the highest point on Earth. This was first broadcast in April 2024. In April 2014, an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on Everest, we hear what it's like to climb to the highest point on Earth. [LISTEN NOW]
02	Disaster On The Mountain	20240409	20251111 (R4) 20251112 (R4)	Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993. She hears how the deadly avalanche unfolded, plus the role sherpas play on Everest, and the risks they have to take. Sound design: Craig Boardman 'I heard the rumble of the avalanche. This one just felt different.' As climbers get ready to summit Everest in April 2014, an avalanche caused by ice fall buries sherpas above Base Camp. This programme was first broadcast in April 2024. [LISTEN NOW]
03	A Daring Mountain Rescue	20240410	20251112 (R4) 20251113 (R4)	Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993. We hear about a high altitude rescue and how climbing the mountain has become commercialised, including Sir Chris Bonington's early experiences on Everest. Sound design: Craig Boardman A high-altitude helicopter rescue begins, after an avalanche above Everest Base Camp. A high-altitude helicopter rescue begins, after an avalanche above Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Sherpas were carrying loads through the ice fall when the disaster struck. This was first broadcast in April 2024. [LISTEN NOW]
04	Bringing The Bodies Home	20240411	20251113 (R4) 20251114 (R4)	Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993. Lakpa Rita Sherpa explains how he took the bodies of his colleagues home to their families, after they were killed in the avalanche. The anger of sherpas is heard around the world, as Everest is effectively closed to commercial climbers. Sound design: Craig Boardman Grief turns to anger in the sherpa community, after a deadly avalanche. The moving moment that bodies of the sherpas are returned home to their families. Surviving sherpas demand better working conditions and effectively go on strike. This was first broadcast in April 2024. [LISTEN NOW]
05 LAST	The Future Of Climbing Everest	20240412	20251114 (R4) 20251115 (R4)	Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit in 1993. We hear what draws people to climb Everest now and different ideas about adventure from guests including Sir Chris Bonington, as well as concerns about climate change and overcrowding. Sound design: Craig Boardman Is Everest still an adventure? We hear why people still climb to the highest point on Earth and whether it is still one of the greatest adventures This was first broadcast in 2024. [LISTEN NOW]
OMNI		20240601		Is a global obsession with Everest creating unnecessary risk for the people who work there? On 18 April 2014, an avalanche killed 16 sherpas on the mountain. They were picking their way through the dangerous Khumbu Icefall carrying heavy equipment for climbing companies. The tragedy shone a spotlight on the commercial side of the mountain, where hundreds attempt the summit each year, supported by sherpas. Rebecca Stephens became the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993. In this series, she explores how climbing Everest has changed, creating both opportunities and challenges. Sound design: Craig Boardman A deadly avalanche shines a spotlight on the global obsession with Everest Rebecca Stephens, the first British woman to reach the summit of Everest in 1993, explores how climbing Everest has changed, creating both opportunities and challenges.