Disturbed Podcast Narrator

Add to this the fact that the human body doesn't function well at high altitudes because the air doesn't have as much oxygen. And the higher you go, the less oxygen there is. Take it from me, I went to Everest Base Camp, climbed Kalapatar. At 16,000 feet, every breath feels like a hammer in your head. It is hard. That low oxygen forces climbers to breathe deeper and faster.

The body wants to protect the brain so blood vessels in the head dilate. That keeps everything firing up there, but the expanded vessels increase pressure. That means headaches. Severe ones, as I said. And those are just the basic symptoms of high altitude, called altitude sickness, that pretty much everyone experiences. it can get a lot worse.

The body wants to protect the brain so blood vessels in the head dilate. That keeps everything firing up there, but the expanded vessels increase pressure. That means headaches. Severe ones, as I said. And those are just the basic symptoms of high altitude, called altitude sickness, that pretty much everyone experiences. it can get a lot worse.

The body wants to protect the brain so blood vessels in the head dilate. That keeps everything firing up there, but the expanded vessels increase pressure. That means headaches. Severe ones, as I said. And those are just the basic symptoms of high altitude, called altitude sickness, that pretty much everyone experiences. it can get a lot worse.

Fatigue, dizziness, sleep issues, vomiting, loss of coordination, mental fog, heart palpitations, and all that is considered mild. When altitude sickness is severe, fluid can accumulate around the lungs or lead to swelling of the brain. At that point, you better get to a lower altitude fast or you're dead. So climbing Aconcagua is not a walk in the park.

Fatigue, dizziness, sleep issues, vomiting, loss of coordination, mental fog, heart palpitations, and all that is considered mild. When altitude sickness is severe, fluid can accumulate around the lungs or lead to swelling of the brain. At that point, you better get to a lower altitude fast or you're dead. So climbing Aconcagua is not a walk in the park.

Fatigue, dizziness, sleep issues, vomiting, loss of coordination, mental fog, heart palpitations, and all that is considered mild. When altitude sickness is severe, fluid can accumulate around the lungs or lead to swelling of the brain. At that point, you better get to a lower altitude fast or you're dead. So climbing Aconcagua is not a walk in the park.

Today, climbers mitigate the risks by ascending with GPS trackers and radios. Some bring supplemental oxygen or take altitude sickness medication. And there are helicopter evacuations and rangers on standby for rescue efforts. But in 1973, mountaineers had none of those safety nets. If you needed help, it had to come from the people climbing beside you.

Today, climbers mitigate the risks by ascending with GPS trackers and radios. Some bring supplemental oxygen or take altitude sickness medication. And there are helicopter evacuations and rangers on standby for rescue efforts. But in 1973, mountaineers had none of those safety nets. If you needed help, it had to come from the people climbing beside you.

Today, climbers mitigate the risks by ascending with GPS trackers and radios. Some bring supplemental oxygen or take altitude sickness medication. And there are helicopter evacuations and rangers on standby for rescue efforts. But in 1973, mountaineers had none of those safety nets. If you needed help, it had to come from the people climbing beside you.

By the time the group reaches their highest and final camp at 19,400 feet, they're well acquainted with the risks of their climb. Altitude sickness has already forced three of the eight American climbers back down to lower elevations.

By the time the group reaches their highest and final camp at 19,400 feet, they're well acquainted with the risks of their climb. Altitude sickness has already forced three of the eight American climbers back down to lower elevations.

By the time the group reaches their highest and final camp at 19,400 feet, they're well acquainted with the risks of their climb. Altitude sickness has already forced three of the eight American climbers back down to lower elevations.

The remaining climbers are John Cooper, the NASA engineer, Janet Johnson, a teacher and the only woman in the group, Bill Zeller, a police officer, Arnold McMillan, a farmer, and Jim Petroski, a psychiatrist. They're accompanied by Miguel Alfonso, their guide. It's been a hard journey to get this far, and it does not seem like the hardship fostered any team spirit. Alfonso is highly experienced.

The remaining climbers are John Cooper, the NASA engineer, Janet Johnson, a teacher and the only woman in the group, Bill Zeller, a police officer, Arnold McMillan, a farmer, and Jim Petroski, a psychiatrist. They're accompanied by Miguel Alfonso, their guide. It's been a hard journey to get this far, and it does not seem like the hardship fostered any team spirit. Alfonso is highly experienced.

The remaining climbers are John Cooper, the NASA engineer, Janet Johnson, a teacher and the only woman in the group, Bill Zeller, a police officer, Arnold McMillan, a farmer, and Jim Petroski, a psychiatrist. They're accompanied by Miguel Alfonso, their guide. It's been a hard journey to get this far, and it does not seem like the hardship fostered any team spirit. Alfonso is highly experienced.

He's summited via this difficult Polish route before, but the group doesn't defer to him as the leader. It seems like they treat him more like the hired help, there to give advice or keep his mouth shut when needed. There's grumbling among the ranks too. Hooper complains in his journal that Johnson isn't pulling her weight.

He's summited via this difficult Polish route before, but the group doesn't defer to him as the leader. It seems like they treat him more like the hired help, there to give advice or keep his mouth shut when needed. There's grumbling among the ranks too. Hooper complains in his journal that Johnson isn't pulling her weight.

He's summited via this difficult Polish route before, but the group doesn't defer to him as the leader. It seems like they treat him more like the hired help, there to give advice or keep his mouth shut when needed. There's grumbling among the ranks too. Hooper complains in his journal that Johnson isn't pulling her weight.

To him, it seems like she's there just to get to the summit, and she's happy to let everyone else do the work. But he also cops to carrying less weight than Zeller. The altitude makes everything more difficult. That reporter back in Mendoza wasn't the only one who thought these climbers were only looking out for themselves.