STACK August 2016 Issue 142

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Canberra-born Jennifer Peedom’s relationship with
Everest began when she discovered that her body
operated well at altitudes whilst trekking with a friend.
She has since worked as high altitude director on the
Discovery Channel series Everest: Beyond the Limit (2006),
as well as directing the documentary feature Miracle on
Everest (2008), and now Sherpa (2015).
“It takes years to understand what it is to work at high
altitude and develop systems and processes – what kind
of gloves to wear and how you carry the camera while
climbing,” she explains. “Then there is the extra weight;
relatively, everything at high altitude weighs about ten
times what it would at sea level. It’s got to be one of the
toughest jobs out there.”
She also notes that digital and GoPro cameras have
had a significant impact on high altitude filmmaking,
particularly during the making of Sherpa.
“GoPro has had a remarkable effect, particularly now
that it’s high resolution. The intimacy it gives you when
climbing through the Icefall – you can hear them breathing
and praying mantras. I’m a big fan what those cameras
can bring. They give you better access, and we put them
everywhere, like on helicopter skids. They can be tricky,
but when you get it right, it can be incredibly effective.”
contribution to the multi-million
dollar Everest industry was to
be the subject of Peedom’s
documentary feature Sherpa,
before disaster struck on April 18,
2014, when an avalanche claimed
the lives of 16 guides.
“It was a very difficult time
emotionally for everybody involved,”
S herpas, the resilient
Nepalese ethnic group
with a strong spiritual
connection to Everest, make a
living as guides on mountaineering
expeditions, carrying supplies from
Base Camp to higher altitudes, and
crossing the treacherous Khumbu
Icefall. Some, like Phurba Tashi,
have climbed the mountain a record
21 times.
“’Sherpa’ has become
synonymous with a job description,”
says Jennifer Peedom, “and
because they’ve become famous
for being so good at it, people think
it’s just a name for somebody who
carries a bag up a hill.”
The community’s crucial –
and largely unacknowledged –
Peedom recalls. “It was a
really tough couple of weeks
just to keep filming when you don’t
know what the outcome is.”
However, the director says that
the tragedy didn’t drastically alter
the film she originally set out to
make, which sought to highlight the
risks the Sherpas take.
“This thing happened as a direct
Westerners are recognised for their climbing achievements in the
Himalayas, but the unsung heroes of Everest go unnoticed. Jennifer
Peedom’s remarkable documentary feature Sherpa set out to change
that – and then tragedy struck. Words: Scott Hocking
TROUBLE ON
EVEREST
TOP SHOT
result of the Sherpas taking these
risks,” she says, “so what it meant
was a lot more conflict, which
equates to a lot more drama.
“There was a lot of uncertainty.
We didn’t know if the expedition
was going to continue or not, nor
did I have a strong feeling whether
that would be good or bad for the
film. I just knew we had to keep
observing what was unfolding, and
this was probably the story.
“Your documentary instinct
needs to kick in and follow the story
and what it now is, which is the
Sherpas rising up for the first time
ever and saying, ‘enough is enough’.
“At the time it was unclear as
to whether we had a film any
more,” she continues. “Universal
was threatening to pull the plug,
because it became clear they
wanted an adventure film that went
all the way to the summit. We had
to rewrite the treatment and re-
pitch the film to them.”
The events depicted in Sherpa
became a catalyst for change in
the Everest-climbing industry,
bringing long overdue recognition
of the Sherpas’ invaluable
involvement.
“It was a real line in the
sand because it made the
Sherpas realise that they
had more power than
they thought they had,"
explains Peedom. "By
standing up and giving up
a season’s income, they will
never be taken for granted again.
“So the power dynamic has
shifted and everybody has to be a
little more careful about what they
do and say around the Sherpas,”
she adds. “It’s about respect and
acknowledgement – that’s a huge
part of it.”
...people think it’s
just a name for
somebody who
carries a bag
up a hill
• Sherpa
is out
Aug 4
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