The Right Decision? - Part 1

In May 1985 two climbers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, left their base camp by a lake and started climbing the north face of a mountain called Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. This climb was extremely dangerous but the two men were really experienced climbers and physically fit. On Day 1, amazingly, the weather was very good and the climb began well. At night they made a snow cave and slept on the side of the mountain. Fortunately, three days later, after some very difficult climbing and bad weather, the two men finally stood at the summit. Unfortunately, the weather was getting worse so they didn’t stay long. As they were going down a mountain ridge, suddenly, a disaster took place. Sadly, Simpson fell and broke his knee. Quickly, Yates tied a rope to himself and then to his friend. He began lowering Simpson down the mountain and, for hours and hours; Yates helped Simpson get down the mountain. They were getting close to the glacier at the bottom of the mountain but suddenly Simpson slipped. This time he went over the edge of a cliff. He was hanging in mid-air. Simpson shouted up to Yates, but the wind was blowing loudly and naturally, Yates couldn’t hear him.

Yates didn’t know what was happening below. He waited for an hour but the rope was too heavy...

*to be continued...