40 days at basecamp

"To know a people, you must spend 40 days with them." - Arabic proverb

At 18,000 feet above sea level and over the course of 40 days, the length of an average climbing season every Spring, documentary filmmaker Dianne Whelan immersed herself in the challenging and captivating world of base camp at Mt. Everest. With award-winning spectacular footage of the Himalaya as a backdrop, 40 Days at Base Camp is an intriguing and intimate portrayal of three climbing teams and their journey to the world's highest peak. This feature-length documentary takes viewers through an entire climbing season, from the birth of base camp to its deconstruction with stories of climbers being woven with daily life there, the history of the mountain and the devastating effect of climate change on the ecology of the area. 40 Days at Base Camp provides a modern take on the transformation of Mt. Everest from what was once a revered, sacred space to the business enterprise it has become. When we commercialize the sacred, does it lose its meaning?