K2 and the Invisible Footmen | Documentary
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- Опубліковано 12 січ 2020
- Located on the border between Pakistan and China, K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth. For many climbers, it is an even greater prize than Everest, with limited routes, a steeper ascent, and a harder push to its summit. Nicknamed the 'Savage Mountain,' K2's peak juts unprotected into the atmosphere, regularly exposing climbers and porters to life-threatening weather conditions.
Despite being paid at rates far below those received by international expedition leaders, porters provide critical supplies to expedition base camps or take on higher-altitude tasks in support of ascending climbers. K2 porters do some of the most difficult and dangerous work and these efforts make them worthy of recognition as the true heroes of mountaineering.
🎥 Director/Producer: Iara Lee -
Cinematography/Editing: Jawad Sharif
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yes i am porter myself and i have experienced everything .. and its a sad fact that someone who makes a 30 seconds video on tiktok makes more money than us ..and thanks for putting this image of mountain expeditions in prospective . for the expeditions to Nanga Parbat and other 8000,s do contact me ...Welcome to Pakistan
Any person who used the services of these men, then paid them $20 in total should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.
These 'climbers' have no shame or concern for anybody else, even their own climbing buddies. A very solitary and lonely death from oxygen starvation beckons...
@@richardhelliwell1210 Good
🙏
My government should be more ashamed, took 5000$ from climbers but none of it is spent on my countries citizens who put there life on the line for foreigners.As the guy @ 4:24 said helpless people have no choice.
Injustice with Pakistani porters 😢they are not begging but right
When I was a child the traffic was really backed up and I huffed and puffed about it. My daddy said "Instead of being upset about waiting in traffic be grateful that you aren't the reason for the traffic" Now as an adult I sit in traffic patiently and hope the people ahead in the wreck are okay.
As I watch this video it humbles me like my daddy all those years ago. When I'm upset that my order was wrong, or the store was out of what I needed, next time I should give thanks that I have the privilege just to have those opportunities.
A humble heart can give many gifts.
Thank you dad for your love and amazing perspective on life you left me. I hope I make you proud. I live in the light you left behind everyday❤
Very late, but great words
The contrast between the privileged and underprivileged is shown so beautifully....Watching this from neighbouring country India 🇮🇳, I can totally relate to this.... Sometimes it's not just westerners but even our own countrymen born in privileged families exploit the underprivileged like this....
Problems in these part of the world is the same.... Be it India or Pakistan...
This is so beautiful. Mountaineers get so much recognition but no one talks about the people who actually carry them to the summit. Thank you for showing us this side of mountaineering.
Indeed
You are more beautiful than this Mountains
ALL the real work is done by the Footmen and the Sherpas ...These over priviliged ....rich Europeans n Americans go to these 8000+ Meter mountains and its like they are on a 5 star ALL expenses paid holiday ....Everything is done for them...ALL their Food ..Water ..Tents ....CAMPS ....even THEIR LINES ....the Actual ROPES they use to - WALK UP the mountains are placed there by the High Altitude Footmen ....This is NOT mountaineering .... This is a HOLIDAY - So Fake .....Just a Photo Op for these people - They get to the summit and take a pic to SHOW OFF ....Respect to the Footmen and Porters .....Love n Peace to Pakistan .....
Seems like a trend of westerners and White Colonists. They like to take credit for just about anything and use poor or colored people for labor, who are the “inferior” race. Dont forget this.
I wouldn't say they "carry" them to the summit. Assist would be more accurate. Sherpas, porters and all other support staff definitely should get more recognition, but nobody is getting carried to the summit.
This is the best documentry of K2 I’ve seen and I’m so depressed. I’m from Pakistan and it feels so sad to see this side of the story which is the actual face. I just hope people who reach there for K2 Summit think about before any celebrations because these people pay a lot. One of the porter was very right “there is no difference between a donkey and us” 😔.
😢
The porters said themselves that they're illiterate. Maybe the Pakistani government should do something about it.
The government will refuse. Once these gentlemen become educated they can seek better jobs and the permit revenue will end. The government wants the permit and other revenue these K2 climbers bring to the area.
We may, allow me that, think of the silent never ending suffering of the donkeys.
The poverty of their caregivers - not to say "owners") make life for them a: hell.
Doesn’t matter if you’re at 8000m above sea level ,
If you can’t feel their pain you’re below than level of humanity !
I am so glad this documentary shows the other side of mountaineering. Very sad reality for the porters.
sad reality? if it wasn't for the mountaineers, they would have nothing. absolutely nothing. sure, it's a shame that they're in a situation where it's actually their only option. it's even worse when people don't pay them fairly. but still, climbers are a god-send for them. so, altough I do have sympathy, let's not forget that this is what keeps them alive, no matter the conditions.
@@themightypotato3857 You’re like “ well, if they don’t know any better,. They don’t know what they’re missing.“ So let’s just exploit everything we possibly can. “These people Are accustomed to living hand to mouth day to day. They don’t know any better. So we’re doing them a favor…?? Forgive me, I’ve had a few glasses of wine. So this is what I’m saying. It’s just pisses me the fuck off that people like you think that people capitalism capitalists I think that these people are only surviving because wealthy people employe them paying them the very least possible amount they can get away with paying. Slave wages why not pay people what they’re worth? Do you want to carry that shit up a fucking mountain and Mountaineer on your own? Fuck no you don’t but you’re gonna pay somebody pittance to do it for you so you can go home and get back on your yacht and get in your hot tub and live a comfortable life while you pay somebody to carry backpacks for you?
Sorry man, I got a quit reading comments on things like this when I’m drinking. But still, fuck.
I couldn't agree more they think 15-20$ is a good pay. My God people I could not even.pack a quarter what they pack. Pay them 1-200$ a day.
It frusrates the hell out of me when people say they are good with that.
Make their year treat them decent and with respect.
@@ajp4860 my life...comfortable? i would rather walk up that mountain 100 times than to continue my existence for even a minute. apart from that, what you're doing is not responding to what i wrote but projecting. you didn't read at all what I said. I said I wish they had a choice and I also said that I wished some of the lower level porters were better paid. that still doesn't change the fact that without it, they would have nothing. whether you like it or not doesn't really make a difference here. if you're so passionate, go and do something about it. additionally, 2 points. first one: high level porters (the ones that summit) make a huge amount of money for the standards there. between 5 to 8k plus. 2: they could change their own situation tomorrow if they organised and protested the low pay. as long as they don't do that they shouldn't expect a change. to end, an everest expedition costs between 30k and 160k. make it even more expensive and even these rich people can't afford it anymore.
This Documentary is one of the biggest shocks of reality I got. And is the best mountain climbing documentary I have seen. I have never experienced injustice in such a gut wrenching way through a screen. May the life change for better for these men.
Have you not seen women being porters too, carrying up rich folks stuff?
no
@@tsunamis82
One of the most depressing phrases in this movie is when a porter says that he doesn't even get enough food. The people who do these climbs have more than enough money to pay these porters well.
I agree❤️
In their long trek to get to Basecamp. They have to feed themselves inbetween villages and sleep in inn's or some type of accommodation. They have expenses as well and bring the extra money for their families. The middlemen are the ones taking the big cuts from the climbers. These porters needs a decent tip to provide a good income at the end of the season. So, climbers tip them well!
This is bs, no one works for free or a deficit... it's just a con game period... it's like I work for a company that pays piece rate. I made more 20 years ago than I do today and they tell me that they fund my piece rate as if I don't do enough work to qualify for my pay.. basically insinuating that they are losing money to pay me.. where do they do charity like that at? They don't and these guys are playing us too..
@@chuckdeuces911 dude next time try english and someone might understand what you are on about
During my several trips to Pakistan I had the opportunity to spend time with the porters in their villages around Skardu. Their hospitality with what little they have speaks to the generous hearts they have. I met a young orphan boy (14 maybe) by Urdukhas carrying 25kg or more. He was an orphan and a single breadwinner for his 3 sisters. He got sick and had to turn back to Askole. He was devastated to not be able to go to Concordia and make the extra money he needed. We all helped put some money in the pot and helped him out. The Sardar (head porter) got upset as he didn’t get the cut. This is just one of many stories encountered there!
I was suspecting that their low pay is not only because of westeners pay way too little. There is always a guy trying to be a middle man.
@@RaineriRi I was thinking that too.
@@RaineriRi just came to know this.. sad
I can barely lift 25 kilos of coal, {A few metres above sea level} and stagger with it through the house {Woman} To carry 25 kg on one's back in places where oxygen does not load so well into the lungs, as a physically immature young man...That's criminal.
Blessings and thank you …. and to those who helped this young teen out. It would have meant a lot to him, your kindness would have meant the difference whether or not he and his sisters could put food in their tummies…thank you, thank you…thankyou!🙏🙏
Finally celebrating the true heroes and mountaineers that make it possible for anyone to even get to the mountain let alone getting onto the mountain.
What a great documentary, and so glad so see the comments addressing the same issue about the low wages in a very respectful way. I was honestly going to sh*!t on the climbers, but instead I hope more of them will watch this documentary and pay them at least $100 for carrying so much unnecessary stuff...just take the basics!! Years ago I heard about porters carrying up tables and chairs so that the climbers can have a decent dinner time - what a shame!! I hope the government in Pakistan and Nepal make these documentaries a requirement to watch even before they are able to get a permit - but those in government are crooks, so the responsibility lays on the climbers - STOP being cheap!!! And Bravo for the Italians for giving back!! 👏👏
Tommorow when I wake up to my 'work from home' job I hope I can remember these people and stop complaining every next minute of the day...
After watching this my heart became sad, walking with sandals in rocky track is very difficult. I am from Abbottabad Pakistan and I have now plan to go there and help these porters as much as I can.
Greetings,
Hope all is well
Just wondering if you were able to help
Help how?
I went to K2 Basecamp few days ago too. Just to get the feeling of having 25 kg on the back I portered for one part of the trek too. Trust me you have to put effort to take every single footstep. Their backs start hurting and most of them have health problems by the age of 50.
I felt really bad about the porters and I'm glad to watch this that people are trying to raise awareness about this important issue.
Oh yeah, lip service....
"I felt really bad about the porters and I'm glad to watch this that people are trying to raise awareness about this important issue"
the important issue of bringing them money that they otherwise wouldnt have?
@@Dan-gd2rk You're saying we should'nt pay them what we would EASILY demand ourselves for doing such a painful, and back breaking job? You know that labor and safety laws in the west exist for a reason right? Yet we happily want to pay much less to people on the other side of the planet, some pathetic amount, cause they should just be happy and grateful? The fucking sense of entitlement probably just goes flying over your head huh?
This documentary made me think less of the achievements of so-called alpinists/mountaineers. Let's just be honest, these men did all the work many times already.
k2 isn't easy at all even with porters. Think less of the everest summits but not K2
Real alpinists don't need mountain guiding companies and their armies of Sherpas. They have been climbing the highest mountains in the world under their own power for many decades now. At most they need porters and pack animals to get supplies to the foot of the mountains, but they take it from there.
There is no "achievement" in climbing a mountain. There is only another checkmark in a list concerning only one individual. No second human being can take anything from that, there is nothing to be learned for anyone else, no useful common knowledge is expanded except for the next big ego how maybe not to die when "achieving" his personal mark on his list. It's an exercise in futility bar none.
@@fiedel I'm not sure exactly what you're saying here, but no achievement in climbing a mountain? If you've been on any considerable hikes you would know that the feeling of being the highest of anyone in that area all done by the power of your legs is an amazing feeling. That's what these people do it for, it's a human instinct to want to be high up looking down at the world. Lots of animals do it. It's not an ego thing for most people. They have a goal, and the sherpa's are what can help them complete it. So they use them, that's how the world works with driven people.
@@irwinscott It's indeed a human instinct to be praised for an extraordinary feat, yet in the (evolutionary) past it almost universally had to be something that had at least the tiniest of benefits for the collective. But there is nothing to gather at those peaks, no magic stone, no rare flower, no new insight, no new habitat discovered. There is no lesson to take away for anyone else, except "if you have enough dough to pay the sherpas and the pakistan government, they'll help you move your ass up there and maybe you don't even die". Only because enough people have to luxury to care about someone going there has this become a thing. It is true that climbing a peak is viewed and accepted as an "achievement", but it is an entirely artificial one, one that only counts because enough people think it counts.
As much as I love the mountains I cannot for the life of me understand how one human being is quite happy to give another human being 40-50 kilo of their stuff to carry and be ok with that
have you ever heard this little thing called money?
😅
Its their job? Its not like anyone is forcing them to do it.
Sherpas get paid about 5-6 years worth of the average Nepalese salary in one trip up Everest. And most sherpas don’t even have to ascend past camp 2.
I'd give you 100kg of my stuff to carry and sleep like a baby
Some of these porters have a great sense of humour 👌. Now i know going go climb K2 is costly and paying the porters more increases that cost. But let's not forget that the hardest job of the whole expedition is done by porters and sherpas. So paying them a lot more then they do is a must. If you can't afford that cost then you don't climb and it's that simple.
This is the best K2/high altitude movie I have seen! I always thought that NO climber ever summited without the help of, let’s be honest, modern slaves. Imagining how much is spent on flight, material etc., and then hearing what they earn, makes my heart ache. Looking at their shoes, teeth, equipment, the load they carry, how can anyone say they climbed these mountains. They were carried, figuratively, most of the way... Installing the lines so the rich climbers can pull themselves up is the real feat imho.
I definitely don’t want to diminish the feat of any person who even attempts these summits (which I couldn’t even think of accomplishing), still, the real heroes of climbing are the porters and sherpas.
Thanks for giving them the credit they deserve, great movie!!!
PS one little criticism, there are so many cuts and short impressions, at some times I had to look away. Maybe half the motives or even less would have been nice, it seemed like they desperately wanted to use all the good material they filmed. Understandable, yet in my amateur view not to a good result. That being said, kudos and thanx for showing a hidden world which deserves to be seen in a great documentary!!
You have almost 💯 echoed my thoughts after watching he film. Our world is full of inequality and injustice. There is a system which keeps these people illiterate and suffer for generations. I believe only quality education of children in need can remove the pain of humanity. Hence www.dfswo.com our charity is trying to provide education to destitute children of far flung villages
I second your views fully..they are labourers who are behind any jaint instalation and behind any challenging expidition. This movie has really wrenched my heart that how miserable and difficult a porter's life is, yet the fame goes to the rich climbers only, while these human machines have been consigned to the perils of the savage nature. We as world community must acknowledge their incredible courage and efforts by raising their standards of live, fully backed by the guidelines of the International Labour Organization ILO through national level legislation. They at least deserve to be given the status of "worker" with all legal benefits and compensations of 'hazardous work' life safety benifits..That would be at least, a first drop of hope to raise the standard of living for their generations to come!!!
Their is definitely a hierarchy visible here, and in the world at large. Non human, animals are the actual modern day slaves. I understand most people don’t care about non human animals, but let’s be real. Donkeys have lives too, and they suffer just like we suffer. Life isn’t fair, that is for sure.
Sure there is a major injustice, but you need to think here.
The average climb for just the mountain, excluding the porters is about 60,000$
If you pay 50$ a day for each porter, and there's plus or minus 12 porters supporting you for 16 ish days, you're dishing out 10,000$ on porters alone, and you must pay them for the walk back. This is an 80,000$ investment few can afford, and most of the time its something people *can't* afford. There must be budget cuts in certain places and unfortunately this is where the cuts are made if they are made somewhere else your body will remain on the mountain.
Eric Bishop, interesting figures! I would say 50 $ a day is a good amount for the porters of Baltistan but the real issue is the deduction by middle men. No matter how many dollars you can dish out, without quality education of the children and communities nothing is gonna change
The porters are the legends and heroes of all expeditions. Without the porters expeditions would just sit in neutral, buried in snow.
The porters deserve to be paid so much more than they are and need to get unions.
An incredible film. The climbers and the porters live in two different worlds. I am usually more curious about the world of the climbers, but this film about the porters offered something more profound. I am grateful to the filmmakers.
I really appreciate it how this documentary about the porters actually focuses on the porters, while many others tend to loose their focus when it comes to the actual summit climb. Most other documentaries I've seen just forgot about them completely when the summit was in sight and I think that's quite a strong allegory of how it is for the climbers as well. Making the summit so unspectacular and only giving it a short cutaway during the whole documentary really gives this more impact and focus overall. Great job!
These porters are the K2 true heroes, having to carry about 25 kilos and to climb. My sincere respect to them. 👍👍
This is so sad man, I've been to 4500 meters twice in the Himalayas and believe me as you reach 3000+ meters you can already feel the altitude. 4000meters and above even your jacket and a water bottle feels like a burden, this is considering walking on grassy soft patches every now and then.
These poor guys don't even have shoes, making them carry 25-30 Kg at 5000 meters on these rugged desolate corners is unethical.
They should impose a strict rule of max 18kg/person and must be paid atleast three times more. A(100 times if you ask me)
I've watched many videos and if these climbers get injured or sick they can afford a very expensive helicopter rescue but they won't spare some extra bucks for these incredibly humble poor souls. These climbers are egoistic and selfish!
So you were lower than the elevation of Mount Rainier and you're going to talk about what its's like carrying loads about 8,000 METERS?!
lol
@@Elwood.J.Blues13 Mount Rainier is around 4,300 meter I guess while I was above 4,500 and I'm talking about 5000 meters (basecamp) of K2 which this video is all about.
lol... and show me their woman... I dont think they respect wife so how they have to be "poor" ;\
i would charge more too or say then your up shit creek pal
egotistic and selfish i know right ... ?? they all seemthat way.. even the women
Broke my heart when that men said that he doesnt feel human while doing this work... thats slavery
No doubt sis! I am floored & not in a good way! Some humans can be unfair. This ain’t it 🤦🏾♀️
How human can one be if working in non-human conditions?
@@QueenxChico
*Thank you for caring seriously appreciated*
theyr childs, look at theyr eyes at 47 th minute how pure and innocent they look :/, In you tube we wach only spoiled selfish childs, here they are 100 truth :(.....
Nobody is forced to do this job, but it has to be paid good and fair. And without this job, they would have nothing or way less .... They can live a few months from the income actually.. the Sherpa in Nepal think differently. They are greatful for the mountains and the tourists. Even when it's hard work. They need the mountains and the tourists and many tourists are paying much more or donating for schools, social projects and education too ...
Thank you for this amazing documentary! What gorgeous scenery and photography! As for the porters, they are exploited by both the climbers and the organizers. Climbers please celebrate your achievements by being generous with the ones that helped you the most. After all, what difference does it make to give way an extra one hundred dollars when you are spending thousands? Government regulations should mandate organizers to compensate the footmen according to the real value of their work - which is extraordinary! I hope that this form of tourism redeems itself soon and recognizes the extraordinary contribution of the porters by giving them a fair share.
Coronavirus has totally killed all kinds of tourism in Pakistan. The north areas are without any local tourists as compared to last year. These people are at the risk of not earning enough before winter snow totally shuts these areas down. Next time you visit Pakistan, please be considerate to the locals. $50-70 can mean the difference for these people and can feed them for a month.
For reference, I did visit the northern areas of Pakistan all throughout the month of June I visited areas including Nanga Parbat, Rakaposhi, Skardu all the way to Askole. Most of the locals were depressed, while some joked about suicide being better than having to live without any earnings.
Salute to all the Porters around the globe ❤
Incredible people, they do so much and receive such little in return! If it weren't for people like this there would never have been any summiting of any of the highest peaks in the world, period! Let's give them their props/flowers while they're still alive!!!
This film’s strength is that it tells the story from a different angle to that usually presented, and it doesn’t tell you how to think. The world is a complex cultural ecosystem with much inequality and many degrees of honesty. Big thumbs up to Iara Lee and team.
Thanks Cultures of Resistance Films, for portraying the life of Pakistani porters to the World peoples who actualy carry there stuff to summit
"Dedicated to the Porters..."
Who are obscenely under paid.
🙏
I wouldnt even call it payment. Its like giving a whale a tic tac
I think it's combination of middle man taking the cut aka. head porter or whatnot and low pay. While I believe they don't get fair pay, I just can't see them actually getting so little.
I’m a westerner, not rich but certainly not poor. Disgusting to give them a $20 tip after they have basically carried you on their backs. I couldn’t live with myself. Much love and respect to these porters and Sherpa’s❤
I agree! But what struck me at the beginning is the porters said they do this because they have no other job/income.
Western countries are in their own mess how are they also to be expected to fix other countries internal issues?
I agree! But what struck me at the beginning is the porters said they do this because they have no other job/income.
Western countries are in their own mess how are they also to be expected to fix other countries internal issues?
I agree! But what struck me at the beginning is the porters said they do this because they have no other job/income.
Western countries are in their own mess how are they also to be expected to fix other countries internal issues?
I agree! But what struck me at the beginning is the porters said they do this because they have no other job/income.
Western countries are in their own mess how are they also to be expected to fix other countries internal issues?
I agree! But what struck me at the beginning is the porters said they do this because they have no other job/income.
Western countries are in their own mess how are they also to be expected to fix other countries internal issues?
A big clap for u for highlighting porters problem
These are the real heroes and the major factor behind every summit. Salute to them.
These are the real heroes of the story. The ones who make it possible for others.
Always the men behind the ‘conquests’ - after having lived in Nepal (51 miles from Everest as the crow flies) I spoke with many Sherpas who share stories of several of their kinsmen actually reaching the summit of Everest before Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary’s confirmed ascent. On that occasion Tenzing Norgay actually reached the summit first, therefore able to take the now legendary pictures of Edmund Hillary taking his final steps. A very proud and humble people, and my priveledge to have been able to spend time with them.
@andrewlister9472 If you love them so much I would think you would have at least read Norgays book "Touching my father's soul". In it he admitted Hillary reached the summit first. Not because he was a better climber than Norgay, but it was just his turn to lead. He never corrected that misconception either and went on to do a ton of humanitarian work in that region as did Norgay.
Thank you for telling us the story of these brave men ❤️ so honored to see the real faces behind successful ascensions!
Being a Pakistani, i feel proud of my porters and also pray for them to have a better future. Problem is not they do this tough job, problem is that they are not rewarded for the jobs in a good way, i guarantee you if they would be paid high enough and will be facilitated as per their work you will find most of the climbers in Pakistan, i know them, they are hard, they smile in tough times, they know how to help others while being broken. May Allah ease the matters.
Beautiful film and cinematography. On your next project please trust that many of us have the attention span to view a shot longer than 3 seconds.
Yes I agree. I stopped the video about 30 times to feel the atmosphere. Great job, what a great idea !
Pay these people a living wage but more importantly invest in their education and housing. A small proportion of the climbing budget can and should be spent on schooling for the children of these men allowing them to live in dignity and break the cycle of poverty.
Build hotels at base camp
I’m sure they are most thankful for your donation.
Stop multiplying if you cant support your kids. Period
@@andrewnicholas9079 No condom is the only way Allah allows it though.
It doesn't sound like their government really cares about them. They should give a portion of the permit money to education, health care, etc. to these people. I'm sure there are government officials who have pretty good life styles. Charge more for the permits and give it to those who make the expeditions possible. Are there trustworthy charitable organizations who are working to educate these workers and their families? I'd give money to them, but I don't really think that would change things much. The porters themselves need to organize their values and want to change their lives. Do they even teach their kids to brush their teeth? You can make a pretty good toothbrush with a stick.
The best kind of documentary - no commentary. Nothing is said, but so much is said
Respect to the Italians funding a local expedition! Great to see and a lot could be learned from this, tourism is only positive if the locals lives are genuinely improved in the long term.
I am surprised by the low view counts , this video is not getting exposed to enough people for some reason.
Great video !
Thanks :)
I'm not that surprised, sorry...
People who watch videos about such challenges want to see "successes" not the dark sides of so called expeditions.
If you really watch with your heart this documentary ... you may not be willing anymore to try to climb thoses summits.
You know how much "your" success relies on people who are treated like cattle.
It is so surprising how little interest is given to sherpas in all the other videos about sportsmen who "made it".
The system is dysfunctional from its roots.
In the end, every bit of it is tainted, from the sherpa who sells his life for nothing to the climber who is only interested in his performance.
But the 60th anniversary with sherpa also climbing was moving to tears.
Fabulous, very well done !
orsoloro The system is dysfunctional from its roots - Love that quotation.
@@orsoloro Why you talk in the name of people, just talk for yourself, you love watching happy ending stories, it's fine just, when you tell half the truth, that's already a lie, you think everyone who's watching climbing video will end it on top of the mountain or even think to? Silly, they just didn't use the right tags or keywords to expose their work as simple as that, at some point I thought you'll even blame climate change for the lack of views, you want to see people with flags on the top of K2/Everest, I want to see what's the price for it, just talk for yourself or shut the freak up physically.
Probably all the Ads:(
Probs the spelling mistake #footman
Great movie that expresses the genuine side of the Pakistany people. Sadly we are all driven by media and people who what to profit with wars and fights. We exist to get along with everybody, guns don't belong to this equation. Thank you for such a beautiful movie.
There needs to be some regulation governing the hiring of these high altitude porters in Pakistan. Amongst countless others, we recently lost Ali Sadpara as well. These foreigners who visit Pakistan need to pay a good minimum amount and there should be a maximum weight amount each porter should carry. This is no less than modern day slavery by the mountain climbers. They all should be ashamed of themselves.
Sherpas. You need to organise. They can’t do these ego trips without you, you have the power 🙌🏻
This Doku is 98% not about Sherpa my Dear Elizabeth. Maybe you risk a Trip to Pakistan and meet the "Sherpas". Good Luck, Greetings to Ireland, oh i just assumend because your Name ist Mc
No the Pakistani porters need to organize. The Sherpas can organize too if they want, but in Nepal where they live. Duh.
By the way its in pakistan, not in sherpas land buddy😒
@@charlesmartin1121 Sherpas in Nepal have their own union. But most of porters in Nepal are not Sherpas, they are from foothills of Himalaya, coming to earn their money in climbing seasons. When they are waiting for job as porters they work for food and shelter ( not money) in stone quarries , build houses and hotels in Sherpa villages
@@alesponec4604 Thank you for pointing out the distinction.
I request all the donations to be headed in this direction, they are lively people and make their ends meet with hard work and make other dreams come true
Wzruszający dokument. Daje zupełnie nowe spojrzenie na ten piękny, okryty złą sławą szczyt. Chwała tym ludziom za ich pomoc, bez której może rzeczywiście nikt nie zdobyłby K2. Oby ich sytuacja uległa poprawie.
Thank You for this amazing and wonderful documentary. While watching this , many times tears shed my eyes and a cold sigh came out.
All these rich people that come to climb these mountains and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars and they can't afford to pay these porters enough to set them up for life financially? $5 to $7 dollars is what they get? I guarantee you if that were me that would be the only time they'd ever have to work again.
Brandon Savitski you and me both, it does seem the more some have, the less they let go.
It seems there is quite a dark side to these K2 fanatics.
Ya, this the way the world works. Maybe riot?
Brandon you do not need to be a vain and wholly self driven mountaineer to support poor people.
@Maria Kelly not all cops or white cops as you say, act like that. Generalisation is dangerous no matter what 'side' youre on.
Great documentary. The guy said it well, "it's [K2] the father of all mountains".
Undoubtedly the best Documentary I've ever seen... Everything is in on spot our Government should look after these People.
Iara Lee: you show the reality, with respect and humanity.Yes the view from the summit is great.The climbers start by climbing on the shoulders of the porters
Excellent film showing the other side of high altitude mountaineering, which, without these amazing foot-soldiers, would not be possible. Lara & crew, you've produced another powerful film with a message that will touch many people and hopefully bring a better life to those that toil so hard. I just watched a great video of a few that summited K2, funded by Eddie Bauer, and they made little mention of these men, (although the climbers did show appreciation for all they do). S2
I think Lara's heart will be touched by the many comments here, showing this well done piece of art is accomplishing some of what I'd imagine she & crew set out for. Enjoyed our couple hikes w/ you & George in Palm Springs towards his transformation.
I couldn’t watch anymore. The more I hear the story I feel kinda saddd like legit sad . Plse people have some heart and pay wellllll 🙁
Aaand create the next problem: suddenly, your fairly paid porter is at receiving end of every neighbours jelaousy. As long as the region lives in utter poverty, just throwing money at a few guys won't solve anything. If your local job market entirely depends on western people eager to give their ego another bump, it has a a problem. Those guys need a free school for their kids instead of "quality mullahs", to be able to raise more than just the next illiterate human mule, which unfortunately doesn't have the full support of the pakistan government behind it, it seems.
@@fiedel so true
@@aaryaavelani1686 I wish I could say something else, but it seems to be the sad state of afffairs. And it seems that aside from lamenting the circumstances those people have to endure, you see those mountaineers do little else apart from maybe gifting their warm plastic jackets and some gear after summiting, only to enable the human mules to climb even higher the next time. I never heard of them refusing to pay the middleman and bringing in a reliable bookkeeper, raising funds to build a common green house for better farming or getting those families at least some solar lighting installed in their winter bunkers or whatever is even possible in these barren lands, somehow they seem to be exclusively occupied with organizing and funding their next "challenge" after voicing their deep sorrows into some camera.
Pay these men more. Why so stingy. We blow $20 - $30 on pizza, burgers, uber eats etc without blinking our eyes dammit
Chris Donahue, why do you have to call him "creep?"
if i was climbing k2 i'd make it rain on my porters $500 each instead of $50
I think their boss charge much money to the climber.... But pay small amount for them... And keep lots money for company/himself
The rich can do whatever the hell they want. It's a saying,if you want to test a mans character give him power. Most of us don't have character. That's why the world is the way it is.
Just think who was the original bunch that started climbing those mountains wasn't they like Lords and dukes the aristocrat ! For the most part they still are the same bunch of people ! Now fast-forward to 2020 they fixing to make us all they're little bitches wake up people ! Where next !
Congratulation on this so important documentary. This shows so well how we are living in a desigual world where 62 people detain the same amount of money than 3.4 billion people on this planet. When you think that a pair of shoes used to climb this kind of mountain is around 700 euros, when a porter earn 26 euros for the 7 stages up to the base camp. I think, people who are going on this kind of expedition, stricly for ego purpose, should think twice.
Probably the best high altitude documentary I've seen. Outstanding cinematography and subtle storytelling through the creative weaving of short film segments and spoken words. Thank you!
Great video. Thank you for telling their story. Hope and pray the Porters' and their families' conditions improve. Climbers should pay them more.
Wonderful message - Pay them enough so they can spend for the whole year.
I think the trek to k2 is much more scenic and beautiful than Everest.
And. No body markers, no traffic jams and no trash
My heart goes out with these porters.They are living a very wierd and dreadful life.They are bearing the hardships of weather and track.I wish them a happy life in the upcoming years.
Pakistan Zindabad,Pakistani Climbers and porters Payendabad❤❤
White Devils hate us. That will never change my Brother.
The actual award for the summit should be given to porters too. Porters life is miserable underpaid.
Very sad. I wish the govt can establish a min wage limit . Nepal has done well in this regard. I feel especially for the kids. I wish they are also educated on having lesser kids and the benefits it would bring them.
Sadly they need kids to work for the family. That’s why one of them said “if you don’t have a boy, bring another wife”
I agree with you on the min. wage. The Pakistani govt has so far failed in protecting their rights. I do not agree, however, on the population control. That is a personal choice. More kids means more young, productive individuals. Over time, that translates to an increase in income for households. It also means the population is young overall, so lesser burden on healthcare etc. which is the problem faced by First World countries that have ageing populations. During COVID, countries with high birth rates seem to have fared particularly well because of the demographic.
46:07 Naara-e-Takbeer: Allah-u-Akbar (S.W.T.)
Naara-e-Risaalat: Ya Rasoolullah (s.)
Naara-e-Haidari: Ya Ali (a.)
What a breathtaking documentary! ♥️
the Porters should set their own correct payment and not let anyone do it for less ..no Porters no expeditions
Sometimes.....when you have absolutely nothing.... you can’t make demands.....you just can’t. You gotta take ANYTHING that is offered. Then maybe the next offer you can increase... thats if you still have food on your table from the last offer. Stay blessed people and be good to others, please 🙏🏾♥️💋
Damn right. Porters need to band together and form unions to demand minimum wage for their work. Unfortunately, local officials explout the working people for their own benefits.
absolutely loved this video of the unsung heroes. K-2 has claimed many lives since then.Ali Sadpara being one that really hurt the nation but that has caused a surge in mountaineering and there are Pakistani climbers like Sirbaz Khan and Shehroz Kashif summiting the 8 thousanders. K-2 stands tall and ever vigilant, ever savage.
One of the incredible documentary I've ever seen...extremely emotional
I see a lot of people blaming climbers and pointing fingers, What if there were no climbers at all? This is all they got right now. This is their countries fault. Not the climbers!
Partly agree
You have a point there.
This is the best documentary of K2 expeditions I have watched so far..
Outstanding videography ❤️ and heart touching stories of those porters.
One of the most humble people of skardu and one of the most amazing sceneries i’ve ever seen anywhere in the world pakistan you’re such a beauty ❤️❤️❤️❤️
The soundtrack and local music is great in this film. Haunting and a nice change from other outdoor productions
It’s barbaric.
The shocking poverty of them, of those poor donkeys, the people’s clothes, their homes, their bodies...their whole lives filled with too much desperation and pain. All because rich arseholes won’t pay a decent wage to a man risking his whole life to carry his junk up a mountain. The donkeys live a terrible life, beaten and weak and carrying far more than they should. Mankind has treated animals badly since the dawn of time, it’s an old old evil...but still unforgivable...and to treat a fellow man the same way is despicable. Not only that, but to cast them aside when that work has wrecked their bodies. They have so many children and value the sons so much because sons who are strong enough to climb are all the family has to rely on for their old age. An old age that starts by 35 or 40 when the climber’s bodies start to give out.
The hypocrisy of these so-called paying climbers is disgusting. They say how amazing the sherpas are, but treat them like beasts too and won’t even pay them decently. They thank them for saving their lives or getting them to the top, but they don’t pay them what that toil cost.
Why do these climbers not do something directly to improve the lives of the people who give them their moment of glory? Obviously the ones organising them Sherpas for each climb are taking money too and probably many Sherpa are ripped off. Climbers should give the villages money directly. These people don’t just keep them alive - they give them their bragging rights for the rest of their long and comfortable lives. Why is there no limit set on the weight a man can be forced to carry up a mountain? Why don’t the climbers insist on a limit? Why is there no fund to help the sherpa women who bear such hardships as well, all those children they bear, and farming and being alone while their husbands are away? Why is there no fund to pay for the education of their children? Better educated people have more choices, are more likely to have less children, more likely to have access to birth control, less likely to have such things ruled by religion and tradition.
The climbing community could easily help them. The amount each would have to pay to make a difference would be mere peanuts in comparison to their salary back home. Education would allow more people in the villages to learn English and then they could manage themselves. That no climbers have set this up is a disgrace. Perhaps climbers *like* having such a ready supply of desperate people willing to carry any load cheaply, nice and handy for the mountain... No wonder the Sherpas sometimes rebel. What life is that?
Heartbreaking. These people are slaves in all but name.
Brams Rockhopper Thank you so much for feeling the pain of the destitute humans, animals and depressing households around the might K2. Thank you for correctly diagnosing the ills of the cursed inhabitants (by government and society) living without lack basic health and education facilities, compounded by harsh climate and less fertile lands.
Since 2019 have opened 6 village home schools to provide quality outreach education. www.dfswo.com Please share and support. I have created this ngo after seeing the plight of village children. So far we are supporting 20 villages in Gilgit Baltistan region.
Dr Fatima Skiba Qalandarie Thank you for responding :) That’s an amazing thing to do - thank you for making the effort that sadly so many others just aren’t prepared to put into these communities. I’ll share your link 👍. Good luck with everything that you’re doing for those people...
@@bramsrockhopper3377 Thank you so much for taking time to reply
Thank you for bringing this awareness to the global audience! So Much needed! I have documented many stories of the porters lives. Would love to share!
thankyou for this , i want to go there , i really got tears when i saw these humble families living in so much Poverty :( InshALLAH i will go there and help as much as i can .. PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
Thank u so much for your words of kindness for us ..
One of the best documentars finaly without music and selfies
Iara Lee and team, God bless you. You have done an incredible job. I cried after watching this film few years back in London
Porters are the real heroes ❤️
These Sherpas are WAY underpaid, with all the money the climbers have to pay for an expedition, these Footmen should get 100 x more what they get paid... Without these courageous men none of this would be possible, and everyone knows it. Even the cheapos that run the expeditions that pocket most of the money I'm sure...
These "courageous" men have to take this job...their families need to eat. Desperation drives them. Shame on those who pay the porters (sherpas) so little and take all the glory!
If they're not happy with the pay; they don't have to do the work. Nobody is forcing these people up the mountain.
@@vaportrail226 they either have to rely on minimum wage or die of hunger which one would u choose
@@vaportrail226 how cold and inhumane of you .
Bloody hell !!
@@muhammadwalidnasir50 how this local people lived before all the trekkers and mountaineers came to Pakistan? How they managed to survive before?
Excellent!!! Beautiful and yet heart breaking for those who love climbing and big mountains. Congratulations for a magnificent job
Thank you for bringing this image and injustice out to world, they work so hard and they only have few days to work and they have to survive these harsh conditions
when buying climbing gear why not take some for the porters too....I cannot beleive the porter lost his toes to frostbite...selfish of the clients
What a powerful glimpse into a world that is so foreign to me. Spectacular footage and amazing people. Thank you.
Come here in Pakistan 🇵🇰 and see from your own eyes this foreign world... You will be most welcome 😊
dislike
It is good to see something about the life of the people who live in the Karakoram region.
The porters should form a union. First thing, double the wages. Second, demand the expeditions supply decent footwear. In the US, employers are required to provide all sefety gear, including footwear.
The locals should figure out some kind of activity for the off season. Perhaps some kind of home industry with education to boost the literacy rate. All that time sitting around could be spent doing something productive so they would not have to rely on porter gigs for their only income. That would put also them in a strong position to bargain for yet higher wages as porters.
I like watching these types of videos. Opens ur eyes.Also surprised to see how much garbage is on this beautiful place.Just like everything else we don't show it the respect and treatment it deserves.
What a great documentry , I watching this movie after we lost 3 hero.s in k2 Winter summited expedition . Muhammad ali sadfara and John snorri and Joan pobelo
Hats off to everyone from low porters to professional climbers :)
The guy that said he meets his wife in his dreams and that's why he shaves even if she isn't around 💕 so sweet
God damn you are sexy
Amazing!!! Showing the hard work as well as the kindness and love that the Pakistani people show regardless of ethnicity 🌸
Great screenplay.... This video explains the life of a porter who risk his life some a climber success... Real heros of the climbing communities 💙💙💙... Congrats to the team made MightyK2 summit 🥰🤙👏...
Wonder how much Covid 19 is impacting the porters? I'm thinking the whole season is a bust.
😢
It is all dead. Even the local tourism is currently dead in the northern areas of Pakistan because of coronavirus. These people depend on every single tourist, mountain climber, hiker, or visitor to earn enough for the whole year. Many are in desperate conditions right now as they have no other means of earning.
Most Effected Community Right Now ...
Extremely revolting knowing how much money is being spent on these expeditions
I find it quite remarkable people who attempt these adventures have the will power and drive to film the endeavor. It takes a special sort of human being to climb in the first place, let alone film it. Documenting it for the world to see.
If Eddie Bauer is going to sponsor climbers to risk their lives to reach the summit, they should and could easily support these porters.
👏👏👏👏👏
I mean where is the prime minister? He can change their whole lives in a sec. Doesn't he see this struggles?
- I shave my beard to please my wife
- But your wife isn't here
- So what? I meet her in my dreams.
I am not romantic at all but this is just beautiful.
Obviously sex mad ......
@@jenniferblane7550Him - he was quite clearly joking. You - cerebally challenged so you failed to spot the joke.
The best documentary on k2 i have ever seen. Salute
The porters should be paid a hell of a lot more than they are. They should be paid as much if not more than the expedition leaders. These men do all of the hard work and are barely paid enough to take care of their families. They seem like such kind, easy going, hard working humans. Some have a funny personality. Those little children are the cutest.
A very good film. Trucking shots, small details, juxtapositions, interviews, rugged terrain and final placing of parallel tracks. Great experience watching it.