The Last Mountain – BBC iPlayer

Watched this last night- did anyone else catch it? Some amazing footage in it, must make you think you are in another world.
I was struck by how matter of fact the father was about it all, bit unnerving. Also thought they were setting the other climber up to be the one to take the blame when in fact they both knew the risks. I wondered when he messaged his gf that it ‘was his job’ how much pressure comes with the endorsements they need to do it.
Desperately sad when they took the children to look at K2 where their mother had died, and the little girl was asking if the cloud was her looking down. I hope she finds peace.

Yes I watched it, just randomly caught it. I agree – I find it really odd how relaxed the father was when he got a call stating they’d JUST SPOTTED SOME BODIES IN THE SEARCH FOR HIS **** SON ??!!

apart from that he was quite likable and my heart went out to the daughter. Really sad. I didn’t get why they were climbing the mulberry spur in winter, you’d have though summer would be easier or is it more avalanches then?

And the mum dying alone on K2 with two young kids 🙁

I only saw the last 3rd…. Didn’t know about the mother.
What surprised me was that, when they located the bodies (which was quite unreal), they didn’t go and get them.
If only they’d tried using the telescope earlier to cover more ground quickly.

What surprised me was that, when they located the bodies (which was quite unreal), they didn’t go and get them.

Too risky probably.

Aye, I also found the fathers response to his sons death, well, unemotional and rational to the extent of coldness.

I too chanced upon it by accident and glad I did. Well worth a watch.

Also thought they were setting the other climber up to be the one to take the blame when in fact they both knew the risks.

They certainly did, especially Tom Ballard’s girlfriend. Perhaps rightfully so; Daniele Nardi’s messages over the last few days of the climb did seem increasingly desperate to prove his status (or lack of it) in mountaineering.

I can’t blame Nardi fully. Anyone looking up at those huge hanging glaciers, frequently shedding ice below, thinking that the risk was acceptable to scale the slopes below them must share the blame.

Felt very sad for Ballard’s Italian girlfriend, given their last messages were not on good terms. Very sad.

I’ve watched about half of it’s far, beautifully shot, the scene where the girl is doing yoga in front of the avalanche, director’s head must’ve exploded!
The dad doesn’t come across well!

Too risky probably.

That was the explanation. Retrieving them risked more lives, and above a certain height, the effort of just keeping yourself going does leave any capacity to drag a body as well.

People have pondered the dynamic and psychology of Ballard and Hargreaves since she was out climbing the North Face of the Eiger when five months pregnant. I think it’s fair to say that they are/were both very unusual personality types, with an attitude to risk which most of us would find abnormal.

On the strength of this thread watched it this evening.

That life is just so far removed from mine, I just can’t even comprehend it. Trudging up those snow faces, digging out the tent…different breed. The unpredictability of avalanches must surely be in the mind at some point, and you think, yep, this could be my last, notwithstanding planning and kit.

Just watched it and had a good family debate about it afterwards.

Agree with above, I am no mountaineer however I seems there was some very, very questionable decision making from many parties involved.

Feel very sorry for the sister and girlfriend.

Definitely worth watching.

(ps when I say questionable decision making I mean in both the Alison and the Tom eras)

Just been watching it tonight and got to the stage were the GF is starting to turn on the Italian climbing partner.

Said to MrsRNP that if I knew it wasn’t a true story that I might have thought I was watching some spoof film. The father reaction to his son’s death was unnerving and the Italian consulate guy knowing he was being filmed meeting a grieving sister pulled out and lit up a massive cigar and proceeded to tell her brother died an agonizing death dangling off a rope.

Italian consulate guy knowing he was being filmed meeting a grieving sister pulled out and lit up a massive cigar and proceeded to tell her brother died an agonizing death dangling off a rope.

Ha I’d forgotten about that! Just a little bit, hmmmmm, inappropriate

The father reaction to his son’s death was unnerving and the Italian consulate guy knowing he was being filmed meeting a grieving sister pulled out and lit up a massive cigar and proceeded to tell her brother died an agonizing death dangling off a rope.

Yeah, that was hard to watch. There’s probably a reason an Italian civil servant gets chosen for the plum posting in Islamabad, though.

I watched a bit on Sunday night. I was aware of Alison Hargreaves death on K2 and knew of Tom’s demise. I’ll try and watch it on iPlayer when I get the chance.

I was struck by how matter of fact the father was about it all, bit unnerving.

Aye, I also found the fathers response to his sons death, well, unemotional and rational to the extent of coldness.

Hard to know what to make of Jim Ballard. I can’t help thinking he used Alison and Tom to satisfy something he couldn’t achieve himself.

i watched it last night. it just made me sad for the sister left behind.
i also read a book about Alison Hargreaves a few years ago. and had read loads of books about high altitude climbing expeditions.
one thing stands out in all the books. and that is how selfish the climbers appear to be.

Caught up with this tonight. The climate there and the constant danger is so intense I’d be a nervous wreck. But these climbers obviously operate on a different level to us mere mortals.

Felt so sad for Kate Ballard though. After losing her mum and her brother, it was apparent she was the most affected by the tragedy.

Hard to know what to make of Jim Ballard. I can’t help thinking he used Alison and Tom to satisfy something he couldn’t achieve himself.

I think similar. More than a hint of narcissism about him, also possiy smelt an opportunity for £££ regards documentaries about them?

Otherwise, what was the motivation for the documentary crews invitation to film both the kids’ trip to k2 in the 90s and also when the circumstances around toms death was unfolding?

Bit harsh on the dad to judge him for his perceived lack of emotion. Was he trying to be strong for his daughter? He may have built an emotional wall after losing his wife then expected the worst once his son became a serious mountaineer. It seemed like there was an air of inevitably about it for him.

But yeah, utter madness. There’s a reason most people wouldn’t entertain that level of risk. It’s not something I’ll ever understand.

I am not a high altitude mountaineer , nor did I know Alison Hargreaves or Tom Ballard . The death zone above 26,000ft is obviously a high risk place and the more time you spend there the more likely you are to have some kind of accident. While there are many tales of the deaths of high altitude mountaineers I would say that many also decide it’s not for them for many reasons eg family that doesn’t make such a dramatic tale though. I’d be a bit loath to stereotype all high altitude climbers on the basis of these tales.
edit I originally put 22000 ft as the death zone

My cousin lost her husband and father to their two young sons in an avalanche in the alps earlier this year, the mountains , you either accept it like Jim Ballard or you are not going to cope , sorry but its love without bounds that is part of the freedom.

I think a lot of climbers have a very selfish streak in them, I saw it in my Father and some of his friends.

I did find the psychological bit interesting about him and colleague being alone for 2 months or whatever it was changing their minds and bodies.

Feel incredibly sorry for Kate – a ‘normal’ and nice person. Hope she finds some peace.

Watched this last night after the recommendations on here.

The lack of emotion of the father was interesting. I don’t know if that was for the camera, or whether he’d emotionally detached himself prior to the news. He mentioned something about trying to find a way to move and and deal with the loss of the mother in another clip?

I think the other key point not mentioned was Tom had posted something about nagging demons or doubts after the Pakistani climbers had left, before Tom and Daniele were lost. They way I interpreted that was he had some severe doubts / misgivings about the attempt. But couldn’t work out whether the doubts were valid or not.

In restrospect I guess you could say his doubts were.

Feel incredibly sorry for Kate – a ‘normal’ and nice person. Hope she finds some peace.

Very much so. You could see her complete heartbreak for losing her brother. So sad.

I couldn’t really figure the father out. I’m sure inside he’s in pieces but he did appear very matter of fact. Rationalising it in his own mind I suppose.

It felt a little like the documentary was trying to put blame onto Daniele for a bit, or at least those interviewed did.

I’m sure Tom had enough experience and strength of character to make his own call.

Real shame.

I gave the father the benefit of the doubt for his reaction on the phone call – maybe he’s buttoned up, and conscious of the camera on him and trying to be strong for his daughter etc. He did physically flinch when she said they had found bodies.

But – I think his romanticising of their mother, and all that talk about her being in the clouds, and them being asked about it throughout their childhoods, made it kind of inevitable that at least one of them would try to follow in her footsteps with tragic results. Maybe he could have protected them more, by giving them a ‘normal’ childhood.

Also, I totally get the magnificent ‘because it’s there’ pointlessness of mountaineering, but I do think perhaps that when playing in the mountains is unquestioningly presented as a higher calling the result is that people can kill themselves and the people around them (and destroy other lives too) and still be celebrated for it.

Fascinating programme though. I only saw it by chance and I’m glad I did. I admit I might have blubbed a bit when Kate met Big Ibrahim again.

But – I think his romanticising of their mother, and all that talk about her being in the clouds, and them being asked about it throughout their childhoods, made it kind of inevitable that at least one of them would try to follow in her footsteps with tragic results.

Absolutely agree….and….what was his motivation for that romanticism?

The point about feeling compelled to be someone amazing, due to the legacy of her mother, was raised right at the end by Kate. (I.e. that she felt she couldn’t be a normal person)
Made me feel very sorry for her to be under that pressure.

I think a lot of climbers have a very selfish streak in them, I saw it in my Father and some of his friends.

Watch Alex Honnold in Free Solo for a classic example of this. His partner is beside herself before he ends up doing the solo and to say he is emotionally detached is an understatement.

I get it to some extent as used to climb to a reasonable standard myself and it can become quite addictive but I’m also glad I stopped climbing as much as I did in my 20’s as I’ve only had a few minor injuries as a result.

I watched last night very sad story, I remember Alison in the news when she had climbed Everest and was going to attempt K2, I thought then she wouldn’t make it back, seemed too ambitious and rushed for one season.

I think people are judging Jim by the standards of TV dramas. Fictional emotion is one thing but you really can’t say how someone will cope with tragedy in real life. Don’t forget he had already gone through this with his wife, was probably prepared for the worst, so he gets a pass from me. He’s same generation as my Dad I don’t think he emoted a lot when his father and sister died.

Met Jim and Alison before she died. Funny buggers the pair of them. No socials skills to my mind. Must get round to watching this.

I would rather judge the Dad by the fact he seems to have brought up two well balanced, likeable, talented children from a very young age as a single parent.

👏

Just started to watch this off the back of this thread, pleased I had as would probably have missed it completely.

The challenge of judging someone based on an edited piece of film is that you don’t get the full context, only what you see on screen.  For example, you don’t know whether Jim did / didn’t break down in pieces right after the camera stopped rolling, or that our cigar smoking ambassador asked for permission before smoking through the interview.

For a bit more insight into this there is a good thread on UKC. https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/expedition+alpine/tom_ballard_documentary-739571
There are suggestions Jim Ballard was not an overly nice man possible emotional or physical abuse and one of the reasons Alison climbed K2 was that it would boost her profile and therefore gain her enough money to be able to afford to leave him.
I don’t know the back story but have a read.

Hard to know what to make of Jim Ballard

I’d ask how many climbers funerals/ memorials he had been to.

There is a telling bit near the end when he essentially says that he expected his son to die on the mountain because he was pushing the edge of the envelope and in his words crossing that line between adventure and danger, it was more for him that he just didn’t expect it to happen so young

I think a lot of climbers have a very selfish streak in them, I saw it in my Father and some of his friends.

From the climber’s perspective I think they often have to be/or at least perceive themselves to be ‘focused’, ‘driven’ & ‘single-minded’ etc … but to the people around them I think it can be construed as being selfish … and to a certain degree I think you probably have to be ‘selfish’ in order to pursue those kind of ‘goals’ and ‘achivements’.

It’s a trait I’ve observed with quite a few people who climb/mountaineer to a high level … interestingly this trait softened in number of them when they had a family … but it’s not always the case …

From what I could see Jim Ballard seemed a bit controlling and I wonder what affect that had on Tom’s own decision making on that mountain. His climbing partner seemed to be driven by his own quest for greatness to the detriment of anything else. Should have walked away as it was more foolish than anything else at that point.

Whilst on a similar theme, last night I watched (on Netflix) The Dawn Wall, about two guys climbing a brand new route up El Cap. As I’m most definitely a non-climber I thought it was very interesting from the perspective of the single-mindedness of elite climbers, and how they can become obsessive, often to the detriment of relationships with those around them.
If you enjoyed The Last Mountain you should check it out. It’s slightly less disturbing, as nobody died and nobody had ‘odd’ reactions to the death of family members.

Dawn wall is a great documentary. Oddly I think I preferred it to free solo, despite the latter being more terrifying and extraordinary.