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Legendary high-altitude climber Reinhold Messner pushes himself to the limit in achieving the first successful summit without the use of supplemental oxygen.

The first filmed winter ascent of the Matterhorn North Face. To set the scene, the tragic history of Edward Whymper's first ascent is expertly re-enacted. The modern expedition, a team of three Britihs climbers, is also plagued by epics: Eric Jones is hit by an avalanche and only manages to stop perilously near the edge of a 1000 ft drop. Then the worst storm ever recorded in Zermatt strikes the Matterhorn. With time and weather against them, the team is forced to climb in the dark while thunderstorms rumble around them. This adventure captures the skill and courage of the climbers, their agony and tension, and the beauty of the assault on this spectacular mountain.