The two men then get back to work. They take photographs and movies of the view from 29,035 feet. Most of the time they are seated to avoid being knocked down by the wind. Their hands are literally freezing in the cold as they work. The wind chill makes it feel like it is 90º below zero Fahrenheit. They are also working completely without canned oxygen, as they need to conserve for the tricky journey back down the mountain.

Bishop and Jersted look down at the clouds now 10,000 feet below them. Far in the distance they see one peak break through the clouds. All the other mountains are below the cloudbank. Bishop describes the view as “spectacular.”

But, the two men are also disappointed about what they do not see from the summit. When they stare down the West Ridge of the mountain, they see no sign of the other two climbers from their expedition. Unsoeld and Hornbein were supposed to be coming up from the West Ridge at the same time that Jersted and Bishop were ascending from the South Ridge. They realize no one has ever successfully climbed the West Ridge. Since it is already late in the afternoon, Bishop and Jersted assume that their teammates have either turned back or gotten into trouble.

Either way, it is time for Bishop and Jersted to head back down the mountain.