Endeavour: Everest By Balloon

IT’S 1991, and in a field near the Nepalese hamlet of Gokyo four men climb into two fragile wicker baskets and pour flame into their hot air balloons. Rising powerfully into the skies, their craft follow a course towards the highest place on earth – Everest.

For Leo Dickinson and Chris Dewhirst, cameraman and pilot in one balloon, the flight will settle old scores after three previous attempts to fly over the peak – not to mention several life-threatening crashes.

This documentary follows their successful attempt before crash-landing in Tibet. It is the only balloon flight over Everest to this day.

For both men, it would be the pinnacle of their adventuring careers. Dickinson began rock climbing in the Lake District and North Wales while still at school, has climbed the Matterhorn and Eiger, reached 24,000ft on both sides of Everest and skydived with eight naked females in California – a shock for the Loose Women.

Aussie Dewhirst began flying hot air balloons more than 30 years ago, holding the Australian high altitude balloon flight record of 36,600ft.