Exploring the Heights

Date1980s

AbstractThis footage was compiled as part of a live presentation with accompanying narration given by Charles S. Houston in 2002. A few still images of mountains. A shot of a newspaper clipping from the Friday, June 5th edition of The Boson Herald with pictures of four men that reads “Hope To Make Mountain Climbing Record”. A group shot of seven men. Footage of an expedition by Charles S. Houston and others to climb Nanda Devi in 1936, including men hiking, climbing, crossing rivers and stopping at camps along the way. Footage of the American Karakoram Expedition to K2 in 1938 led by Houston, including footage of the villages and villagers around K2, men hiking, climbing, crossing rivers and stopping at camps along the way, a few shots of a polo game, group shots and scenic mountain vistas. Footage from the film Operation Everest, which is part of the Charles S. Houston collection, about a study conducted by Houston in 1946 for the U.S. Navy concerning the effects of high altitudes on human physiology involving medical tests performed on volunteers in a compression chamber. A few shots of mountains. Footage of villages and villagers in Nepal, including an ornately dressed child seated on a shrine with monks at his side and ceremonial dancers. A few still images of mountains. A few shots of people. A shot of a logo that reads, “Arctic Institute of North America 1945”. Footage and still images from a high altitude study conducted on Mount Logan in Canada headed by Houston. Footage of Operation Everest II, a follow up study to Operation Everest conducted in the late 1980s, including similar footage of experiments being conducted on volunteers in a compression chamber. Footage of the American Karakoram Expedition to K2 in 1953, led by Houston, including expedition team members making preparations for the trip in Exeter, NH, shots of the team, footage of local villages and villagers in Pakistan, a parade in honor of the arrival of the expedition members, men hiking, climbing and crossing rivers, shots of various camps along the way, the remaining expedition members holding a memorial for Arthur (Art) Gilkey at base camp, George Bell being carried off the mountain in a stretcher and scenic mountain vistas. A group shot of men, including Houston. A drawing of a mountain. Exploring the Heights is part of the Charles S. Houston Collection.