The Story of the Alpinism

On 17 February 1980, the first people climbed Everest in winter.

John Beauchamp hears from Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof Wielicki from Poland who were the men who did it.

It was at the height of the Cold War, when Poland was behind the Iron Curtain.

The two climbers decided that they had to show the world that their country was still capable of doing extraordinary things.

Despite a lack of money and equipment and using whatever they could lay their hands on – including welding goggles – they made it to the top of the world’s tallest mountain.

A Free Range and Overcoat Media co-production for BBC World Service.

(Photo: Leszek Cichy (left) Krzysztof Wielicki (right). Credit: Krzysztof Wielicki)