Expedition Everest 

Starting at 19:20 on Wednesday, 15 July, the premier follows a team of international scientists, climbers and storytellers to the top of the world's highest peak to conduct the most comprehensive, single scientific expedition in Mount Everest history.

The one-hour special, narrated by actor Tate Donovan, aims to capture climate research that is critical to understanding changes facing the mountain and its glaciers. The team also aims to shine a light on the threats these changes pose to the communities that live downstream.

The mission captures the drama that the expedition team faced and reveals the high stakes and motivations of those who risk their lives to discover the secrets of Everest.

The members originate from eight countries, half of whom were from Nepal. The premier aims to give a behind-the-scenes look at the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Everest expedition, which is part of a partnership between National Geographic and Rolex.  

By combining National Geographic and Rolex's shared history of exploration with science-based storytelling, the partnership is able to illuminate the impacts of climate change on the planet and helps to equip communities with tools to bolster their resilience.

To learn more about the expedition and the vital role mountain systems like Everest play in providing water resources, individuals are encouraged to visit www.natgeo.com/everest.

Expedition Everest is produced by National Geographic Studios, with Christine Weber serving as executive producer, Katie Bauer Murdock as producer and Katherine Chivers as associate producer.

Lost on Everest

Beginning at 19:20 on Wednesday 22 July, Lost on Everest aims to investigate one of exploration's most perplexing mysteries: What happened to the great explorers Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine and George Leigh Mallory, who disappeared on Sunday, 8 June 1924 when attempting the first summit of Everest?

The one-hour special is led by journalist, climber and adventurer Mark Synnott, along with National Geographic photographer, climber and mountaineer Renan Ozturk. The duo is joined by a world-renowned team of professional climbers with more than 100 combined years of experience on the mountain.

Together, they set out to find the body of Everest pioneer Irvine, solve the mystery behind his disappearance and conclusively determine who successfully conquered the world's tallest mountain — a feat that would rewrite mountaineering history. 

While the main goal was to locate Irvine's body and camera — Mallory's body was located in 1999. The expedition team members unwittingly found themselves also fighting for their lives while on assignment and faced harrowing obstacles.
 
The premier features never-before-seen images captured from high-altitude drones and new research from the preeminent Everest historian Tom Holzel, who utilises state-of-the-art computer software to uncover photographic details.

As part of the expedition, Ozturk captured a rare 360-degree panorama photograph of Mount Everest, which was featured in National Geographic magazine in 2019. More details can be found here.

"No mountain on our planet has been the subject of as much fascination and research as Mount Everest," says Evert van der Veer, vice president, Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company Africa.  

"Completing a climb is a strenuous and potentially deadly undertaking due to the extreme altitude, avalanches, icefalls and other hazards. Now, new technology in both science and cinematography is opening endless possibilities for exploration and shedding new light on this iconic landmark, which is captured in these two exhilarating documentaries," adds van der Veer.

Lost on Everest is executively produced for National Geographic by Taylor Rees and Renan Ozturk, who also directs with Drew Pulley producing. Serving as executive producers for National Geographic are Bengt Anderson and Alan Eyres, senior vice president of production and development.

National Geographic magazine 

In addition to the two National Geographic Everest specials, National Geographic magazine will release a single-topic issue spotlighting Mount Everest. The July issue aims to weave together the unique history of exploration and discovery on Mount Everest with new science and storytelling.

The issue investigates the quest to solve one of the mountain's biggest mysteries: Who really summited Everest first? It additionally:
  • explores how climate change is altering the world's highest peak
  • delves into new conservation efforts for snow leopards, and
  • provides an exclusive look inside the expedition that built the world's highest weather station.
The issue is available online from Monday, 15 June and on newsstands from Tuesday, 30 June.

For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com. You can also follow National Geographic on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.