David Breashears

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David Breashears
Fort Benning, Georgia, U.S.
DiedMarch 14, 2024(2024-03-14) (aged 68)
Marblehead, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations
  • Mountaineer
  • filmmaker
  • author
  • motivational speaker
Notable workEverest

David Finlay Breashears (December 20, 1955 – March 14, 2024) was an American

mountaineer, filmmaker, author and motivational speaker.[1] In 1985, he reached the summit of Mount Everest a second time, becoming the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest more than once. He is perhaps best known as the director and cinematographer of Everest (1998)—which became the highest-grossing IMAX documentary—and for his assistance in the rescue efforts during the 1996 Everest disaster, which occurred during the film's production.[2][3][4]

Career

Mountaineering, filmmaking, and photography

In 1983, Breashears transmitted the first live pictures from the summit of Mount Everest, and in 1985, he became the first American to reach its summit more than once. Breashears made eight expeditions to Everest, reaching the summit five times.[5]

Breashears also climbed to the summit of 24,494 ft (7,466 m)

on-sight, of the largely unprotected traditional climbing route Perilous Journey 5.11b X on Eldorado Mountain in 1975, was one of the boldest ascents of the 1970s.[4]

In 1985, Breashears guided Richard Bass to the summit of Everest; with this, Bass completed the first-ever ascent of the Seven Summits (the highest summit on each of the seven continents).[6][7]

Breashears also worked on feature films including

Emmy awards for achievement in cinematography.[11][when?
]

Combining his interests and skills in climbing, filmmaking, and photography, he directed, starred in, and produced the acclaimed

Nova television program, Everest: The Death Zone (1998).[13] Additionally, Breashears made the film Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa (2002).[8]

Breashears' documentary film, Storm Over Everest (May 13, 2008),

1996 storm, and music composed by Jocelyn Pook. During the filming of the documentary in 2006, Breashears summitted Everest a fifth time. He also documented his personal reactions to climbing Everest again, while filming the Nova documentary, in "Epilogue to the 1996 Everest disaster".[15]

Publications

Breashears was the author of several books, including an autobiography, High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places (1999).[4]

Breashears also wrote the article, "Every Man For Himself?", published in American Alpine Journal (1988).[16]

Work with organizations

Breashears was a director of Destination Himalaya, a travel firm specializing in adventure travel to Himalayan countries.[17]

In 2007, Breashears founded GlacierWorks, a non-profit company that uses science, art, and adventure to raise awareness about climate change in the Greater Himalaya.[18]

Personal life and death

He was born on December 20, 1955 in

Fort Benning, Georgia, the son of a United States Army officer.[8] Breashears was married to fellow adventurer Veronique Choa in 1986.[8] They divorced, and Breashears lived in Marblehead, Massachusetts when not climbing. He died at his home in Marblehead on March 14, 2024, at the age of 68.[8][19][13]
David is survived by his sister, Lisa Breashears, and brother, Stephen Breashears.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Motivational Speaker: David F. Breashears". Everest Speakers Bureau.
  2. ISBN 978-1-6106-9198-7
    .
  3. ^ "EverestHistory.com: David Breashears". www.everesthistory.com. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  4. ^
    ISBN 0-684-85361-2
    .
  5. ^ The filmmaker who returned to Everest's death zone. September 17, 2015.
  6. ISBN 9780816502318
    .
  7. ^ Narula, Svati Kirsten. "Oil baron Dick Bass, the first man to summit the highest peak on every continent, has died". Quartz. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
  8. ^ a b c d e Risen, Clay (March 19, 2024). "David Breashears, 68, Who Braved Everest to Capture It on Film, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "The Mountain is Ready for its Close-up". Outside Online.
  10. ^ "Famed Everest Documentarian David Breashears Dies at 68". Explorersweb.
  11. ^ "Talking Points, Oct. 1 - 13, 2010". University of Southern California US-China Institute.
  12. ASIN B008YFBVK6
    .
  13. ^ a b Osius, Alison; Dreier, Frederick (15 March 2024). "American Mountaineer and Filmmaker David Breashears Dies at Age 68". Outside Online. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  14. ^ Storm over Everest. PBS. May 13, 2008.
  15. ^ Breashears, David. "Epilogue to the 1996 Everest disaster". Nova. PBS.
  16. ISBN 0-930410-33-5
    .
  17. ^ "Breashears, Director". Destination Himalaya.
  18. ^ "GlacierWorksfficial website". GlacierWorks.org. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  19. ^ "David Breashears, mountaineer and filmmaker who co-produced Mount Everest documentary, dies at 68". AP News. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Breashears.
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