NOW on PBS: On Thin Ice (4:43)
April 17, 2009
This video previews the one-hour NOW special, "On Thin Ice." In it, two men go on a remarkable journey high in the Himalayas to investigate threats to global water and food supply. David Brancaccio and environmentalist Conrad Anker -- one of the world's leading high altitude climbers -- adventure to the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayan Mountains, the source of the Ganges River, to witness the great melt and its dire consequences first-hand. The two also visit Montana's Glacier National Park to see the striking effects of global warming closer to home and learn how melting glaciers across the world can have a direct impact on food prices in the U.S.

Altitude Everest: climbing the Second Step
Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding climbing the Second Step, a 100-foot sheer rock wall at 8600m on the North East edge of Everest.

Altitude Everest: view from the summit
View from the summot of Everest at 8850m as Conrad Anker and Leo Houlding ascend.

The Endless Knot
Best friends Alex Lowe and Conrad Anker were overcome by an avalanche while climbing in the Tibetan Himalaya, only Conrad survived. Suffering from survivors guilt, Conrad married Alex's widow, Jenni. Now Conrad and Jenni try to find meaning beyond tragedy with a mountaineering safety school for Sherpas.