Savage Mountain Explores Triumph and Controversy at the Top of the World

Image: Sky TV Press

By Jon Donnis

Sky Documentaries is set to unveil Savage Mountain, a striking new film that traces the extraordinary climb of Kristin Harila and the storm of controversy that followed in its wake. Built around one of the most ambitious feats in mountaineering history, the documentary promises a closer look at both the achievement itself and the global reaction that came after.

The film follows Kristin’s rapid rise from relative newcomer to record breaker, capturing the sheer intensity of her attempt to summit all 14 of the world’s highest peaks. Expeditions to these mountains usually stretch across two months at a time, yet she completed the entire challenge in just 92 days, cutting the previous record, held by Nims Purja, in half. Central to that achievement was her partnership with Nepalese climber Tenjen Lama Sherpa, with the pair sharing the record in a rare joint accomplishment.

That remarkable success, however, soon became entangled in controversy. As headlines celebrated the record, footage emerged from K2 showing climbers passing an injured Pakistani porter, Mohammad Hassan. Kristin found herself at the centre of intense criticism, accused of stepping past a dying man in pursuit of the record. The incident sparked a fierce international debate around ambition, ethics, and the way such stories are told and interpreted.

Reflecting on the experience, Kristin Harila describes the climb as life changing in ways she is still coming to terms with. She speaks of the lasting impact of the journey, as well as the bond she formed with Lama, emphasising that the documentary offers space for parts of the story that have not yet been heard. Her hope is that audiences will leave with a fuller understanding of what truly happened.

For Sky, the project represents more than a headline driven retelling. Hayley Reynolds, Head of Documentary Commissioning, points to the film’s intimate access and previously unseen footage as key to exploring a story that is both extraordinary and complex. The production brings together Field Productions and Full Story Films, with direction from Even Sigstad and production led by Filip Christensen, supported by the Norwegian Film Institute.

Savage Mountain will arrive on Sky and the streaming service NOW in 2026, offering a detailed and unflinching look at a record breaking climb and the difficult questions that followed close behind.