♪ >> TONIGHT, THE POPE TAKES A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND PEACE TO LEBANON, HOME OF ONE OF THE ARAB WORLD'S LARGEST CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES.

THE WORK OF THE DISMANTLED U.S.

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GOES ON THANKS TO TWO LAID OFF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.

AND THE STORY BEHIND THE FIRST-EVER DISSENT OF MOUNT EVEREST PRESSURES NORTH FACE ON SKIS.

>> IN HISTORY, ONLY FIVE SOULS HAVE EVER MADE IT UP THIS ROUTE THROUGH A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS FROM A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXPEDITIONS AND WE HAVE 12 -- PEOPLE TO THE SUMMIT TOGETHER.

THEN I GOT MY SKIS ON AND SKIED BACK DOWN.

♪ JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

ON HIS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRIP AS PONTIFF, THE POPE IS CARRYING A MESSAGE OF UNITY AND PEACE TO THE MIDDLE EAST.

TODAY HE ARRIVED IN LEBANON WHERE HE CHALLENGED POLITICAL LEADERS TO BE TRUE PEACEMAKERS AND SET ASIDE DIFFERENCES.

IT IS A PRECARIOUS TIME IN LEBANON.

IN ADDITION TO THE DEEP DOMESTIC POLITICAL DIVISIONS, ISRAEL REGULARLY STRIKES IN SOUTH LEBANON, STRAINING A FRAGILE TRUCE WITH LEBANESE MILITIAS.

OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TRAVEL TO LEBANON AND HAS THIS REPORT.

REPORTER: TUCKED AWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN LEBANON STANDS THIS COUNTRY'S HOLIEST PILGRIMAGE SITE.

MILLIONS COME TO THE MONASTERY EACH YEAR TO VISIT THE TOMB OF THE MONK AND PRIEST, PRAY FOR MIRACLES.

THOUSANDS OF HEALINGS HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAINTS.

ONE GOAL HAS REMAINED ELUSIVE, PEACE.

THE POPE HOPES THIS CAN STILL THE COUNTRY IN THE LIGHT -- RIGHT COURSE.

>> I HAVE GREAT HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A BIG IMPACT.

BECAUSE WE ARE EXHAUSTED.

REPORTER: A CEASE-FIRE SIGNED A YEAR AGO WAS SUPPOSED TO END OF WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH BUT IS BOMBARDMENT NEVER STOPPED.

E BELIEVES THE SOLUTION IS TO DISARM HEZBOLLAH.

>> WHAT IS REQUIRED IN THE FIRST PLACETHERE A STATE.

THAT THERE IS INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE TO DO THIS.

IT IS IN OUR INTEREST AS LEBANESE.

THERE IS NO ECONOMY, NO MONEY, NOTHING.

NO COUNTRY ARAB OR WESTERN WILL GIVE US ANY SUPPORT OF THESE WEAPONS ARE MADE.

REPORTER: THE CLOCK IS TICKING.

AMERICAN AND ISRAELI PRESSURE TO DISMANTLE THE PARAMILITARY GROUP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR HAS DEEPENED RIFTS BETWEEN CONSTITUENTS AND CHRISTIANS.

DURING THE LEBANESE CIVIL WAR, SOME CHRISTIAN FACTIONS WERE ALLIES OF ISRAEL, WHICH REMAINS A SENSITIVE TOPIC.

HE HOPES THE POPE CAN EASE TENSIONS.

E AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

DESPITE THE BEVELING OF SOME PEOPLE.

AND SOME OUTSIDERS.

HEY ARE TRYING TO DIVIDE US.

UT IT HAS NOT CAUSED A BIG CRISIS BETWEEN US.

EOPLE CONTINUE TO RECONCILE.

REPORTER: LEBANON HAS 18 OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED RELIGIOUS GROUPS.

12 OF WHICH ARE CHRISTIAN.

THE CHRISTIAN POPULATION ELSEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAS STEADILY DECLINED.

CHRISTIAN STILL ACCOUNT FOR ROUGHLY ONE THIRD OF LEBANON'S 5 MILLION PEOPLE, THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF THE REGION.

THE POPE'S VISIT HAS DRAWN VISITORS FROM NEAR AND FAR.

SHE CAME WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN FROM ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI.

>> I WAS BORN IN LEBANON.

I MET MY HUSBAND IN LEBANON.

HE AND I CAME TO THE U.S.

SIX YEARS AGO.

REPORTER: DECADES LATER, WAR AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIP HAS PUSHED MANY LEBANESE TO LEAVE.

>> LEBANON IS LOSING THE PRIVATE USE OF THAT ARE EDUCATED.

THEY GO EVERYWHERE AND ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AND EXCEL IN WHATEVER FIELD THEY CHOOSE.

THEY LIVE SO WELL AND YET THEY ARE DEPRIVED TO LIVE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY.

REPORTER: A COUNTRY REELING FROM CONFLICT ONCE MORE.

IN THE CHRISTIAN HEARTLAND IN THE NORTH.

WE ARE HEADED TO THE BORDER WITH ISRAEL TO MEET A CHRISTIAN COMMUNE THERE.

THIS IS PART OF THE COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN HEAVILY AFFECTED BY THE WAR.

THE POPE WILL NOT BE VISITING.

90 MILES FURTHER SOUTH, WE ARRIVED IN THE RUINS.

AMID CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS.

AT THE HEART OF THE HISTORIC CENTER, I MET A PRIEST.

HE TOLD ME THIS IS WHAT IS LEFT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

IT HAS WEATHERED LEBANON'S MANY WARS.

>> IN THE 2006 WAR, THERE WAS DAMAGE.

AS YOU SEE.

EPORTER: THIS CHURCH WAS RENOVATED IN 1923.

>> THE CHURCH WAS VERY BEAUTIFUL.

REPORTER: THIS LATEST WAR BEGAN WHEN HEZBOLLAH FIRED A ROCKET IN A SYMBOLIC SHOW SUPPORT TO HAMAS .

ISRAEL RESPONDED WITH A PROMISING -- PUNISHING BOMBARDMENT.

MANY VILLAGES WERE HIT.

THE FIGHTING RAGED ON.

> WHEN THE WAR ENDED, THE ISRAELIS DESTROYED THE WALL.

REPORTER: HOW HAS THIS CONFLICT AFFECTED THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY HERE?

>> THE CHRISTIANS IN THIS VILLAGE HAVE BEEN GREATLY AFFECTED.

THEY HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.

REPORTER: IN TOTAL, 560 HOUSES WERE DESTROYED.

MANY BEFORE THE IDF WAS RUN FROM THE VILLAGE.

THIS USED TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN THE SOUTH.

DATING BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

THE 65 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES WHO LIVED HERE, NOW ONLY 16 REMAIN.

HE BELONGS TO ONE OF THE 16 FAMILIES.

HIS HOME WAS DAMAGED.

HE STILL HAS A JOB WITH THE MUNICIPALITY WHICH HAS GIVEN THEM THE MEANS TO RENOVATE.

HIS NEIGHBORS ARE NOT SO LUCKY.

>> SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID THAT AS THEY RENOVATE THEIR HOMES.

THEY WILL BE HIT AGAIN.

OTHERS DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY.

REPORTER: ISRAEL HAS VIOLATED THE CEASE-FIRE AROUND 10,000 TIMES, ACCORDING TO THE UNITED NATIONS PEACEKEEPING MISSION PEER WHILE ONLY A COUPLE OF DOZEN VIOLATIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ON THE LEBANESE SIDE.

THE ONGOING STRIKES ARE LIKELY A REASON THE POPE IS STAYING AWAY.

>> HE SHOULD HAVE COME HERE.

THE CHURCH WAS DESTROYED.

HE SHOULD HAVE COME TO SEE HOW WE ARE DOING.

THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH AND ESPECIALLY THE CHRISTIANS REALLY NEEDED HIM.

REPORTER: THE COMMUNITY SENT PART OF THE DEMOLISHED CHURCH TO WERE TO BE BLESSED BY THE POPE.

HE BELIEVES THE SYMBOLIC GESTURE WILL CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

JOHN: IN TONIGHT'S OTHER HEADLINES, IS REALLY PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU IS SEEKING A PREEMPTIVE PARDON IN THE MIDST OF HIS YEARS LONG CORRUPTION TRIAL.

HE SAID A PARDON WOULD HEAL DIVISIONS AND ISRAELI SOCIETY.

BUT AN INITIAL PUBLIC REACTION SUGGESTED OTHERWISE.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE TO THE ISRAELI PRESIDENT.

HIS OFFICE CALLED THE REQUEST EXTRAORDINARY AND SAID IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED RESPONSIBLY AND SINCERELY.

HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KIRSTJEN NIELSEN OF THE AFGHAN NATIONAL ACCUSED OF SHOOTING TWO NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS AND KILLING ONE OF THEM APPEARS TO HAVE ADOPTED RADICAL IDEAS WHILE IN THE U.S.

SHE SPOKE ON NBC EARLIER TODAY.

>> WE BELIEVE HE WAS RADICALIZED SINCE HE HAS BEEN HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT WAS THROUGH CONNECTIONS IN HIS HOME COMMUNITY HAVE STATED WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO THOSE.

JOHN: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS THAT A COMMUNITY HAD OF THE SUSPECT HAD BEEN UNRAVELING FOR YEARS, UNABLE TO HOLD A JOB AND ISOLATING HIMSELF FOR LONG STRETCHES.

SEVERE WEATHER IS INTERRUPTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS PLANS FOR GETTING HOME.

FLIGHTAWARE SAID THAT BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON NEARLY 7800 FLIGHTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED AND 660 CANCELED AS A WINTER STORM DUMPED HEAVY SNOW FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE GREAT LAKES.

IN THE CHICAGO AREA, AND ESTIMATED HALF A FOOT OF SNOW FELL WHILE IN MILWAUKEE UTILITY CREWS WORKED TO RESTORE POWER TO THOUSANDS.

ANOTHER STORM IS FORECAST TO BRING WINTER WEATHER ON TUESDAY FROM NEW ENGLAND TO THE MID ATLANTIC.

STILL TO COME, TWO LAID OFF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ARE KEEPING THE WORK OF USAID ALIVE.

AND AMANDA CLIMBED MOUNT EVEREST TO BECOME THE FIRST SKI DOWN ITS MOST CHALLENGING ROUTE.

♪ THIS IS PBS NEWS WEEK >> HOME OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR, WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.

JOHN: WHEN THE U.S.

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SHUTDOWN, MORE THAN 80% OF ITS PROGRAMS WERE CANCELED.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THE MOST A COST-EFFECTIVE AND LIFE-SAVING PROJECTS UP AND RUNNING, TWO LAID OFF EMPLOYEES CREATED A WEBSITE CALLED PROJECT RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION.

IT MATCHES DONORS WITH THREATENED PROGRAMS.

SO FAR THEY HAVE KEPT NEARLY 80 PROJECTS RUNNING A NEARLY 30 COUNTRIES.

OUR REPORTER SAT DOWN WITH THE FOUNDERS.

REPORTER: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

FIRST UP TO YOU, WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT USAID WAS GOING TO BE ESSENTIALLY SHUTTING DOWN AND WHAT WERE YOU THE MOST WORRIED ABOUT HAPPENING AFTER THAT?

>> IT REALLY WAS A TUMULTUOUS TIME EARLIER THIS YEAR.

I THINK INITIALLY WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE IMPACT OF WHAT THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS WOULD BE.

IN TERMS OF FUTURE PROGRAMMING.

THERE WAS A BELIEF THAT THERE WOULD BE FUTURE PROGRAMMING.

USAID WOULD CONTINUE IN SOME WAY.

AFTER NOT TOO LONG YOU COULD REALLY READ THE TEA LEAVES AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE AGENCY AS A WHOLE WOULD BE SHUTTING DOWN.

I THINK THE SCARIEST PART OF THAT, THE PART THAT REALLY SET US ASIDE A LOT OF TIMES WAS WHEN YOU KNEW WHAT USAID HAD BEEN DOING, THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS FOR GLOBAL HEALTH AND SURVIVAL AND CRISES AROUND THE WORLD, THE THOUGHT OF THAT JUST BLINKING OUT WAS REALLY SCARY.

REPORTER: AS SOMEONE INSIDE, AS THIS WAS HAPPENING, WE HAD MANY ADVOCATES FOR USAID SAYING THIS WILL LEAD TO INSTABILITY, HUNGER, DEATH, BUT AS PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING THIS VERY CLOSELY, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT ON THE GROUND?

>> UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS STARTING TO REALLY BEAR OUT.

UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT THINK THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE FULL E FFECTS OF THIS.

MANY OF THE OUTCOMES THAT USAID WERE SET UP TO SUPPORT TAKE A LONG TIME.

TO ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION.

IMMUNIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT BEING MET, THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSEQUENCES.

WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE MOST IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND THIS IS IN THE HUMANITARIAN SETTINGS WHERE HEALTH AND NUTRITION SERVICES ARE NOT REACHING CHILDREN WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED.

REPORTER: TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT QUARTER -- SORT OF PROGRAMS ARE YOU CONNECTING FUNDING WITH?

AND WHAT IS YOUR CRITERIA FOR BASICALLY PICKING WHICH PROGRAMS YOU ARE GOING TO SEEK TO CONNECT TO NEW SOURCES OF FUNDING?

>> AS WE UNDERSTOOD THAT ACTUALLY EVERYTHING WAS AT RISK, I THINK THAT FORCED US TO DO A REALLY TERRIBLE TRIAGE AND SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WE NEED TO BE LIFE-SAVING.

THAT MEANT MOSTLY FROM HUMANITARIAN PORTFOLIOS.

I THINK THE KIND OF PROGRAMMING WE ARE LOOKING AT, IT IS IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE, HELPING KEEP GLOBAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES LOW.

WE SAW IT A FEW COUNTRIES PROGRAMS WHERE THE VACCINE IS STARTING TO BE CARRIED.

THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO BE STRENGTHENING THE OUTREACH OF THESE VACCINES.

AND THEN OVERNIGHT THE PLUG WAS PULLED.

THE OTHER ONE THAT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON MY MIND, I SPENT A COUPLE OF YEARS WORKING ON TREATING CHILDREN WHO ARE FACING ACUTE MALNUTRITION.

THIS IS AT RISK OF STARVATION.

THAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN HUMANITARIAN SETTINGS LIKE SUDAN.

SO YOU SAW THE SUPPLY CHAIN FOR THINGS LIKE THIS READY TO USE FOOD THAT HELPS KEEP CHILDREN ALIVE, ALL THE SUDDEN BEING SHUT DOWN.

AND LOCKED-IN WAREHOUSES.

REPORTER: NOW YOU HAVE FUNDING FOR YOUR PLATFORM FLOWING BACK INTO PROJECTS ACROSS 30 COUNTRIES.

WHAT IS THAT LOOKING LIKE?

WHAT IS IT DIFFICULT -- WAS IT DIFFICULT TO GET SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS BACK UP AND RUNNING ONCE FUNDING HAS BEEN PAUSED?

>> OUR APPROACH IS TO REALLY BEND TO FIGURE OUT AT A RAPID TRIAGE APPROACH.

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE DELIVERING THE MOST IMPACT PER DOLLAR SPENT?

IN TERMS OF SAVING LIVES?

WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE OUT THERE.

RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WITH THE INVENTIONS IN THE WAYS THAT PROGRAMS ARE DELIVER THAT CAN LEAD TO THESE EFFECTIVE OUTCOMES?

WE WENT OUT SEARCHING FOR THE PROGRAMS WE UNDERSTOOD IT BE DELIVERING THE MOST IMPACT PER DOLLAR SPENT, TO REACH OUT TO THOSE PROGRAM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND USE THAT INFORMATION TO TRY TO BRING IN PRIVATE CAPITAL AND PHILANTHROPY TO TRY TO PICK UP SOME OF THOSE PIECES.

WE HAVE A FEW DONORS IN THE BEGINNING WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT MOMENTUM.

AS TIME HAS GONE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE SEEN MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COME UP AND STEP FORWARD AND SAY THIS IS SOMETHING I REALLY CARE ABOUT AND THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO DO.

REPORTER: YOU HAVE USED THE WORD STICKING WITH YOU A FEW TIMES, TRIAGE, WHICH IS ABOUT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

IS THIS A POINT WHERE THIS IS NOT BECOME AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING LONGER-TERM?

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF THIS LOOK LIKE?

>> THAT IS NOT REALLY FULLY THOUGHT OUT AS FAR AS LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT THINK A LOT OF THE FUNDING THAT HAS CURRENTLY BEEN CUT IS COMING BACK IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD OVER THE LAST YEAR TO TRIAGE THESE PROJECTS AND FIND THOSE THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OF FUTURE FUNDING.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO DO THAT FROM NOW THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.

WE ARE DOING A LAST MAD -- TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY PROJECTS THAT MET OUR CRITERIA THAT WE MIGHT'VE MISSED.

AND GETTING THEM ONTO OUR PLATFORM TO REMOVE FUNDING.

- - RESTORE FUNDING.

NEXT YEAR WE ARE REALLY MOVING INTO A NEW PHASE WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT IS THE DESIGN OF PROGRAMS THAT CAN LEAD TO THE MOST IMPACT PER DOLLAR SPENT AND HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE PARTNERS WERE DELIVERING HIS WORK AND HAVE BEEN DOING SO FOR MANY YEARS NOW TO STREAMLINE THE PROGRAM AND CONTINUE TO DO IT AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL AND CONTINUE TO BRING MORE AND MORE?

REPORTER: THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ OHN: WHEN ADVENTURERS TALK ABOUT MOUNT EVEREST, THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT CLIMBING THE WORLD'S HIGHEST PEAK.

IN OCTOBER, JIM MORRISON WITH THE OTHER WAY, BECOMING THE FIRST PERSON TO SKI DOWN EVEREST'S MOST DANGEROUS ROUTE.

IT WAS CHRONICLED BY A MOUNTAINEER AND ACADEMY WINNING - - AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER HEARD AN UPCOMING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY.

WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR THIS COME FROM?

>> A LIFETIME OF SKIING ON THE MOUNTAINS ALL OF THE WORLD.

MY PARTNER AND I HAS BEEN WORKING TOWARD THIS ENDEAVOR FOR A LONG TIME.

JOHN: WE SHOULD KNOW THAT SHE DIED TRAGICALLY ON AN AVALANCHE OF ANOTHER HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN IN 2022.

YOU PLANNED TO DO THIS TOGETHER?

>> WE HAD.

WE DREAM TO THIS OUT SHORTLY AFTER WE HAD SKIED A NEIGHBORING MOUNTAIN.

RIGHT NEXT TO EVEREST.

WE WERE WORKING TOWARD GETTING THERE AND ACHIEVING THIS GOAL TOGETHER.

JOHN: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS KIND OF THING?

>> REALLY MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN ON THE SIDE OF THE SKI RUN AS A LITTLE KID.

THE STEEPEST PART OF SNOW I COULD FIND.

SEE WHAT I COULD AND COULD NOT DO ON MY SKIS.

THAT HAS BEEN MY LIFE'S PASSION TO CLIMB INTERESTING MOUNTAINS ALL OVER THE PLANET.

JOHN: IN ORDER TO SKI DOWN YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE PEAK.

TALK ABOUT THE CLIMB UP.

>> THE MOUNTAINEERING SIDE OF CLIMBING MOUNTAINS HAS ALWAYS FASCINATED ME BUT I CONSISTENTLY LOOKED AT IT WITH A NIGHT OF -- AN EYE OF HOW CAN I CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND THEN SKI BACK DOWN?

THIS PARTICULAR MOUNTAIN, WE CLIMBED A ROUTE CALLED THE SUPER DRAFT ON THE NORTH FACE.

IN HISTORY ONLY FIVE SOULS HAVE EVER MADE IT UP THIS ROUTE.

THROUGH A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTS FROM A WHOLE BUNCH OF EXPEDITIONS.

WE GOT 12 PEOPLE TO THE SUMMIT TOGETHER.

IN THE I PUT MY SKIS ON AND SKIED BACK DOWN.

JOHN: IN SOME OF THE PICTURES I HAVE SEEN YOU HAD A VERY NARROW MARGIN FOR ERROR.

WE WERE SKIING IN AREAS WHERE IF YOU SLIPPED OR LOST A NET, YOU WOULD KIND OF HAVE A PRECIPITOUS FALL.

HOW DID YOU MANAGE THAT?

>> IT WAS HARD, FIRST OF ALL.

I WAS VERY NERVOUS LEADING UP TO THIS EXPEDITION.

I VISUALIZE THE ENTIRE THING.

I TRAINED FOR IT.

ONCE I WAS ON THE SUMMIT I WAS VERY FOCUSED AND PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS BELOW ME.

I AM A VERY CALCULATED, CAREFUL TURNS.

I SKIED WITHIN MY ABILITY WHERE I KNEW I COULD STAY ON WITH ECONOMIC A MISTAKE.

TURN BY TURN I MADE MY WAY DOWN 29,000 FEET DOWN TO 20,000 FEET.

JOHN: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE SNOW WAS LIKE UP THERE.

WAS IT A CHALLENGE OR DID ACTUALLY HELP YOU OR DID IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

>> THE SNOW WAS VERY CHALLENGING.

WE HAD A VERY SIGNIFICANT WIND STORM JUST BEFORE WE WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN.

IT'S TRIP TO MOST OF THE SOFT, FRESH SNOW DOWN TO WHAT WAS VIRTUALLY ICE.

NAVIGATING THE DIFFERENT TERRAIN OF THE SNOWPACK, THE UPS AND DOWNS AND THE ICE THAT WAS IN CERTAIN AREAS WAS REALLY CHALLENGING.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE AVALANCHE RISK WHICH MADE IT SAFE FOR US TO CLIMB AND SAFE FOR ME TO DESCENDANT IN THAT REGARD.

JOHN: YOU SAID YOU SKIED DOWN AND HAD TO PAY ATTENTION TO PAY - - SKIING WITHIN YOUR ABILITIES.

WAS THERE A POINT WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD EXHALE, I THINK I GOT THIS?

>> THAT POINT WAS AT THE VERY BOTTOM WHEN I CROSSED WHAT IS THE CORRECTED IN THE GLACIER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN.

UNTIL THAT POINT IT WAS VERY INTENSE AND EVERY TURN MATTERED AND I DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY PUT MY GUARD DOWN.

BUT ONCE I GOT ONTO THE FLAT PART OF THE GLACIER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN I HAD A TRUE EXHALE OF PHYSICAL, CALMING DOWN PHYSICALLY AT A REAL EMOTIONAL RELEASE.

JOHN: TALK ABOUT WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO ACTUALLY DO THIS WHEN YOU KNEW YOU HAD DONE IT.

>> THIS WAS SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR SO MANY YEARS.

WE WERE THERE FOR THREE DIFFERENT EXPEDITIONS TRY TO GET UP THE MOUNTAIN.

I HAD A HUGE TEAM SUPPORTING ME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD PULLING FOR ME AND HELPING ME ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.

TO GET TO THE BOTTOM, TO HOLD OFF CLIMBING THIS DIRECT NORTH FACE OF EVEREST AND THEN SKIING ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN WAS A DREAM COME TRUE.

SOMETHING I FELT REALLY CONNECTED TO.

HONORING HER LEGACY AND OUR LIFE TOGETHER.

I WAS JUST EXUBERANT AND ECSTATIC AND REALLY HAD A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW I WAS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.

I FELT LIKE I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE A PHYSICAL BREAKDOWN OF THE MOTION AND THRILL.

JOHN: YOU HAVE HAD MAJOR KNEE SURGERY JUST IN APRIL.

WAS THERE ANY POINT THIS SUMMER WHEN YOU THOUGHT MAYBE WE WILL DO THIS NEXT YEAR?

>> I WAS PRETTY COMMITTED TO GOING THIS SUMMER.

BUT HAVING SURGERY ON APRIL 23 AND GOING TO EVEREST AT THE END OF AUGUST WAS A REAL CHALLENGE.

I WORKED WITH A GREAT TEAM OF DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST TO GET ME READY.

I CHECKED ALL OF THE BOXES ALONG THE WAY.

IT FELT REALLY GOOD COMING INTO THE LATTER PART OF THE SUMMER.

IT WAS QUITE A FIRST RUN ON A NEW KNEE.

JOHN: TALK ABOUT CHECKING BOXES, YOU HAVE DONE THIS, WHAT IS NEXT?

>> THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF NEXTS IN MY LIFE.

FOR NOW I'M GOING TO TRY TO CELEBRATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND SHARE MY STORY AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT OTHER MOUNTAINS THERE ARE TWO SKIING WHAT OTHER PLACES THERE ARE TO EXPLORE.

JOHN: A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

JIM MORRISON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

♪ OHN: AND THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEK END FOR THIS SUNDAY.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]