The story flashes back to the town of St. Peter in Villnöss where two brothers are climbing the wall of their school located in the church.

Reinhold goes to a hospital to meet Karl Herrligkoffer, who had been leading the earlier expeditions to the Nanga Parbat.

They then begin their journey, first approaching their base camp, Rupal Flank, in Gilgit Baltistan province.

Reinhold decides not to change his mind and to follow the pursuit of his mission, thus convincing his brother and other team members to return to base camp, indeed saving their lives.

They decide to descend from the peak as soon as possible, as Günther is injured and is suffering, due to harsh weather and lack of food.

Reinhold being dejected, makes his way down through the shorter way, which leads to the Diamir face of the peak, instead of taking way back to his base camp at Rupal flank.

[1] Don Groves of SBS wrote that "Mountain climbing saga fails to reach its peak".