Cameraman for National Geographic TV Explorers Program
Pocatello, ID
Age: 45

As an award-winning independent filmmaker hired to document the trip for National Geographic, Rhoads, 45, of Pocatello, Idaho, combines his strengths in several mediums. Usually, he and his wife, Kellie, who has battled cancer since 1994, work together while filmmaking and specializing in high-altitude camera work. But a recent knee injury prevented her from coming along to K2 at this time. Married since 1981, they have no children, and are both accomplished mountaineers and outdoor instructors. They both have worked long years for the Colorado Outward Bound School, where they knew John Heilprin. In 1998, Rhoads gained the distinction of becoming the only person to reach the summit of Everest twice in one week. He filmed the ascent for CBS's story on Tom Whittaker, the first physically challenged climber to succeed on the world's highest peak.

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Since getting into filmmaking in 1989, the Rhoads have won the Chicago Film Festival Award and Teddy (Roosevelt) Award for best outdoor adventure film. Last year, they met Heidi Howkins on Everest, and later agreed to go to K2. "Anybody who's ever wanted to climb has wanted to go to K2," he says. "It's got a low success ratio — you just gotta go at it. We'll go there, do what we can, climb on the mountain, and with all the luck in the world we'll get somebody up there — bring everybody back."