해발 8,750 미터 히말라야 에베레스트 데스존. 인간의 접근을 허락하지 않은 신의 영역에 묻혀있는 동료의 시신을 찾기 위해 엄홍길 대장과 휴먼 원정대는 기록도, 명예도, 보상도 없는 가슴 뜨거운 여정을 시작한다.
Based on true events, renowned mountaineer Um Hong-gil set out on a mission to Everest to retrieve his late junior climber\'s body and faces the greatest challenge of his life. Following a grueling climb up Kanchenjunga, Hong-gil and Mu-taek become fast friends and partners in climb. The peak of their professional careers comes when they become the 14th team to scale the Himalayas. But the climb came at a price: both sustained injuries and Hong-gil was compelled to retire. Years later, Hong-gil is a renowned lecturer and Mu-taek takes up an assignment to go up Everest. When Hong-gil learns that Mu-taek has gone missing, he blames himself for encouraging the younger man\'s plans. Looking at a photo of Mu-taek\'s frozen corpse still trapped on the mountain, he decides to put together a rescue team to retrieve the body. Despite warnings, concerns over his injured leg and treacherous storms, Hong-gil leads the expedition.