Later they took a helicopter trip to Tengboche in the Himalayas which Boorman described as the most awesome flight he had ever taken in his life due to the scenery of the green valleys, the looming mountains and Mount Everest. During their time there it coincided with the 55th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's ascent of Everest, and they met his son, Peter Hillary who was visiting with family. They witnessed a marathon being held there, always won by the Sherpas due to them being accustomed to the thin air at that altitude. They were also under scrutiny on the Tibetan border by the Chinese army as their helicopter teetered marginally into Chinese airspace.