Having finished university, Uemura leaves for a journey in the USA with 110 dollars in his pocket. But being a born climber he goes back as a tourist to reach the top of previously unclimbed Ngojumba Kang II in the Himalaya. After this adventure he climbs several other mountains and gets to be the first Japanese on Mount Everest. Later he goes to Greenland to live 10 months with the Eskimoes and treks 3000 km alone with a sledge drawn by dogs. At last, he conquers Mount Mckinley alone in the coldest period of the year. He communicates his victory by radio. They are his last words.