ENTERTAINMENT (MSM)

'Everest' actors had to discover their inner mountaineers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jason Clarke was already an avid outdoorsman when he signed on to play the lead role in “Everest.” He’d visited most of the national parks in North America and trekked through Chile and Argentina. He knew his way around an ice-ax and crampons. He even backpacked to Everest base camp — a staggering 17,600 feet above sea level — a few years back just for fun.