Nepal and the Rest of the World Celebrate 60th Anniversary of First Ascent to Mt. Everest

In, 1953 two men stood where none stood before – at 29,028 ft (8,848 m) above sea level, the very summit of Mt. Everest, what is still the very top of the world. Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal were the first men to reach the summit of Everest. They were part of the British Everest Expedition of 1953 that was led by Colonel John Hunt. The two men’s success on Everest is considered as one of the greatest feats of exploration of the 20th century.

This year, Nepal is celebrating the 60th year of this unparalleled achievement. May 29, 1953 is forevermore in the annals of history as the day of the first successful ascent of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain on the surface of the Earth.

A record base jump for the 60th anniversary

Some of the activities lined up for the celebrations include a base-camp clean up and a high altitude marathon. A Russian daredevil has also completed a daring base jump from the mountain’s treacherous North Face. Valery Rozov jumped from an altitude of 7,220 m (23,680 ft) above sea level. This by far is the highest base jump on record.

Respect and remembrance

Sir Edmund Hillary died of heart failure at the age of 88 in 2008. He was present in the golden jubilee of the ascent in 2003. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay died at the age of 71 in 1986. They remain two of the most honored and fondly remembered explorers of their generation.

A festive procession of horse-driven carriages was held in Kathmandu with one of the 1953 British Expedition’s last surviving members. The statues of Sir Edmund and Sherpa Tensing were adorned with garlands placed by dignitaries, climbers, and surviving family members. Hundreds came to join the carriages holding colorful banners as the parade led guests to a celebration held at the royal palace.

The parade was also held in honor of other men and women of all nations who have set records in their successful conquest of the world’s tallest mountain. Since the first ascent, thousands of people have reached the summit with and without the use of oxygen.

Celebrations all over

In London, mountaineers of all ages, including the offspring of the first two men to reach the summit, gathered to commemorate the historic climb. The signing of a new book on the expedition was scheduled to coincide with the event. The Royal Geographical Society also marked the anniversary with a reception that was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh.

A historic collection

The recently launched book entitled, “The Conquest Of Everest – Original Photographs From The Legendary First Ascent,” includes contributions from accomplished and respected mountaineers, Doug Scott, Stephen Venables, and Sir Chris Bonington. Previously unpublished expedition photographs are included in this landmark publication. A member of Sir Edmund Hillary’s team, the late George Lowe put together the collection with the help of Huw Lewis-Jones, a historian.

The signing of the book was attended by other celebrated mountaineers, one of whom was 39-year old Kenton Cool. This month, Cool successfully summitted the Himalayan peaks of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse with his climbing partner Sherpa Dorje Gylgen. The two climbers are the first to scale all three of Everest’s Western Cwm.

Photo Credit: Hillary Statue and Mount Cook