The year 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest, a feat achieved by a humble New Zealander and a supremely experienced Sherpa. But it had been a long trek before the world’s highest mountain had been conquered. Robin Ashcroft charts the trials, tragedies and triumphs that led to Hillary and Tenzing’s climb – and its implications for Britain on the world stage
Mount Everest - Mount Everest - The historic ascent of 1953: Members of the expedition, which was sponsored by the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club, were Colonel John Hunt (leader; later Baron Hunt), G.C. Band, Bourdillon, R.C. Evans, A. Gregory, Edmund Hillary, W.G. Lowe, C.W.F. Noyce, M.P. Ward, M.H. Westmacott, Major C.G. Wylie (transport), T. Stobart (cinematographer), and L.G.C. Pugh (physiologist). After three weeks’ training on neighbouring mountains, a route was worked out up the Khumbu Icefall, and it was possible to start ferrying loads of supplies to the Western Cwm head. Two forms of oxygen apparatus, closed- and open-circuit types, were tried. As a result of a reconnaissance