Trekking
Tenzing and Hillary: The First Everest Summit
On 29 May 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary stood on top of the world. Their achievement ended decades of failed attempts and changed how humanity saw its own limits.
The 1953 British Expedition to Everest was the ninth attempt on the mountain. It succeeded where eight previous expeditions had failed.
Overview
John Hunt led the expedition with 350 porters, 20 Sherpa guides, and ten climbing members. The first summit attempt by Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans on 26 May reached the South Summit (8,750m) but was forced to turn back. Two days later, Hillary and Tenzing set out from their high camp at 8,500m, climbing through the night and tackling a 12-metre rock step — now called the Hillary Step — before reaching the summit at 11:30am. Hillary photographed Tenzing with his ice axe raised; Tenzing buried chocolate and biscuits in the snow as an offering. Both men stated publicly that they reached the summit together, refusing to say who stepped on top first. The news reached London the morning of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, adding a triumphant footnote to the celebration. Tenzing was awarded the George Medal; Hillary received a knighthood. Sajilo helps modern visitors reach Namche Bazaar and the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla that bears their names.
FAQ
Who stepped on the summit first? Both Hillary and Tenzing maintained they reached the top together. In his 1955 autobiography, Tenzing wrote that Hillary stepped up first, but both men downplayed the question as irrelevant.
What equipment did they use? Open-circuit oxygen sets weighing about 14kg, leather boots with crampon attachments, and down suits — far heavier and less efficient than modern gear.
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