Outdoors

The Unbelievable Story of Mt. Everest's First Ascent (1953 Expedition)

We spoke with experts to find out more.

December 09, 2024
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Today, Mount Everest is known for its crowded climbing season, with hundreds of climbers attempting to summit each year. But back in the early 1900s, Everest was a true frontier and a deadly challenge.

The world’s highest peak remained unconquered for decades, with some expeditions ending in tragedy. In 1953, two climbers—Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay—finally reached the summit of Everest, becoming the first to conquer its treacherous heights.

What went into the first summit of Mount Everest and how do the early summits differ to summiting Everest today? We spoke with Tim Macartney-Snape (the first to summit Everest from sea-level) and Daniel Mazur (seven times Everest summiter) to find out more.

Chapters:

  • 00:00 INTRO
  • 01:53 EARLY EXPEDITIONS
  • 04:49 THE 1953 BRITISH EXPEDITION
  • 05:55 PREPARATION & GEAR
  • 06:51 THE ROUTE & CLIMB
  • 09:21 EVEREST NOW
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