Sir Edmund Hillary – Mount Everest Day 29 May 1953

On 29^th May 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary was the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest, along with Tenzing Norgay, one of the local Himalayans Sherpas. They were part of a British expedition, climbing the highest mountain peak in the world, 8848m high.

Led by Colonel John Hunt and consisting of climbers, Dr R.C. Evans, G. Band, T. Bourdillon, A. Gregory, Edmund Hillary, W.G. Lowe, C. Noyce, M.P. Ward, M. Westmacott, and C.G. Wylie.

Mount Everest Day is celebrated every year on May 29. The date was chosen to honour the mountain climbers Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who climbed the mountain on that day in 1953. Climbing Mount Everest is an accomplishment many people dream of but only a few achieve. Climbing the tallest mountain in the world comes with some life-threatening risks. It requires very good physical fitness. The climbers who make it usually have trained for many years before attempting the tallest mountain. It can take a good climber about two months to reach the peak.

Seventy years later we proudly remember the achievements of the famous New Zealander, Sir Edmund Hillary. Sir Ed, as he was known, was born 20 July 1919, the same year as my Mum, and he died 11 January 2008 aged 89 years old.

He will always be remembered as a famous mountaineer and explorer. He was also part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and he reached the South Pole overland in 1958. He also reached the North Pole making him the first person to reach the summit Mount Everest and both poles.

Hillary devoted most of his life to helping the Himalayan Sherpa people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust, which he founded. Through his efforts, many schools and hospitals were built in Nepal. It was not climbing Mt Everest that Sir Ed thought of as his greatest achievement but helping the people of Nepal.

I have recently read that he said: "I declare that I have had a full life with much happiness and a share of sadness. I have little cause for complaint. If, however some people in New Zealand feel I have made some contribution to the prestige of my country then they could best demonstrate this by continuing modest support to the Himalayan People I have worked with for so many years.”

Searching internet news reports, this year, 2023, 400 to 500 permits are estimated to be issued, compared to 2022 when Nepal had issued 316 permits to mountaineers for this year’s spring climbing season, which runs from mid-April to the end of May. Most Mt Everest hopefuls are each escorted by the neophilia guide, meaning more than 600 climbers will tread the same path to the tip of the 8,849metre (29,032 foot) peak in the coming weeks. There are several hundred Sherpa guides and support staff who have been stationed at base camp, and preparing the ropes and climbing pathways, planning their climb of the world highest peak.

As of November 2022, there have been 11,258 successful summits of Everest – some people have been multiple times so that makes around 6,000 people who have climbed Everest, This info comes from the Himalayan Database.

The Himalayan Database, The Expedition Archives of Elizabeth Hawley

How Many Dead Bodies Are On Mount Everest? - Climber News

Every season there are tragedies as the mountain claims the lives of the climbers attempting to make it to the peak or on their return journey down the steep slopes. As at November 2022, 310 people have died attempting to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Deaths have been attributed to avalanches, falls, serac collapse, exposure, frostbite, or health problems related to conditions on the mountain. Not all bodies have been located, so details on those deaths are not available.

22 May 2023 update, there had been 10 deaths and others were still missing.

Australian man Jason Kennison dies during Mount Everest climb - ABC News

Sad news this week, a 40-year-old Australian man has died while descending Mount Everest during the past week. Jason Kennison had been in Nepal for the previous six weeks to prepare for the climb. Jason Kennison was climbing Mount Everest to raise money for Spinal Cord Injuries Australia. Jason had learnt to walk again after being involved in a serious accident in 2006.

Hundreds of Summit Seekers Return to Mount Everest - Outside Online

On 2023 April 12, three Sherpa climbers who had been ferrying rope to set the line to the summit were buried by house-sized blocks of ice when a section of the Khumbu Icefall collapsed. On April 15, three days after the incident, searchers stopped looking for them and declared them dead. The Sherpas were Dawa Tseri Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa, and Lakpa Rita Sherpa. All worked for Imagine Nepal, which has the role of setting the upper mountain with safety lines.

Climbing Everest is dangerous, with 12 people dying in 2019.

There were no recorded deaths in 2020, and there were 4 deaths in 2021.

The Covid-19 outbreaks during the past three years continue to be concern for those in Nepal visiting the Himalayan camps as well as the workers and local communities. During 2020, the climbing season was closed due to the Covid-19 World Pandemic. Nepal re-opened its peaks to mountaineers in 2021. This year the expedition operators in Nepal are expecting a busier climbing season.

Published news from last year of exciting Mount Everest climbers’ achievements in 2022.

Exciting news last year on 17 May 2022, at the age of 19 years, Gabby Kanizay become the youngest Australian to climb Mount Everest, 8,849m. Gabby also climbed with her mother, Jane Kanizay, and they became one of the few mother-daughter pairing to reach the summit of Mt Everest together. The day after conquering Everest, Gabby then climbed Mt Everest’s neighbour, Lhostse, the worlds fourth-highest mountain at 8,516m. There are 14 mountains above 8,000m in the world and Gabby has now climbed three of them.

On 29 May 1953, the day Sir Edmund Hillary and his companion Tenzing Norgay climbed the highest peak in the world, Mt Everest. After descending to the South Col, they are met by George Lowe where Hillary states: "Well, George, we knocked the bastard off !"

It is time to enjoy the great outdoors, weather permitting, and celebrate the 70^th anniversary of Sir Ed climbing of Mount Everest Day. It is a good time to go for a walk up a hill, here on Norfolk Island Mt Pitt and Mt Bates are our highest peak, so maybe I will take a walk and enjoy the view from up the top.

Betty Matthews

May 2023