A condensed version of this article appears in The Hindu May 28th 2023
https://www.thehindu.com/society/everest-70-years-later/article66873075.ece
On
28th May 1953, two men started out from the South Col of Everest at
around 26,000 feet to set up Camp Nine at 27,900 feet. Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa
had attempted Everest six times and failed. Edmund Hillary, a bee keeper from
New Zealand, was on the mountain for the second time, having accompanied Eric
Shipton on the Everest Reconnaissance in 1951. The British had made eight
attempts on Everest since 1921 and this could well be their last chance. In the year of the coronation of Queen
Elizabeth II, it was imperative that they succeed. Camp IX at 27,900 feet would
be the highest that men had ever slept. The next morning dawned clear and still as
Tenzing pointed out the tiny dot of Tengboche monastery, 16,000 feet below,
where the Rimpoche had prayed for the safe return of the team. “God of my
father and mother be good to me today” prayed Tenzing. Hillary’s boots were
frozen and he had a tough job trying to unfreeze them for the climb. The duo started
out at 6.30 am and at 11.30 am on 29th May 1953 history was made as the two men
stood on the summit of Everest.
