Every time you hear the name Mount Everest, what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? Is it where is Mount Everest or who was the first person to climb Mount Everest? The first people to climb the legendary mountain, Mount Everest, which is located on the Border of Nepal and China, were Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hilary in 1953.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet, is the planet’s highest peak at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). Located on the boundary between Nepal and China (Tibet) in the Himalayas.
Not only is Everest a sign of adventure and human endurance, it also holds great cultural and religious importance to the local people. Each year, climbers from around the world attempt to climb the summit of Everest, subjecting themselves to extreme weather, lack of oxygen, and unstable ground that render it one of the most identifiable and difficult peaks on Earth.
Who was the First Person to Climb Mount Everest?
The mighty Everest was first conquered on 29 May 1953 by two legendary figures in the history of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. On the day of summiting Everest, they started their climb early in the morning.
The team arrived in Nepal in March and began their journey to the Everest summit from Kathmandu Valley. After a long and challenging journey, they reached the top of the Sagarmatha (Nepali name of Mount Everest) at around 11:30 AM and stayed there for about 15 minutes.
Sir Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Hillary was a New Zealand mountaineer, known as the first person to climb Mount Everest. Hillary was born on 20 July 1919 in Auckland city of New Zealand. Hillary was chosen for the British expedition led by Colonel John Hunt to summit Everest. He and Tenzin Norgay Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, becoming the first climbers confirmed to have achieved the feat.
Before the Mount Everest Expedition
In 1939, Hillary made his first major climb by reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier in New Zealand. He served as a navigator in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He was chosen for the British expedition led by Colonel John Hunt to summit Everest.
After the Mount Everest Expedition
After the Mount Everest expedition, Hillar became an international hero. He continued climbing and exploring, including Antarctic expeditions and other Himalayan peaks. He also became the first person to summit Mount Everest and stand on both the South and North Poles. Hillary had written several books sharing his experiences, including High Adventure and View from the Summit. He died on 11 January 2008 in Auckland.
Mountains Edmund Hillary Climbed
- Mount Ollivier (2,339 m) – his first major climb in 1939.
- Mount Cook / Aoraki (3,724 m) – New Zealand’s highest peak, climbed in 1948.
- Other Southern Alps summits in the 1930s–40s.
- Cho Oyu (8,188 m) – Tried in 1952 as part of the British Everest reconnaissance, but did not make it.
- Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) – First successfully climbed on May 29, 1953, with Tenzing Norgay, as the first established climbers to climb to the top of the world.
- Makalu (8,485 m) – Participated in the 1954 reconnaissance expedition.
- Ama Dablam (6,812 m) – Climbed subsequently in Himalayan expeditions.
- Led the New Zealand component of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1955–58).
- First overland by vehicles to travel to the South Pole (1958) since Amundsen and Scott.
- Scales several Himalaya mountains with the Sherpa nation and the Himalayan Trust.
- Crossed sections of Nepal and Tibet by trekking and mountaineering.
Honors
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) – 1953
- Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG) – 1995
- Order of New Zealand (ONZ) – 1987
- Order of Merit (OM) – 1987
- Honorary Citizen of Nepal – 2003
- Featured on New Zealand’s five-dollar note
Tenzing Norgay Sherpa
Born in May 1914 in Nepal’s Khumbu district, Tenzing Norgay was a Nepali Sherpa climber who, along with Sir Edmund Hillary, successfully made the first recorded ascent of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953. Tenzing was an extremely experienced climber before the record-breaking climb, having ascended numerous Himalayan expeditions.
First person to climb Mount Everest, Tenzing Norgay Shepra’s rise confirmed his status as a national hero in Nepal and India and created worldwide recognition of the crucial work Sherpa climbers play in mountaineering.
Before the Mount Everest Expedition
Tenzing Norgay Sherpa came from a humble Sherpa family who grew up in the Himalayan region of Nepal. He developed climbing and survival skills and took part in several expeditions before 1953.
After the Mount Everest Expedition
After the Mount Everest expedition, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, along with Edmund Hillary, became international heroes. He then joined the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling, India, as the first Director of Field Training. In 1955, he published his autobiography as The Tiger of Snow. He died at the age of 71 in Darjeeling, India, on 9 May 1986.
Mountains Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Climbed
- Mount Everest (8,848, 1953)
- Nanda Devi (7,816 m, India, 1936)
- Makalu (8,485 m, 1954)
Honors
- George Medal (UK, 1953)
- Padma Bhushan (India, 1959)
- Order of the Star of Nepal, First Class (1953)
- Honorary President of the Sherpa Association
First Expedition to Mount Everest
The first successful Mount Everest expedition was the 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition that was commanded by Colonel John Hunt. On May 29, 1953, New Zealand’s Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay Sherpa became the first climbers to stand at the summit of the world’s highest mountain at an elevation of 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). They ascended to the summit via the Southeast Ridge route from Nepal, after weeks of preparation, setting up a chain of camps, and facing extreme weather.
This historical achievement not only documented the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest but also highlighted the primary role of Sherpas in Himalayan climbing. The news of the achievement was announced on June 2, 1953, the coronation day of Queen Elizabeth II, and hence became a global celebration. Hillary and Tenzing’s climb is a lasting symbol of human perseverance, collaboration, and exploration.
Final Thoughts
The historic first person to climb Mount Everest on 29 May 1953 is one of the most iconic Mount Everest expeditions in human history. Their ascent was not just a spectacular demonstration of courage, power, and teamwork but also a turning point that gained Sherpa climbers international recognition for their invaluable roles. Everest continues to symbolize the adventurous and human spirit, motivating generations of climbers and explorers worldwide. In addition to its physical achievement, the summit is culturally and religiously significant, reminding us of the eternal connection between man and nature’s pinnacle.
Hillary and Tenzing’s achievement is not a record but an achievement in timelessness of determination, collaboration, and the triumph of the human spirit.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. Where is Mount Everest?
Mount Everest is located at the border of Nepal and Tibet, China.
2. How long does it take to climb Mount Everest?
Climbing Mount Everest takes 60 to 70 days.
3. How high is Mount Everest?
The height of Mt Everest is 8848.86 m above sea level.
4. How many people have climbed Mount Everest?
Over 6000 people have successfully climbed Mount Everest.
5. Who was the first person to climb Mount Everest?
Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953.
6. Who has climbed Mount Everest the most?
Kami Rit Sherpa holds the record for climbing Mount Everest the most for 31 times.
7. Who is the youngest person to climb Mount Everest?
Jordan Romero is the youngest person to climb Mount Everest at the age of 13 years.
8. Who was the first female to climb Mount Everest?
Junko Tabei, a Japanese woman, is the first woman to climb Mount Everest.
9. Who is the oldest person to climb Mount Everest?
Japanese climber, Yuichiro Miura, is the oldest person to climb Mt Everest at the age of 80 years and 223 days in May 2013.
