1953 British Mount Everest expedition

The British Mount Everest expedition of 1953 was the first expedition that made it to the summit of Mount Everest. Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander explorer, and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese mountain climber, formed the pair that got to the top. It was the ninth attempt to reach the summit. 

The expedition was led by Colonel John Hunt, who was hired by the Everest organizing committee. The military-style expedition was "bottom heavy" by today's standards. There were tons of equipment hauled by 350 porters to support only ten climbers. Other teams also tried.

Finally, on May 29, Hillary and Tenzing made it to the top. They could stay on the summit for only 15 minutes because they risked running out of oxygen. They began the long climb back down to the base camp.

They arrived exhausted and unable to speak. When Hunt saw them, he thought that they had failed and began arranging for another team to try. However, the two gestured that the climb had been a success. Hillary and Norgay became instant heroes.

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Category:1953 in Asia
Category:1950s in the United Kingdom
Category:Himalayas
Category:Mountain climbing
Category:20th century in Nepal