The Epic Tale of Who Was the First Person to Climb Mount Everest
Mount Everest, also known as Sagarmatha in Nepal and Chomolungma in Tibet, is the highest peak in the world. Climbing this mountain is considered one of the greatest feats of human endurance and has fascinated mountaineers and adventurers for decades. However, the story of who was the first person to climb Mount Everest is a contested one, with several people claiming to have achieved the feat. In this article, we will explore the epic tale of who was the first person to climb Mount Everest and shed light on the controversy that surrounds it.
The Early Attempts to Scale Mount Everest
Several attempts were made to climb Mount Everest before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made it to the summit. The first recorded expedition to the mountain was in 1921 when a reconnaissance group led by George Leigh Mallory explored the region. Mallory also attempted to climb the mountain in 1922 and 1924, but both attempts failed, and he lost his life during the latter attempt.
Other attempts to climb the mountain were made by various groups in the following years, including the British, Swiss, and American expeditions, but none were successful in reaching the summit. In 1950, a French expedition approached the mountain from the south, but they only reached a height of 8,100 meters (26,570 ft) before turning back.
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s Historic Climb
On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander, and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali Sherpa, successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest. The news of their achievement was met with worldwide acclaim, and they were hailed as heroes. However, controversy soon arose over who had made it to the summit first.
Hillary initially claimed that he had been the first to reach the summit while Norgay stated that he had been the first. However, both men eventually agreed that they had summited together and refused to rank themselves. The Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru invited both men to India after their climb and referred to them as the “two arrows in our quiver.”
Other Claims to the Summit
After Hillary and Norgay’s successful climb, several other claims were made by individuals and expeditions about reaching the summit before them. One such claim was made by Chinese climber Wang Fu-chou, who stated that he had reached the summit in 1960. However, his claims were not validated, and the Chinese government later retracted them.
Another claim was made by British climber Tom Bourdillon and his Swiss climbing partner Andreas Hofmann, who stated that they had reached the summit before Hillary and Norgay but had turned back due to oxygen equipment failure. However, their claims were also not validated.
Conclusion
Despite the controversies, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s climb of Mount Everest remains one of the greatest achievements in human history. Their success paved the way for future expeditions and inspired countless adventurers to push the limits of human endurance. While there may be other claims to the summit, Hillary and Norgay’s climb will always remain a significant moment in mountaineering history.
