The History of Everest

Mt. Everest

Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 highest mountains--including the mightiest of the all--Mt. Everest, known in Nepal as Sagarmatha, and Tibet as Chomolungma. The majestic and mighty Everest sits at 8,840m (29,002 ft).

The first record of Mt. Everest was in 1841 by Sir George Everest. Sir Everest, a British surveyor, recorded the location--and it wasn't until 1848 that another British surveyor recorded the height at an estimated 30,200 ft. from 110 miles away. The surveyor was only 1,200 ft. off -- not too shabby!

Mt. Everest was originally known as Peak XV--but in 1865, was renamed to Mt. Everest after Sir George Everest. It wasn't until 1907 that the Everest region was entered by foreigners, and mapped along the Dudh Kosi River, all the way to the Khumbu Glacier.

The Mt. Everest Committee was formed in 1920, in attempts to plan the summit of the mighty mountain. At this point in history, expeditions had reached the North and South Poles--Everest was the next likely feat for society.

In 1921, the Northern Route up Everest was established by Guy Bullock and George Mallory after 10 weeks of exploring the Northern and Eastern faces of the mountain. In 1922, 3 failed summit attempts were lead by Mallory, claiming the lives of at least 7 Sherpas in an avalanche on the 3rd attempt. When asked by reporters why he wanted to reach summit--he replied, "Because its there!"

In 1924, another British expedition lead by Lt. Colonel Edward Norton, set the height record for the next 29 years by Norton at 28,126 ft (8,570 m). In the same year, Mallory and Irvine attempted summit on June 8th, and lost their lives--The mystery of whether or not they ever reached summit still prevails to this day.

Edmund Hillary & Sherpa Guide

Edmund Hillary

The first flight over Everest took place in April of 1933--and a picture, worth its weight in gold, of the summit was taken. In 1936, the first light weight sets of radios were taken on yet another failed summit attempt. In 1947, after still having no successful summit attempts-- the Himalayan Committee of the Alpine Club and the Royal Geographical Society were formed in place of the Everest Committee. In 1950, after the Rana family was over thrown, the Nepalese borders were opened to foreigners and climbers were allowed to attempt summit from the South face.

In 1951, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand, made his first failed attempt. It wasn't until 1953, 112 years after the first siting of Everest, that British Expedition team finally reached the summit of the mighty Mt. Everest--

                                                               The rest is history!