Everest Was First Climbed 70 Years Ago

Since 1953, thousands of climbers have stood on the summit of the world's highest mountain

Gripped May 29, 2023

Today is the 70th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest by Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay from Nepal. Since 1953, over 6,000 climbers have reached the summit of Everest.

The first American to climb Everest was Jim Whittaker on May 1, 1963 as a member of the American Mount Everest Expedition led by Norman Dyhrenfurth, alongside the Sherpa Nawang Gombu (a nephew of Tenzing Norgay). They ran out of oxygen, but managed to reach the summit. The first Canadian ascent was in 1982, when Laurie Sresklet of the Canadian Everest Expedition reached the top with Sungdare Sherpa and Lhakpa Dorje Sherpa.

Kami Rita Sherpa, who’s climbed Everest a record 28 times, said on the 70th anniversary of the peak’s first ascent, “Let’s not forget the climbers who sadly lost their life on Everest while chasing their dream. Their legacy endures, and we pay tribute to them while continuing to value Everest as an incredible wonder.” At least 12 climbers have died on Everest this season.

Watch below as Norgay walks us through the first ascent using a model of Everest. And watch a video from the year 2000 when Hillary visited Banff and was interviewed by author Wade Davis.