Why Would Someone Want to Climb Mount Everest?
George Mallory and Andrew Irvine attempted to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924. When asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, Mallory responded, "Because it is there." Very sadly, the climbers died in their attempt and Mallory's camera has never been found, so it is not known if they reached the top. Read more about Mallory in Mount Everest [Read Me: Explorer Tales]. Credit for the first people to summit Mount Everest goes to Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary, who reached the top in 1953. The dangers of walking on loose snow almost prevented the men from summiting, but Hillary spotted a cornice. The two men climbed up the crack left between the rock and ice, fought through more snow, and finally reached the summit. They had done it! They had reached the top!
"We stepped up. We were there. The dream
had come true" - Edmund Hillary
The news of their great accomplishment spread quickly. The Queen of England knighted Hillary (which is why his name became Sir Edmund Hillary) and presented Norgay with a medal. Streets in Great Britain were named after the two men, and the crack Hillary wedged himself into became known as the "Hillary Step" in his honor. Check out To The Top! to read more about Hillary and Norgay's journey and its aftermath. Visit this website to view an interview Hillary gave in which he comments on the importance of motivation to his journey.
"We stepped up. We were there. The dream
had come true" - Edmund Hillary
The news of their great accomplishment spread quickly. The Queen of England knighted Hillary (which is why his name became Sir Edmund Hillary) and presented Norgay with a medal. Streets in Great Britain were named after the two men, and the crack Hillary wedged himself into became known as the "Hillary Step" in his honor. Check out To The Top! to read more about Hillary and Norgay's journey and its aftermath. Visit this website to view an interview Hillary gave in which he comments on the importance of motivation to his journey.
Since Hillary and Norgay's summit, there have been more than 3,500 people who have successfully summited Mount Everest. Those people who have succeeded or attempted to climb to the summit have many reasons for taking on the challenge. Some, like George Mallory, want to climb Mount Everest for the thrill and adventure. Others, like David Gonzalez, seek to set records. In 2013, Gonzalez was the first person ever to climb Mount Everest from both the North and South side of the mountain within the same climbing season (see this CBSNews article on David to learn more about his record-setting hikes). Still, others choose to climb Everest to explore, research, and learn, like the members of the Everest Education Expedition. Learn more about their expedition by visiting their website: Montana State University.
You can view the "Important People in the History of Mount Everest" photo gallery on the Photo Gallery page to see more successful mountaineers.
You can view the "Important People in the History of Mount Everest" photo gallery on the Photo Gallery page to see more successful mountaineers.
Climbing Mount Everest can be very dangerous. It is important for people to understand the kinds of dangers they might face before they decide to attempt to reach the top. Here are some of the those dangers:
Extreme weather - The average temperature at the top of Mount Everest is -33 degrees Fahrenheit and it has been recorded to get as cold as -94 degrees Fahrenheit. That's really cold! If a mountaineer's skin is exposed to such low temperatures for too long, they could get frostbite. Such cold weather could also cause hypothermia. Blizzards are another weather concern because of the wind blowing really fast. Winds have been recorded going as fast as 200 miles per hour on the mountain. Mountaineers have to be careful to wear goggles to prevent snow blindness caused by the sun reflecting off the snow.
Avalanches - Mountaineers listen for the loud rumbling the snow makes as it slides down the mountainside as a signal to run or take shelter.
Altitude sickness - The amount of oxygen in the air decreases the higher up the mountaineers go. This can cause sickness, headaches, and tiredness. The Death Zone is the highest part of mountain (above 24,000 feet). Mountaineers can only survive at this height for no more than two or three days.
Falls - Going up a steep mountain like Mount Everest isn't easy. Mountaineers have to walk on snow and ice, and even use ropes to help climb up the mountain where they cannot walk. Mountaineers have to be very careful and pay close attention to where they are stepping to avoid slipping and falling.
Icefalls - The Khumbu Icefall is the most dangerous part of the journey up Mount Everest. Huge ice blocks separated by deep crevasses constantly move like a river. The ice blocks move so much that mountaineers cannot take the same path to cross as the day before.
Hillary and Norgay faced many of these dangers when they reached the top of Mount Everest. Read about the dangers Hillary and Norgay faced while climbing Mount Everest in The World’s Great Explorers: Edmund Hillary.
Extreme weather - The average temperature at the top of Mount Everest is -33 degrees Fahrenheit and it has been recorded to get as cold as -94 degrees Fahrenheit. That's really cold! If a mountaineer's skin is exposed to such low temperatures for too long, they could get frostbite. Such cold weather could also cause hypothermia. Blizzards are another weather concern because of the wind blowing really fast. Winds have been recorded going as fast as 200 miles per hour on the mountain. Mountaineers have to be careful to wear goggles to prevent snow blindness caused by the sun reflecting off the snow.
Avalanches - Mountaineers listen for the loud rumbling the snow makes as it slides down the mountainside as a signal to run or take shelter.
Altitude sickness - The amount of oxygen in the air decreases the higher up the mountaineers go. This can cause sickness, headaches, and tiredness. The Death Zone is the highest part of mountain (above 24,000 feet). Mountaineers can only survive at this height for no more than two or three days.
Falls - Going up a steep mountain like Mount Everest isn't easy. Mountaineers have to walk on snow and ice, and even use ropes to help climb up the mountain where they cannot walk. Mountaineers have to be very careful and pay close attention to where they are stepping to avoid slipping and falling.
Icefalls - The Khumbu Icefall is the most dangerous part of the journey up Mount Everest. Huge ice blocks separated by deep crevasses constantly move like a river. The ice blocks move so much that mountaineers cannot take the same path to cross as the day before.
Hillary and Norgay faced many of these dangers when they reached the top of Mount Everest. Read about the dangers Hillary and Norgay faced while climbing Mount Everest in The World’s Great Explorers: Edmund Hillary.
Once you decide you want to climb Mount Everest you'll need to get gear and equipment to reach the top. Click on the button below to check out some of the supplies you'll need!