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1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 62 (from laksa090)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa062.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats","crawl_time":1775446064,"first_indexed_time":1558545545,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,britannica!www,\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats s443","src_root_hash":"5455945239613777662","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Mount Everest - Climbing, Records, Challenges | Britannica","meta_descriptions":["Mount Everest - Climbing, Records, Challenges: In pure mountaineering terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient logistics, satellite"],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"In pure\nmountaineering\nterms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient\nlogistics\n, satellite weather forecasts, the use of a\ncopious\namount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce.\nMeanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from\nsea level\nin the\nBay of Bengal\nto the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native\nSweden\nbefore ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American\nErik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as\nMount McKinley\n(Denali) in\nAlaska\nand\nKilimanjaro\nin eastern\nAfrica\nbefore his climb of Everest.\nFor sheer physiological\nprowess\n, however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999\nBabu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003—\nPemba Dorje and\nLakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of\nApa Sherpa\n. In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were\nundertaken\nas a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013.\nKami Rita\n, also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021.\nThe record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after\nNepal\nbanned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time,\nChina\nimposed no such restrictions, and in 2003\nMing Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the\nsummit\nfrom the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American\nJordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached.\nBeginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for\nskiing\ndown the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an\nAcademy Award\n-winning 1975 documentary,\nThe Man Who Skied Down Everest\n)—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful\nascent\n, but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber,\nWatanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73.\nSome of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face.\nFinding\nMallory\nand commemorating historic ascents\nTwo notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after\nGeorge Mallory\nand\nAndrew Irvine\nhad disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and\ncompound\nleg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the\nrope\nwhich undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles,\naltimeter\n, and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit.\nThe 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and\nBarry Bishop\n’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in\nNew Zealand\nfrom the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations\nworldwide\non the day itself, including one in\nKathmandu\nwhere hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition.\nSeveral milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The\nRoyal Geographical Society\n(RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first\nairplane\nflight over the\nmountain\nwas remembered during the year.\nAI-generated answers\nfrom Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.","attrs_markdown":"[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel\/eb-logo\/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen)\n\nLogin\n\nhttps:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm\\_source=premium\\&utm\\_medium=nav-login-box\\&utm\\_campaign=evergreen\n\n[SUBSCRIBE](https:\/\/premium.britannica.com\/premium-membership\/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue)\n\n[Ask the Chatbot](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/chatbot)\n\n[Games & Quizzes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/browse) [History & Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/procon) [Money](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/money) [Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/videos)\n\n[Mount Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest)\n\n- [Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest)\n- [Physical features](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest#ref2195)\n  - [Geology and relief](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest#ref230894)\n  \n  - [Drainage and climate](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest#ref230895)\n  \n  - [The height of Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-height-of-Everest)\n  \n  - [Human factors](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-height-of-Everest#ref234719)\n    - [Habitation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-height-of-Everest#ref234720)\n    - [Environmental issues](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-height-of-Everest#ref230897)\n- [History of exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/History-of-exploration)\n  - [Mountaineering on Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/History-of-exploration#ref230898)\n    - [The human challenge](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/History-of-exploration#ref230907)\n    - [Routes and techniques](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/History-of-exploration#ref230908)\n  \n  - [Early expeditions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions)\n    - [Reconnaissance of 1921](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230910)\n    - [Attempt of 1922](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230911)\n    - [Attempt of 1924](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230912)\n    - [Attempt of 1933](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230913)\n    - [Reconnaissance of 1935](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230914)\n    - [Attempts of 1936 and 1938](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230915)\n  \n  - [Golden age of Everest climbs](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230899)\n    - [Reconnaissance of 1951](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230916)\n    - [Spring attempt of 1952](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230917)\n    - [Autumn attempt of 1952](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Early-expeditions#ref230918)\n    - [The historic ascent of 1953](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-historic-ascent-of-1953)\n    - [Everest-Lhotse, 1956](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230920)\n    - [Attempts of 1960](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230921)\n    - [The U.S. ascent of 1963](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230922)\n    - [The Indian ascent of 1965](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230923)\n  \n  - [Developments since 1965](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965)\n    - [The 1970s](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230924)\n      - [The Southwest Face](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230925)\n      - [The first ascent by a woman](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230926)\n      - [The West Ridge direct ascent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230927)\n      - [Climbing without supplemental oxygen](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230928)\n      - [The north approach](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230929)\n    - [The 1980s](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Developments-since-1965#ref230930)\n      - [First solo climb](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb)\n      - [Further exploration from Tibet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref230932)\n      - [Developments in Nepal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref230933)\n      - [The end of an era](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref230934)\n    - [Since 1990](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref230935)\n      - [Commercialism and tragedy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref230936)\n        - [Surge in traffic and overcrowding](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref343165)\n        - [Avalanches in 2014 and 2015](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/First-solo-climb#ref343166)\n      - [Extraordinary feats](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats)\n      - [Finding Mallory and commemorating historic ascents](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats#ref230937)\n\n[References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/additional-info)  [Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Mount-Everest)\n\n[Images, Videos & Interactives](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/images-videos)\n\n[![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/17\/83817-004-C5DB59F8\/Mount-Everest.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/17\/83817-050-67C814CD\/Mount-Everest.jpg)  [![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/27\/19827-004-D7EC103A\/Mount-Everest.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/27\/19827-050-590647EE\/Mount-Everest.jpg)  [![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/10\/193610-004-0FF67241\/Mount-everest-facts-figures-summits-deaths-climbing.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/10\/193610-050-F32EF256\/Mount-everest-facts-figures-summits-deaths-climbing.jpg)  [![Mount Everest massif](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/54\/155954-004-37C0137B\/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/54\/155954-050-6568A963\/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg)  [![Mount Everest: Khumbu Icefall](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/51\/181251-004-7E3044DF\/Mount-Everest-mountain-Khumbu-Icefall-Himalayas-base.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/51\/181251-050-B5A8C51B\/Mount-Everest-mountain-Khumbu-Icefall-Himalayas-base.jpg)  [![Khumbu Glacier](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/16\/179216-004-D8ECF610\/pond-Khumbu-Glacier-Mount-Everest-Nepal-Himalayas.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/16\/179216-050-03F27A15\/pond-Khumbu-Glacier-Mount-Everest-Nepal-Himalayas.jpg)\n\n[![The video thumbnail image shows a snow-capped mountain against a blue sky.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/98\/263098-138-87DCA742\/why-are-mountains-so-tall.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/why-are-mountains-so-tall\/-321447)\n\n[![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/39\/76239-004-856F7801\/Climbers-side-Nepali-Mount-Everest.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/39\/76239-050-DE5FCF36\/Climbers-side-Nepali-Mount-Everest.jpg)  [![Deaths on Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/47\/258147-049-816A70E3\/mount-everest-deaths-nepal-china.jpg)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats)  [![Apa Sherpa in the Khumbu Icefall of Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/63\/140463-004-3D9015D4\/Apa-Sherpa-route-ascent-Khumbu-Icefall-Mount-2010.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/63\/140463-050-A1FCC422\/Apa-Sherpa-route-ascent-Khumbu-Icefall-Mount-2010.jpg)\n\nAt a Glance\n\n[![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/17\/83817-050-67C814CD\/Mount-Everest.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Mount-Everest)\n\n[Mount Everest summary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Mount-Everest)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/86\/170586-131-7E23E561\/Taj-Mahal-Agra-India.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/wonders-of-the-world-quiz)\n\n[Wonders of the World Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/wonders-of-the-world-quiz)\n\n[![Map showing World distribution of the major religions.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/13\/95413-131-EC7969C2\/World-religions-distribution.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/its-all-in-the-name)\n\n[It’s All in the Name](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/its-all-in-the-name)\n\n[![Mount Everest. Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet, mountains, snow, Mt. Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/07\/162707-131-59A74CDC\/Mount-Everest.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/to-everest-and-back)\n\n[To Everest and Back](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/to-everest-and-back)\n\n[![Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal. (Himalayan Mountains; mountain range; mountain landscape; Mt. Everest)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/54\/155954-131-6B17DC7A\/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/mount-everest)\n\n[Mount Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/mount-everest)\n\n[![Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, United States. Appalachian Highlands, Ridge and Valley, The Appalachian Mountain system](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/40\/166940-131-5303C2D1\/Blue-Ridge-Mountains-Appalachian-Mountains-North-Carolina.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/all-about-mountains-quiz)\n\n[All About Mountains Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/all-about-mountains-quiz)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [What are other names for Mount Everest?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-are-other-names-for-Mount-Everest)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)\n\nContents\n\nAsk Anything\n\n[Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Geography-Travel)    [Physical Geography of Land](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Physical-Geography-Land)    [Mountains & Volcanoes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Mountains-Volcanoes)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n## Extraordinary feats\nin  [Mount Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest) in\n\n# [History of exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/History-of-exploration)\n\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Chomolungma, Chu-mu-lang-ma Feng, Peak XV, Qomolangma Feng, Sagarmatha, Zhumulangma Feng[(Show More)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/Extraordinary-feats)\n\nWritten by\n\n[Stephen Venables Mountain climber and the first Briton to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen.*photograph: © Stephen Venables*](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/Stephen-Venables\/6025)\n\nStephen Venables[All](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/additional-info#contributors)\n\nFact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\nLast updated\n\nMar. 7, 2026\n\n•[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nAsk Anything\n\nIn pure [mountaineering](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/mountaineering) terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient [logistics](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/logistics), satellite weather forecasts, the use of a [copious](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/copious) amount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce.\n\nMeanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from [sea level](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sea-level) in the [Bay of Bengal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bay-of-Bengal) to the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native [Sweden](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sweden) before ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American Erik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as [Mount McKinley](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Denali) (Denali) in [Alaska](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alaska) and [Kilimanjaro](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kilimanjaro) in eastern [Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Africa) before his climb of Everest.\n\n[![Apa Sherpa on Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/140345-050-D39159F4\/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/140345-050-D39159F4\/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg)\n\n[Apa Sherpa on Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/45\/140345-050-D39159F4\/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg)Mountaineer Apa Sherpa on the summit of Mount Everest, 2009.\n\n(more)\n\nFor sheer physiological [prowess](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/prowess), however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999 Babu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003—Pemba Dorje and Lakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of [Apa Sherpa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Apa-Sherpa). In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were [undertaken](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/undertaken) as a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013. [Kami Rita](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Kami-Rita), also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021.\n\nThe record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after [Nepal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nepal) banned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time, [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China) imposed no such restrictions, and in 2003 Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the [summit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/summit) from the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American Jordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached.\n\nBeginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for [skiing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/skiing) down the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an [Academy Award](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/Academy-Award)\\-winning 1975 documentary, *The Man Who Skied Down Everest*)—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful [ascent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/ascent), but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber, Watanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73.\n\nSome of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face.\n\n## Finding [Mallory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/George-Mallory) and commemorating historic ascents\nTwo notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after [George Mallory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/George-Mallory) and [Andrew Irvine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Andrew-Irvine) had disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and [compound](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/compound) leg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the [rope](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/rope) which undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles, [altimeter](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/altimeter), and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit.\n\nThe 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and [Barry Bishop](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Barry-C-Bishop)’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in [New Zealand](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-Zealand) from the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations [worldwide](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/worldwide) on the day itself, including one in [Kathmandu](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kathmandu) where hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition.\n\nSeveral milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The [Royal Geographical Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Royal-Geographical-Society) (RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first [airplane](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/airplane) flight over the [mountain](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/mountain-landform) was remembered during the year.\n\n[Stephen Venables](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/Stephen-Venables\/6025) [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nMount Everest - Climbing, Records, Challenges\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\n[Himalayas](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas)\n\n- [Introduction & Top Questions](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas)\n- [Physical features](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Physical-features)\n  - [Geologic history](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Physical-features#ref47869)\n  \n  - [Physiography](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Physiography)\n  \n  - [Drainage](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Drainage)\n  \n  - [Soils](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Drainage#ref47872)\n  \n  - [Climate](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Climate)\n  \n  - [Plant life](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Plant-life)\n  \n  - [Animal life](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Animal-life)\n- [People](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/People)\n- [Economy](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Economy)\n  - [Resources](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Economy#ref47878)\n  \n  - [Transportation](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Economy#ref47879)\n- [Study and exploration](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/Study-and-exploration)\n\n[References & Edit History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/additional-info)  [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Himalayas)\n\n[Images & Videos](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/images-videos)\n\n[![Himalayan mountain ranges](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/25\/5925-004-61D8B19D\/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/25\/5925-050-60D410CA\/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg)  [![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/74\/114874-004-297B207E\/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/74\/114874-050-6E04C88C\/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)  [![Nanga Parbat](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/120923-159-7ABAB87D\/Nanga-Parbat.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/120923-050-8FF29907\/Nanga-Parbat.jpg)  [![Himalayas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/196757-004-0ED54B2D\/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/196757-050-BDAD8752\/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)  [![Machhapuchhare, Nepal](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/10\/94510-004-571C2E50\/Machhapuchhare-Great-Himalaya-Range-Nepal.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/10\/94510-050-D0B814DA\/Machhapuchhare-Great-Himalaya-Range-Nepal.jpg)  [![cross section of the Himalayas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/63\/7763-004-42AB6D71\/Great-Himalayas-cross-section-overthrusting-terrains-foreland.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/63\/7763-050-BE745F40\/Great-Himalayas-cross-section-overthrusting-terrains-foreland.jpg)  [![Kailas Range](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/19\/140419-004-DE701C6A\/side-Kangrinboqe-Peak-Kailas-Range-Trans-Himalayas-Tibet.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/19\/140419-050-0AD1C0A4\/side-Kangrinboqe-Peak-Kailas-Range-Trans-Himalayas-Tibet.jpg)\n\n[![The video thumbnail image shows a snow-capped mountain against a blue sky.](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/98\/263098-138-87DCA742\/why-are-mountains-so-tall.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/video\/why-are-mountains-so-tall\/-321447)\n\n[![Kanchenjunga](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/73\/1873-004-16C5A9F2\/Kanchenjunga-border-Himalayas-Nepal-India.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/73\/1873-050-BA1E4FE0\/Kanchenjunga-border-Himalayas-Nepal-India.jpg)  [![Himalayas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/61\/115261-004-35A037BD\/peak-Shilla-Himalayas-Himachal-Pradesh-India-state.jpg)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/61\/115261-050-7E10B712\/peak-Shilla-Himalayas-Himachal-Pradesh-India-state.jpg)\n\nAt a Glance\n\n[![default image](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/shared\/new-thistle.svg?v=3.178.5)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Himalayas)\n\n[Himalayas summary](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/summary\/Himalayas)\n\nQuizzes\n\n[![Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/86\/170586-131-7E23E561\/Taj-Mahal-Agra-India.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/wonders-of-the-world-quiz)\n\n[Wonders of the World Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/wonders-of-the-world-quiz)\n\n[![Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, United States. Appalachian Highlands, Ridge and Valley, The Appalachian Mountain system](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/40\/166940-131-5303C2D1\/Blue-Ridge-Mountains-Appalachian-Mountains-North-Carolina.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/all-about-mountains-quiz)\n\n[All About Mountains Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/all-about-mountains-quiz)\n\n[![Rice terraces in Vietnam. (food; farm; farming; agriculture; rice terrace; crop; grain; paddy; paddies;garden)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/30\/157630-131-43C0514C\/rice-paddies-Vietnam.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/know-your-asian-geography-quiz)\n\n[Know Your Asian Geography Quiz](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/quiz\/know-your-asian-geography-quiz)\n\nRelated Questions\n\n- [What are the physical features of the Himalayas?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-are-the-physical-features-of-the-Himalayas)\n- [What are other names for Mount Everest?](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/question\/What-are-other-names-for-Mount-Everest)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\n[Geography & Travel](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Geography-Travel)    [Physical Geography of Land](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Physical-Geography-Land)    [Mountains & Volcanoes](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/browse\/Mountains-Volcanoes)\n\nCITE\n\nShare\n\nFeedback\n\nExternal Websites\n\n[![Himalayan mountain ranges](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/25\/5925-050-60D410CA\/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/25\/5925-050-60D410CA\/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg)\n\n[Himalayan mountain ranges](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/25\/5925-050-60D410CA\/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg) Map showing the Himalayan mountain system.\n\n(more)\n\n# Himalayas\nmountains, Asia\n\nHomework Help\n\nAlso known as: Himalaya\n\nWritten by\n\n[Barry C. Bishop Chairman, Committee for Research and Exploration, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., 1989–91. Member of the American Everest Expedition, 1963. Author of *Karnali Under Stress.*](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/contributor\/Barry-C-Bishop\/3788)\n\nBarry C. Bishop[All](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/additional-info#contributors)\n\nFact-checked by\n\n[Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/editor\/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica\/4419)\n\nBritannica Editors\n\n[History](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/additional-info#history)\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI\n\nAsk Anything\n\nQuick Summary\n\nTable of Contents\n\nTable of Contents\n\nQuick Summary\n\nAsk Anything\n\nTop Questions\n\n### Where are the Himalayas?\nThe Himalayas stretch across land controlled by India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China.\n\n### How long are the Himalayas?\nThe Himalayas stretch uninterruptedly for about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) in Asia, forming a barrier between the Plateau of Tibet to the north and the alluvial plains of the Indian subcontinent to the south.\n\n### What are the physical features of the Himalayas?\nThe Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, and are known for their soaring heights, steep-sided jagged peaks, valleys, and alpine glaciers, deep river gorges, and a series of elevational belts that display different ecological associations of flora, fauna, and climate. The mountains’ high peaks rise into the zone of perpetual snow.\n\n### Who drew the first known map of the Himalayas?\nThe first known Himalayan sketch map of some accuracy was drawn up in 1590 by Antonio Monserrate, a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar.\n\n### What are the major rivers in the Himalayas?\nThe Himalayas are drained by 19 major rivers, of which the Indus and the Brahmaputra are the largest, each having catchment basins in the mountains of about 100,000 square miles (260,000 square km) in extent.\n\n### When was highest peak in the Himalayas and the world, Mount Everest, first successfully scaled?\nMount Everest was first successfully scaled in May 1953 by the New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan partner Tenzing Norgay.\n\n## News •\n[Himalayan glacial loss threatens 2 billion as Asia’s ‘water tower’ shrinks](https:\/\/www.scmp.com\/week-asia\/health-environment\/article\/3347298\/himalayas-glacier-loss-threatens-2-billion-people-greatest-problem-climate-change)\n\n• Mar. 21, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (South China Morning Post)\n\n...(Show more)\n\n[Himalayan glaciers melting twice as fast, threatening billions: Report](https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/asia\/himalayan-glaciers-melting-twice-as-fast-threatening-billions-report)  • Mar. 20, 2026, 3:28 PM ET (Straits Times)\n\nShow less\n\n**Himalayas**, great [mountain](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/mountain-landform) system of [Asia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Asia) forming a barrier between the [Plateau of Tibet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Plateau-of-Tibet) to the north and the alluvial plains of the [Indian subcontinent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Indian-subcontinent) to the south. The Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, with more than 110 peaks rising to elevations of 24,000 feet (7,300 meters) or more above [sea level](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sea-level). One of those peaks is [Mount Everest](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest) (Tibetan: Chomolungma; Chinese: Qomolangma Feng; Nepali: Sagarmatha), the world’s highest, with an elevation of 29,032 feet (8,849 meters; *see* [Researcher’s Note: Height of](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas\/additional-info#Researchers-Note) [Mount](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/Mount) Everest. The mountains’ high peaks rise into the zone of perpetual snow.\n\n[![Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/74\/114874-050-6E04C88C\/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg?w=300)](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/74\/114874-050-6E04C88C\/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)\n\n[Mount Everest](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/74\/114874-050-6E04C88C\/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)North Face of Mount Everest, above the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.\n\n(more)\n\nFor thousands of years the Himalayas have held a profound significance for the peoples of [South Asia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/South-Asia), as their literature, mythologies, and religions reflect. Since ancient times the vast glaciated heights have attracted the attention of the pilgrim mountaineers of [India](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India), who coined the Sanskrit name Himalaya—from *hima* (“snow”) and *alaya* (“abode”)—for that great mountain system. In contemporary times the Himalayas have offered the greatest attraction and the greatest challenge to [mountaineers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/mountaineering) throughout the world.\n\n[![Nanga Parbat](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/120923-050-8FF29907\/Nanga-Parbat.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/120923-050-8FF29907\/Nanga-Parbat.jpg)\n\n[Nanga Parbat](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/23\/120923-050-8FF29907\/Nanga-Parbat.jpg)\n\n(more)\n\n[![Himalayas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/196757-050-BDAD8752\/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/196757-050-BDAD8752\/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)\n\n[Himalayas](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/57\/196757-050-BDAD8752\/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)Forested slopes of the foothills of the Himalayan mountains near Kalimpong, northern West Bengal, India.\n\n(more)\n\nThe ranges, which form the northern border of the Indian subcontinent and an almost impassable barrier between it and the lands to the north, are part of a vast mountain belt that stretches halfway around the world from [North Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/North-Africa) to the [Pacific Ocean](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Pacific-Ocean) coast of [Southeast Asia](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Southeast-Asia). The Himalayas themselves stretch uninterruptedly for about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) from west to east between [Nanga Parbat](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nanga-Parbat) (26,660 feet \\[8,126 meters\\]), in the Pakistani-administered portion of the [Kashmir](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent) region, and Namjagbarwa (Namcha Barwa) Peak (25,445 feet \\[7,756 meters\\]), in the [Tibet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Tibet) [Autonomous](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/Autonomous) Region of [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China). Between those western and eastern extremities lie the two Himalayan countries of [Nepal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nepal) and [Bhutan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bhutan). The Himalayas are bordered to the northwest by the mountain ranges of the [Hindu Kush](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Hindu-Kush) and the [Karakoram](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Karakoram-Range) and to the north by the high and vast [Plateau of Tibet](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Plateau-of-Tibet). The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 125 and 250 miles (200 and 400 km). Their total area amounts to about 230,000 square miles (595,000 square km).\n\nNepali:\n\nHimalaya\n\n*(Show more)*\n\n[See all related content](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/facts\/Himalayas)\n\nThough [India](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/India), Nepal, and Bhutan have [sovereignty](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/sovereignty) over most of the Himalayas, [Pakistan](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Pakistan) and [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/china-ceramic-ware) also occupy parts of them. In the disputed [Kashmir](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent) region, Pakistan has administrative control of some 32,400 square miles (83,900 square km) of the range lying north and west of the “line of control” established between India and Pakistan in 1972. [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China) administers some 14,000 square miles (36,000 square km) in the [Ladakh](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Ladakh) region and has claimed territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas within the Indian state of [Arunachal Pradesh](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Arunachal-Pradesh). Those disputes accentuate the boundary problems faced by India and its neighbors in the Himalayan region.\n\n![Britannica AI Icon](https:\/\/cdn.britannica.com\/mendel-resources\/3-178\/images\/chatbot\/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI\n\n*chevron\\_right*\n\nHimalayas\n\n*close*\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.\n\nLoad Next Page\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*print* Print\n\nPlease select which sections you would like to print:\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nVenables, Stephen, Noyce, Wilfrid, Bishop, Barry C., Tenzing, Norgay, Hunt, (Henry Cecil) John. \"Mount Everest\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 7 Mar. 2026, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest. Accessed 6 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Mount-Everest>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [PBS - NOVA Online - George Leigh Mallory](https:\/\/www.pbs.org\/wgbh\/nova\/everest\/lost\/mystery\/mallory.html)\n- [LiveScience - Mount Everest: World's Highest Mountain](https:\/\/www.livescience.com\/23359-mount-everest.html)\n- [University of Montana - Mount Everest Discovery and the First Ascent 64 Years Ago](https:\/\/www.umt.edu\/this-is-montana\/columns\/stories\/everest.php)\n- [National Public Radio - How tall is Mount Everest? Hint: It's changing](https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2020\/11\/24\/938736955\/how-tall-is-mount-everest-hint-its-changing)\n- [Cell Press - One Earth - An Overview of Physical Risks in the Mt. Everest Region](https:\/\/www.cell.com\/one-earth\/fulltext\/S2590-3322\\(20\\)30538-8)\n- [BBC News - How tall will Mount Everest get before it stops growing?](https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/future\/article\/20220407-how-tall-will-mount-everest-get-before-it-stops-growing)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [Mount Everest - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/kids\/article\/Mount-Everest\/346112)\n- [Mount Everest - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/Mount-Everest\/274233)\n\nFeedback\n\nThank you for your feedback\n\nOur editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.\n\n*print* Print\n\nPlease select which sections you would like to print:\n\n*verified*Cite\n\nWhile every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.\n\nSelect Citation Style\n\nBishop, Barry C., Chatterjee, Shiba P.. \"Himalayas\". *Encyclopedia Britannica*, 18 Mar. 2025, https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas. Accessed 6 April 2026.\n\nCopy Citation\n\nShare\n\nShare to social media\n\n[Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/BRITANNICA\/) [X](https:\/\/x.com\/britannica)\n\nURL\n\n<https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Himalayas>\n\nExternal Websites\n\n- [Engineering LibreTexts - The Himalayas](https:\/\/eng.libretexts.org\/Under_Construction\/Climate_Lessons%3A_Environmental%2C_Social%2C_Local\/03%3A_Communities_and_Climate_Change\/03.03%3A_The_Himalayas)\n- [Engineering Libretexts - The Himalayas](https:\/\/eng.libretexts.org\/Under_Construction\/Clean_Up_\\(Pressbooks\\)\/Climate_Lessons%3A_Environmental%2C_Social%2C_Local\/03%3A_Communities_and_Climate_Change\/03.03%3A_The_Himalayas)\n- [World Wide Fund For Nature - Himalayas, Asia](https:\/\/wwf.panda.org\/knowledge_hub\/where_we_work\/eastern_himalaya\/)\n- [IndiaNetzone - Himalayan Mountain Range, Indian Mountain](https:\/\/www.indianetzone.com\/2\/the_himalayas.htm)\n\nBritannica Websites\n\nArticles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.\n\n- [Himalayas - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/kids\/article\/Himalayas\/346140)\n- [Himalayas - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https:\/\/kids.britannica.com\/students\/article\/Himalayas\/274884)","attrs_readable_markdown":"In pure [mountaineering](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/mountaineering) terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient [logistics](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/logistics), satellite weather forecasts, the use of a [copious](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/copious) amount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce.\n\nMeanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from [sea level](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/sea-level) in the [Bay of Bengal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Bay-of-Bengal) to the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native [Sweden](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Sweden) before ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American Erik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as [Mount McKinley](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Denali) (Denali) in [Alaska](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Alaska) and [Kilimanjaro](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kilimanjaro) in eastern [Africa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Africa) before his climb of Everest.\n\nFor sheer physiological [prowess](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/prowess), however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999 Babu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003—Pemba Dorje and Lakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of [Apa Sherpa](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Apa-Sherpa). In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were [undertaken](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/undertaken) as a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013. [Kami Rita](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Kami-Rita), also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021.\n\nThe record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after [Nepal](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Nepal) banned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time, [China](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/China) imposed no such restrictions, and in 2003 Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the [summit](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/summit) from the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American Jordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached.\n\nBeginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for [skiing](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/sports\/skiing) down the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an [Academy Award](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/art\/Academy-Award)\\-winning 1975 documentary, *The Man Who Skied Down Everest*)—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful [ascent](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/ascent), but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber, Watanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73.\n\nSome of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face.\n\n## Finding [Mallory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/George-Mallory) and commemorating historic ascents\nTwo notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after [George Mallory](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/George-Mallory) and [Andrew Irvine](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Andrew-Irvine) had disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and [compound](https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/compound) leg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the [rope](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/rope) which undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles, [altimeter](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/altimeter), and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit.\n\nThe 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and [Barry Bishop](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/biography\/Barry-C-Bishop)’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in [New Zealand](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/New-Zealand) from the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations [worldwide](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/dictionary\/worldwide) on the day itself, including one in [Kathmandu](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Kathmandu) where hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition.\n\nSeveral milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The [Royal Geographical Society](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Royal-Geographical-Society) (RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first [airplane](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/technology\/airplane) flight over the [mountain](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/science\/mountain-landform) was remembered during the year.\n\n[AI-generated answers](https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Description	Mount Everest - Climbing, Records, Challenges: In pure mountaineering terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient logistics, satellite
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Boilerpipe Text	In pure mountaineering terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient logistics , satellite weather forecasts, the use of a copious amount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce. Meanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from sea level in the Bay of Bengal to the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native Sweden before ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American Erik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska and Kilimanjaro in eastern Africa before his climb of Everest. For sheer physiological prowess , however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999 Babu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003— Pemba Dorje and Lakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of Apa Sherpa . In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were undertaken as a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013. Kami Rita , also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021. The record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after Nepal banned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time, China imposed no such restrictions, and in 2003 Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the summit from the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American Jordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached. Beginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for skiing down the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an Academy Award -winning 1975 documentary, The Man Who Skied Down Everest )—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful ascent , but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber, Watanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73. Some of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face. Finding Mallory and commemorating historic ascents Two notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after George Mallory and Andrew Irvine had disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and compound leg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the rope which undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles, altimeter , and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit. The 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and Barry Bishop ’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in New Zealand from the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations worldwide on the day itself, including one in Kathmandu where hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition. Several milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first airplane flight over the mountain was remembered during the year. AI-generated answers from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Markdown	[![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [![Encyclopedia Britannica](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png)](https://www.britannica.com/) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=global-nav-mobile&utm_campaign=blue-evergreen) Login https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm\_source=premium\&utm\_medium=nav-login-box\&utm\_campaign=evergreen [SUBSCRIBE](https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=blue) [Ask the Chatbot](https://www.britannica.com/chatbot) [Games & Quizzes](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/browse) [History & Society](https://www.britannica.com/History-Society) [Science & Tech](https://www.britannica.com/Science-Tech) [Biographies](https://www.britannica.com/Biographies) [Animals & Nature](https://www.britannica.com/Animals-Nature) [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/Geography-Travel) [Arts & Culture](https://www.britannica.com/Arts-Culture) [ProCon](https://www.britannica.com/procon) [Money](https://www.britannica.com/money) [Videos](https://www.britannica.com/videos) [Mount Everest](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest) - [Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest) - [Physical features](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest#ref2195) - [Geology and relief](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest#ref230894) - [Drainage and climate](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest#ref230895) - [The height of Everest](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-height-of-Everest) - [Human factors](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-height-of-Everest#ref234719) - [Habitation](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-height-of-Everest#ref234720) - [Environmental issues](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-height-of-Everest#ref230897) - [History of exploration](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/History-of-exploration) - [Mountaineering on Everest](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/History-of-exploration#ref230898) - [The human challenge](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/History-of-exploration#ref230907) - [Routes and techniques](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/History-of-exploration#ref230908) - [Early expeditions](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions) - [Reconnaissance of 1921](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230910) - [Attempt of 1922](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230911) - [Attempt of 1924](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230912) - [Attempt of 1933](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230913) - [Reconnaissance of 1935](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230914) - [Attempts of 1936 and 1938](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230915) - [Golden age of Everest climbs](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230899) - [Reconnaissance of 1951](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230916) - [Spring attempt of 1952](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230917) - [Autumn attempt of 1952](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Early-expeditions#ref230918) - [The historic ascent of 1953](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-historic-ascent-of-1953) - [Everest-Lhotse, 1956](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230920) - [Attempts of 1960](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230921) - [The U.S. ascent of 1963](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230922) - [The Indian ascent of 1965](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/The-historic-ascent-of-1953#ref230923) - [Developments since 1965](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965) - [The 1970s](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230924) - [The Southwest Face](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230925) - [The first ascent by a woman](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230926) - [The West Ridge direct ascent](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230927) - [Climbing without supplemental oxygen](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230928) - [The north approach](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230929) - [The 1980s](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Developments-since-1965#ref230930) - [First solo climb](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb) - [Further exploration from Tibet](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref230932) - [Developments in Nepal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref230933) - [The end of an era](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref230934) - [Since 1990](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref230935) - [Commercialism and tragedy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref230936) - [Surge in traffic and overcrowding](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref343165) - [Avalanches in 2014 and 2015](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/First-solo-climb#ref343166) - [Extraordinary feats](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats) - [Finding Mallory and commemorating historic ascents](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats#ref230937) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/additional-info) [Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Mount-Everest) [Images, Videos & Interactives](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/images-videos) [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/17/83817-004-C5DB59F8/Mount-Everest.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/17/83817-050-67C814CD/Mount-Everest.jpg) [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/27/19827-004-D7EC103A/Mount-Everest.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/27/19827-050-590647EE/Mount-Everest.jpg) [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/10/193610-004-0FF67241/Mount-everest-facts-figures-summits-deaths-climbing.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/10/193610-050-F32EF256/Mount-everest-facts-figures-summits-deaths-climbing.jpg) [![Mount Everest massif](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/155954-004-37C0137B/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/155954-050-6568A963/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg) [![Mount Everest: Khumbu Icefall](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/181251-004-7E3044DF/Mount-Everest-mountain-Khumbu-Icefall-Himalayas-base.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/51/181251-050-B5A8C51B/Mount-Everest-mountain-Khumbu-Icefall-Himalayas-base.jpg) [![Khumbu Glacier](https://cdn.britannica.com/16/179216-004-D8ECF610/pond-Khumbu-Glacier-Mount-Everest-Nepal-Himalayas.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/16/179216-050-03F27A15/pond-Khumbu-Glacier-Mount-Everest-Nepal-Himalayas.jpg) [![The video thumbnail image shows a snow-capped mountain against a blue sky.](https://cdn.britannica.com/98/263098-138-87DCA742/why-are-mountains-so-tall.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/why-are-mountains-so-tall/-321447) [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/39/76239-004-856F7801/Climbers-side-Nepali-Mount-Everest.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/39/76239-050-DE5FCF36/Climbers-side-Nepali-Mount-Everest.jpg) [![Deaths on Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/47/258147-049-816A70E3/mount-everest-deaths-nepal-china.jpg)](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats) [![Apa Sherpa in the Khumbu Icefall of Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/140463-004-3D9015D4/Apa-Sherpa-route-ascent-Khumbu-Icefall-Mount-2010.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/140463-050-A1FCC422/Apa-Sherpa-route-ascent-Khumbu-Icefall-Mount-2010.jpg) At a Glance [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/17/83817-050-67C814CD/Mount-Everest.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Mount-Everest) [Mount Everest summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Mount-Everest) Quizzes [![Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)](https://cdn.britannica.com/86/170586-131-7E23E561/Taj-Mahal-Agra-India.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/wonders-of-the-world-quiz) [Wonders of the World Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/wonders-of-the-world-quiz) [![Map showing World distribution of the major religions.](https://cdn.britannica.com/13/95413-131-EC7969C2/World-religions-distribution.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/its-all-in-the-name) [It’s All in the Name](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/its-all-in-the-name) [![Mount Everest. Himalayas, Nepal, Tibet, mountains, snow, Mt. Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/07/162707-131-59A74CDC/Mount-Everest.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/to-everest-and-back) [To Everest and Back](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/to-everest-and-back) [![Mount Everest, Himalayas, Nepal. (Himalayan Mountains; mountain range; mountain landscape; Mt. Everest)](https://cdn.britannica.com/54/155954-131-6B17DC7A/massif-Mount-Everest-Himalayas-Nepal.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/mount-everest) [Mount Everest](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/mount-everest) [![Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, United States. Appalachian Highlands, Ridge and Valley, The Appalachian Mountain system](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/166940-131-5303C2D1/Blue-Ridge-Mountains-Appalachian-Mountains-North-Carolina.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/all-about-mountains-quiz) [All About Mountains Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/all-about-mountains-quiz) Related Questions - [What are other names for Mount Everest?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-other-names-for-Mount-Everest) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Contents Ask Anything [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel) [Physical Geography of Land](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Physical-Geography-Land) [Mountains & Volcanoes](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Mountains-Volcanoes) CITE Share Feedback External Websites ## Extraordinary feats in [Mount Everest](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest) in # [History of exploration](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/History-of-exploration) Homework Help Also known as: Chomolungma, Chu-mu-lang-ma Feng, Peak XV, Qomolangma Feng, Sagarmatha, Zhumulangma Feng[(Show More)](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/Extraordinary-feats) Written by [Stephen Venables Mountain climber and the first Briton to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen.photograph: © Stephen Venables](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Stephen-Venables/6025) Stephen Venables[All](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/additional-info#contributors) Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors Last updated Mar. 7, 2026 •[History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything In pure [mountaineering](https://www.britannica.com/sports/mountaineering) terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient [logistics](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/logistics), satellite weather forecasts, the use of a [copious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copious) amount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce. Meanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from [sea level](https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level) in the [Bay of Bengal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bay-of-Bengal) to the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native [Sweden](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sweden) before ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American Erik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as [Mount McKinley](https://www.britannica.com/place/Denali) (Denali) in [Alaska](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alaska) and [Kilimanjaro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kilimanjaro) in eastern [Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa) before his climb of Everest. [![Apa Sherpa on Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/140345-050-D39159F4/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/140345-050-D39159F4/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg) [Apa Sherpa on Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/45/140345-050-D39159F4/Apa-Sherpa-summit-Mount-Everest-2009.jpg)Mountaineer Apa Sherpa on the summit of Mount Everest, 2009. (more) For sheer physiological [prowess](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/prowess), however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999 Babu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003—Pemba Dorje and Lakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of [Apa Sherpa](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Apa-Sherpa). In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were [undertaken](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/undertaken) as a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013. [Kami Rita](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kami-Rita), also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021. The record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after [Nepal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal) banned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time, [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China) imposed no such restrictions, and in 2003 Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the [summit](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/summit) from the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American Jordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached. Beginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for [skiing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/skiing) down the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an [Academy Award](https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award)\-winning 1975 documentary, The Man Who Skied Down Everest)—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful [ascent](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/ascent), but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber, Watanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73. Some of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face. ## Finding [Mallory](https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Mallory) and commemorating historic ascents Two notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after [George Mallory](https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Mallory) and [Andrew Irvine](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Irvine) had disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and [compound](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound) leg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the [rope](https://www.britannica.com/technology/rope) which undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles, [altimeter](https://www.britannica.com/technology/altimeter), and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit. The 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and [Barry Bishop](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barry-C-Bishop)’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in [New Zealand](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Zealand) from the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations [worldwide](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/worldwide) on the day itself, including one in [Kathmandu](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kathmandu) where hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition. Several milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The [Royal Geographical Society](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Geographical-Society) (RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first [airplane](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airplane) flight over the [mountain](https://www.britannica.com/science/mountain-landform) was remembered during the year. [Stephen Venables](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Stephen-Venables/6025) [The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI chevron\_right Mount Everest - Climbing, Records, Challenges close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. [Himalayas](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas) - [Introduction & Top Questions](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas) - [Physical features](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Physical-features) - [Geologic history](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Physical-features#ref47869) - [Physiography](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Physiography) - [Drainage](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Drainage) - [Soils](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Drainage#ref47872) - [Climate](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Climate) - [Plant life](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Plant-life) - [Animal life](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Animal-life) - [People](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/People) - [Economy](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Economy) - [Resources](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Economy#ref47878) - [Transportation](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Economy#ref47879) - [Study and exploration](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/Study-and-exploration) [References & Edit History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/additional-info) [Quick Facts & Related Topics](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Himalayas) [Images & Videos](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/images-videos) [![Himalayan mountain ranges](https://cdn.britannica.com/25/5925-004-61D8B19D/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/25/5925-050-60D410CA/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg) [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/74/114874-004-297B207E/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/74/114874-050-6E04C88C/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg) [![Nanga Parbat](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/120923-159-7ABAB87D/Nanga-Parbat.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/120923-050-8FF29907/Nanga-Parbat.jpg) [![Himalayas](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/196757-004-0ED54B2D/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/196757-050-BDAD8752/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg) [![Machhapuchhare, Nepal](https://cdn.britannica.com/10/94510-004-571C2E50/Machhapuchhare-Great-Himalaya-Range-Nepal.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/10/94510-050-D0B814DA/Machhapuchhare-Great-Himalaya-Range-Nepal.jpg) [![cross section of the Himalayas](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/7763-004-42AB6D71/Great-Himalayas-cross-section-overthrusting-terrains-foreland.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/63/7763-050-BE745F40/Great-Himalayas-cross-section-overthrusting-terrains-foreland.jpg) [![Kailas Range](https://cdn.britannica.com/19/140419-004-DE701C6A/side-Kangrinboqe-Peak-Kailas-Range-Trans-Himalayas-Tibet.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/19/140419-050-0AD1C0A4/side-Kangrinboqe-Peak-Kailas-Range-Trans-Himalayas-Tibet.jpg) [![The video thumbnail image shows a snow-capped mountain against a blue sky.](https://cdn.britannica.com/98/263098-138-87DCA742/why-are-mountains-so-tall.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/video/why-are-mountains-so-tall/-321447) [![Kanchenjunga](https://cdn.britannica.com/73/1873-004-16C5A9F2/Kanchenjunga-border-Himalayas-Nepal-India.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/73/1873-050-BA1E4FE0/Kanchenjunga-border-Himalayas-Nepal-India.jpg) [![Himalayas](https://cdn.britannica.com/61/115261-004-35A037BD/peak-Shilla-Himalayas-Himachal-Pradesh-India-state.jpg)](https://cdn.britannica.com/61/115261-050-7E10B712/peak-Shilla-Himalayas-Himachal-Pradesh-India-state.jpg) At a Glance [![default image](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/shared/new-thistle.svg?v=3.178.5)](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Himalayas) [Himalayas summary](https://www.britannica.com/summary/Himalayas) Quizzes [![Taj Mahal, Agra, India. UNESCO World Heritage Site (minarets; Muslim, architecture; Islamic architecture; marble; mausoleum)](https://cdn.britannica.com/86/170586-131-7E23E561/Taj-Mahal-Agra-India.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/wonders-of-the-world-quiz) [Wonders of the World Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/wonders-of-the-world-quiz) [![Blue Ridge Mountains. Blue Ridge Parkway. Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, United States. Appalachian Highlands, Ridge and Valley, The Appalachian Mountain system](https://cdn.britannica.com/40/166940-131-5303C2D1/Blue-Ridge-Mountains-Appalachian-Mountains-North-Carolina.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/all-about-mountains-quiz) [All About Mountains Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/all-about-mountains-quiz) [![Rice terraces in Vietnam. (food; farm; farming; agriculture; rice terrace; crop; grain; paddy; paddies;garden)](https://cdn.britannica.com/30/157630-131-43C0514C/rice-paddies-Vietnam.jpg?w=200&h=200&c=crop)](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/know-your-asian-geography-quiz) [Know Your Asian Geography Quiz](https://www.britannica.com/quiz/know-your-asian-geography-quiz) Related Questions - [What are the physical features of the Himalayas?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-the-physical-features-of-the-Himalayas) - [What are other names for Mount Everest?](https://www.britannica.com/question/What-are-other-names-for-Mount-Everest) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Ask Anything Quick Summary [Geography & Travel](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Geography-Travel) [Physical Geography of Land](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Physical-Geography-Land) [Mountains & Volcanoes](https://www.britannica.com/browse/Mountains-Volcanoes) CITE Share Feedback External Websites [![Himalayan mountain ranges](https://cdn.britannica.com/25/5925-050-60D410CA/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop)](https://cdn.britannica.com/25/5925-050-60D410CA/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg) [Himalayan mountain ranges](https://cdn.britannica.com/25/5925-050-60D410CA/mountain-ranges-Himalayan.jpg) Map showing the Himalayan mountain system. (more) # Himalayas mountains, Asia Homework Help Also known as: Himalaya Written by [Barry C. Bishop Chairman, Committee for Research and Exploration, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C., 1989–91. Member of the American Everest Expedition, 1963. Author of Karnali Under Stress.](https://www.britannica.com/contributor/Barry-C-Bishop/3788) Barry C. Bishop[All](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/additional-info#contributors) Fact-checked by [Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....](https://www.britannica.com/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419) Britannica Editors [History](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/additional-info#history) ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5) Britannica AI Ask Anything Quick Summary Table of Contents Table of Contents Quick Summary Ask Anything Top Questions ### Where are the Himalayas? The Himalayas stretch across land controlled by India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China. ### How long are the Himalayas? The Himalayas stretch uninterruptedly for about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) in Asia, forming a barrier between the Plateau of Tibet to the north and the alluvial plains of the Indian subcontinent to the south. ### What are the physical features of the Himalayas? The Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, and are known for their soaring heights, steep-sided jagged peaks, valleys, and alpine glaciers, deep river gorges, and a series of elevational belts that display different ecological associations of flora, fauna, and climate. The mountains’ high peaks rise into the zone of perpetual snow. ### Who drew the first known map of the Himalayas? The first known Himalayan sketch map of some accuracy was drawn up in 1590 by Antonio Monserrate, a Spanish missionary to the court of the Mughal emperor Akbar. ### What are the major rivers in the Himalayas? The Himalayas are drained by 19 major rivers, of which the Indus and the Brahmaputra are the largest, each having catchment basins in the mountains of about 100,000 square miles (260,000 square km) in extent. ### When was highest peak in the Himalayas and the world, Mount Everest, first successfully scaled? Mount Everest was first successfully scaled in May 1953 by the New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and his Tibetan partner Tenzing Norgay. ## News • [Himalayan glacial loss threatens 2 billion as Asia’s ‘water tower’ shrinks](https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347298/himalayas-glacier-loss-threatens-2-billion-people-greatest-problem-climate-change) • Mar. 21, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (South China Morning Post) ...(Show more) [Himalayan glaciers melting twice as fast, threatening billions: Report](https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/himalayan-glaciers-melting-twice-as-fast-threatening-billions-report) • Mar. 20, 2026, 3:28 PM ET (Straits Times) Show less Himalayas, great [mountain](https://www.britannica.com/science/mountain-landform) system of [Asia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Asia) forming a barrier between the [Plateau of Tibet](https://www.britannica.com/place/Plateau-of-Tibet) to the north and the alluvial plains of the [Indian subcontinent](https://www.britannica.com/place/Indian-subcontinent) to the south. The Himalayas include the highest mountains in the world, with more than 110 peaks rising to elevations of 24,000 feet (7,300 meters) or more above [sea level](https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level). One of those peaks is [Mount Everest](https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest) (Tibetan: Chomolungma; Chinese: Qomolangma Feng; Nepali: Sagarmatha), the world’s highest, with an elevation of 29,032 feet (8,849 meters; see [Researcher’s Note: Height of](https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas/additional-info#Researchers-Note) [Mount](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/Mount) Everest. The mountains’ high peaks rise into the zone of perpetual snow. [![Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/74/114874-050-6E04C88C/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg?w=300)](https://cdn.britannica.com/74/114874-050-6E04C88C/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg) [Mount Everest](https://cdn.britannica.com/74/114874-050-6E04C88C/North-Face-Mount-Everest-Tibet-Autonomous-Region.jpg)North Face of Mount Everest, above the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. (more) For thousands of years the Himalayas have held a profound significance for the peoples of [South Asia](https://www.britannica.com/place/South-Asia), as their literature, mythologies, and religions reflect. Since ancient times the vast glaciated heights have attracted the attention of the pilgrim mountaineers of [India](https://www.britannica.com/place/India), who coined the Sanskrit name Himalaya—from hima (“snow”) and alaya (“abode”)—for that great mountain system. In contemporary times the Himalayas have offered the greatest attraction and the greatest challenge to [mountaineers](https://www.britannica.com/sports/mountaineering) throughout the world. [![Nanga Parbat](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/120923-050-8FF29907/Nanga-Parbat.jpg?w=300)1 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/120923-050-8FF29907/Nanga-Parbat.jpg) [Nanga Parbat](https://cdn.britannica.com/23/120923-050-8FF29907/Nanga-Parbat.jpg) (more) [![Himalayas](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/196757-050-BDAD8752/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg?w=300)2 of 2](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/196757-050-BDAD8752/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg) [Himalayas](https://cdn.britannica.com/57/196757-050-BDAD8752/slopes-foothills-mountains-Himalayan-Kalimpong-West-Bengal.jpg)Forested slopes of the foothills of the Himalayan mountains near Kalimpong, northern West Bengal, India. (more) The ranges, which form the northern border of the Indian subcontinent and an almost impassable barrier between it and the lands to the north, are part of a vast mountain belt that stretches halfway around the world from [North Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Africa) to the [Pacific Ocean](https://www.britannica.com/place/Pacific-Ocean) coast of [Southeast Asia](https://www.britannica.com/place/Southeast-Asia). The Himalayas themselves stretch uninterruptedly for about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) from west to east between [Nanga Parbat](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nanga-Parbat) (26,660 feet \[8,126 meters\]), in the Pakistani-administered portion of the [Kashmir](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent) region, and Namjagbarwa (Namcha Barwa) Peak (25,445 feet \[7,756 meters\]), in the [Tibet](https://www.britannica.com/place/Tibet) [Autonomous](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Autonomous) Region of [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China). Between those western and eastern extremities lie the two Himalayan countries of [Nepal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal) and [Bhutan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bhutan). The Himalayas are bordered to the northwest by the mountain ranges of the [Hindu Kush](https://www.britannica.com/place/Hindu-Kush) and the [Karakoram](https://www.britannica.com/place/Karakoram-Range) and to the north by the high and vast [Plateau of Tibet](https://www.britannica.com/place/Plateau-of-Tibet). The width of the Himalayas from south to north varies between 125 and 250 miles (200 and 400 km). Their total area amounts to about 230,000 square miles (595,000 square km). Nepali: Himalaya (Show more) [See all related content](https://www.britannica.com/facts/Himalayas) Though [India](https://www.britannica.com/place/India), Nepal, and Bhutan have [sovereignty](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sovereignty) over most of the Himalayas, [Pakistan](https://www.britannica.com/place/Pakistan) and [China](https://www.britannica.com/art/china-ceramic-ware) also occupy parts of them. In the disputed [Kashmir](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kashmir-region-Indian-subcontinent) region, Pakistan has administrative control of some 32,400 square miles (83,900 square km) of the range lying north and west of the “line of control” established between India and Pakistan in 1972. [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China) administers some 14,000 square miles (36,000 square km) in the [Ladakh](https://www.britannica.com/place/Ladakh) region and has claimed territory at the eastern end of the Himalayas within the Indian state of [Arunachal Pradesh](https://www.britannica.com/place/Arunachal-Pradesh). Those disputes accentuate the boundary problems faced by India and its neighbors in the Himalayan region. ![Britannica AI Icon](https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-178/images/chatbot/star-ai.svg?v=3.178.5)Britannica AI chevron\_right Himalayas close [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. Load Next Page Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Venables, Stephen, Noyce, Wilfrid, Bishop, Barry C., Tenzing, Norgay, Hunt, (Henry Cecil) John. "Mount Everest". Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Mar. 2026, https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest. Accessed 6 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Everest> External Websites - [PBS - NOVA Online - George Leigh Mallory](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/lost/mystery/mallory.html) - [LiveScience - Mount Everest: World's Highest Mountain](https://www.livescience.com/23359-mount-everest.html) - [University of Montana - Mount Everest Discovery and the First Ascent 64 Years Ago](https://www.umt.edu/this-is-montana/columns/stories/everest.php) - [National Public Radio - How tall is Mount Everest? Hint: It's changing](https://www.npr.org/2020/11/24/938736955/how-tall-is-mount-everest-hint-its-changing) - [Cell Press - One Earth - An Overview of Physical Risks in the Mt. Everest Region](https://www.cell.com/one-earth/fulltext/S2590-3322\(20\)30538-8) - [BBC News - How tall will Mount Everest get before it stops growing?](https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220407-how-tall-will-mount-everest-get-before-it-stops-growing) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [Mount Everest - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Mount-Everest/346112) - [Mount Everest - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Mount-Everest/274233) Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style Bishop, Barry C., Chatterjee, Shiba P.. "Himalayas". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas. Accessed 6 April 2026. Copy Citation Share Share to social media [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/) [X](https://x.com/britannica) URL <https://www.britannica.com/place/Himalayas> External Websites - [Engineering LibreTexts - The Himalayas](https://eng.libretexts.org/Under_Construction/Climate_Lessons%3A_Environmental%2C_Social%2C_Local/03%3A_Communities_and_Climate_Change/03.03%3A_The_Himalayas) - [Engineering Libretexts - The Himalayas](https://eng.libretexts.org/Under_Construction/Clean_Up_\(Pressbooks\)/Climate_Lessons%3A_Environmental%2C_Social%2C_Local/03%3A_Communities_and_Climate_Change/03.03%3A_The_Himalayas) - [World Wide Fund For Nature - Himalayas, Asia](https://wwf.panda.org/knowledge_hub/where_we_work/eastern_himalaya/) - [IndiaNetzone - Himalayan Mountain Range, Indian Mountain](https://www.indianetzone.com/2/the_himalayas.htm) Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. - [Himalayas - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)](https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Himalayas/346140) - [Himalayas - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)](https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Himalayas/274884)
Readable Markdown	In pure [mountaineering](https://www.britannica.com/sports/mountaineering) terms, the big achievements of the 1990s were the first winter ascent of the Southwest Face in 1993 (by a Japanese team led by Yagihara Kuniaki), the first complete ascent of the Northeast Ridge in 1995 (by another Japanese team led by Kanzaki Tadao), and the first ascent of the North-Northeast Couloir in 1996 (by a Russian team led by Sergei Antipin). Most of the activity, however, became concentrated on the two “normal” routes via the South Col and North Col; there the majority of expeditions were commercial operations, with clients paying for (generally) efficient [logistics](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/logistics), satellite weather forecasts, the use of a [copious](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copious) amount of fixed ropes, and an increasingly savvy Sherpa workforce. Meanwhile, a few individuals continued to achieve astounding new feats. In 1990 Tim Macartney-Snape traveled on foot all the way from [sea level](https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level) in the [Bay of Bengal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bay-of-Bengal) to the summit of Everest, without supplemental oxygen. Goran Kropp took this a step further in 1996 by bicycling all the way from his native [Sweden](https://www.britannica.com/place/Sweden) before ascending Everest; he then cycled home. In 2001 the first blind person, American Erik Weihenmayer, summited Everest; he was an experienced climber who had already scaled peaks such as [Mount McKinley](https://www.britannica.com/place/Denali) (Denali) in [Alaska](https://www.britannica.com/place/Alaska) and [Kilimanjaro](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kilimanjaro) in eastern [Africa](https://www.britannica.com/place/Africa) before his climb of Everest. For sheer physiological [prowess](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/prowess), however, few could match the Sherpas: in 1999 Babu Chiri climbed the southern route from Base Camp to summit in 16 hours 56 minutes. However, this accomplishment was surpassed by two Sherpas in 2003—Pemba Dorje and Lakpa Gelu, with Lakpa summiting in just 10 hours 56 minutes. Not to be outdone, Pemba returned the next year and reached the top in 8 hours 10 minutes. Perhaps as remarkable were the achievements of [Apa Sherpa](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Apa-Sherpa). In 2000 he reached the summit for a record 11th time, and he continued to break his own mark in succeeding years. Beginning in 2008, Apa’s summit climbs were [undertaken](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/undertaken) as a member of the Eco Everest Expeditions; he recorded his 21st ascent on May 11, 2011. Apa’s total was matched by another Sherpa, Phurba Tashi, in 2013. [Kami Rita](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kami-Rita), also a Sherpa, surpassed them in 2017, and in 2019 he reached the summit for a 24th time—just three days after his 23rd ascent; he summited again in 2021. The record for the youngest person to reach the summit has been set several times since the advent of commercial Everest climbs. For some time it remained at 16 years after [Nepal](https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal) banned climbing by those younger than that age. However, at the time, [China](https://www.britannica.com/place/China) imposed no such restrictions, and in 2003 Ming Kipa Sherpa, a 15-year-old Nepalese girl, reached the [summit](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/summit) from the Tibetan side. Her record was eclipsed in 2010 when American Jordan Romero, 13, reached the top—again from the north side—on May 22. Romero’s accomplishment was made all the more notable because it was the sixth of the seven continental high points he had reached. Beginning in the early 2000s, the record for the oldest person to ascend Everest alternated between two men, Japanese Miura Yūichirō and Nepalese Min Bahadur Sherchan. Miura—a former extreme skier who gained notoriety for [skiing](https://www.britannica.com/sports/skiing) down the South Col in 1970 (the subject of an [Academy Award](https://www.britannica.com/art/Academy-Award)\-winning 1975 documentary, The Man Who Skied Down Everest)—set the standard at age 70, when he reached the top on May 22, 2003. On May 26, 2008, when he was 75, he made a second successful [ascent](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/ascent), but Sherchan, age 76 and a former soldier, had summited the day before, on May 25, to claim the record. Miura regained the honor on May 23, 2013, at the age of 80. The oldest woman to reach the summit was another Japanese climber, Watanabe Tamae, who set the record twice: first on May 16, 2002, at age 63, and again on May 19, 2012, at age 73. Some of the most-remarkable of the “stunts” attempted since 1990 have been unusual descents. In 1996 Italian Hans Kammerlander made a one-day ascent and descent of the north side, the latter partly accomplished on skis. In 1999 Pierre Tardivel managed to ski down from the South Summit. The first complete uninterrupted ski descent from the summit was by Slovenian Davo Karničar in 2000, upstaged a year later by the French extreme sportsman Marco Siffredi with his even more-challenging snowboard descent of the North Face. ## Finding [Mallory](https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Mallory) and commemorating historic ascents Two notable Everest events bracketed the turn of the 21st century. In the spring of 1999, 75 years after [George Mallory](https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Mallory) and [Andrew Irvine](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Irvine) had disappeared climbing Everest, an expedition led by American Eric Simonson set out to learn their fate. On May 1 members of the team found Mallory’s body lying on a scree terrace below the Yellow Band at about 26,700 feet (8,140 meters). It was determined that Mallory had died during or immediately after a bad fall: he had skull and [compound](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/compound) leg fractures, and bruising was still visible on the preserved torso—probably caused by a rope that was still tied around his waist. The team could not determine if the body was the same one found by a Chinese climber in 1975 or if that one had been the body of Irvine. It was clear, however, that both Mallory and Irvine had been involved in a serious fall that broke the [rope](https://www.britannica.com/technology/rope) which undoubtedly joined them. Personal effects found on Mallory included his goggles, [altimeter](https://www.britannica.com/technology/altimeter), and a pocketknife, but not the camera he is thought to have taken with him when he left for the summit. It had been hoped that the film from it (if it could be developed) might have revealed more about the climb, especially if the pair had reached the summit. The 50th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s historic ascent was widely observed in 2003. Commemoration of the event had actually begun the previous May, when second-generation summiteers—Hillary’s son Peter and [Barry Bishop](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Barry-C-Bishop)’s son Brent—scaled the peak (the younger Hillary speaking to his father in [New Zealand](https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Zealand) from the top via satellite phone); Tenzing’s son, Jamling Norgay, also participated in the expedition but did not make the final summit climb. In the spring of 2003 scores of climbers were able to reach the top of Everest before the May 29 anniversary date. Celebrations were held in several locations [worldwide](https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/worldwide) on the day itself, including one in [Kathmandu](https://www.britannica.com/place/Kathmandu) where hundreds of past summit climbers joined Hillary and other members of the 1953 expedition. Several milestone anniversaries were observed in 2013. A variety of events were tied to remembering the 60th anniversary of Tenzing and Hillary’s climb, including summiting of Everest by hundreds of climbers and treks by others on and around its lower slopes. The [Royal Geographical Society](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Geographical-Society) (RGS) hosted a special lecture on May 29 that included Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, and Jan Morris—the latter being the last surviving member of the 1953 expedition. In March the RGS also hosted a 25th-anniversary reunion of members from the 1988 East Face expedition. Several members of the first U.S. ascent (1963), including James Whittaker and Norman Dyhrenfurth, gathered in San Francisco in February for an observance of the 50th anniversary of that expedition. In addition, the 80th anniversary of the first [airplane](https://www.britannica.com/technology/airplane) flight over the [mountain](https://www.britannica.com/science/mountain-landform) was remembered during the year. [AI-generated answers](https://www.britannica.com/about-britannica-ai) from Britannica articles. AI makes mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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