Whose Expedition First Conquered Mount Everest?

The 1953 British expedition to Everest was meticulously organised by Colonel John Hunt with over 400 porters, 20 Sherpas, and extensive logistical support. After weeks of acclimatisation and camp establishment, Hillary and Tenzing set out from the South Col (7,906 metres) on the morning of 29 May 1953. They reached the summit at 11:30 AM, spending about 15 minutes on top. Hillary photographed Tenzing holding an ice axe with flags, but no photo of Hillary on the summit exists because Tenzing did not know how to operate the camera. When asked who stepped on the summit first, both men consistently said they arrived "together" — a diplomatic answer that honoured their partnership. News of the ascent reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II coronation (2 June 1953), adding to the celebrations. Whether George Mallory and Andrew Irvine reached the summit before their deaths on Everest in 1924 remains one of mountaineering greatest mysteries.