60th anniversary of first Everest ascent celebrated
- 11 years ago
Wednesday is the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of the world's highest mountain.
On the morning of May 29, 1953, New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary along with Nepal's Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to conquer Mt Everest.
They were given a hero's welcome when they returned from the the 8,850-metre peak.
Born in Auckland on July 20, 1919, Hillary led an uneventful life as a beekeeper until he achieved his Everest triumph at the age of 33.
Tenzing was chosen as his climbing partner.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOUNT EVEREST CLIMBER, EDMUND HILLARY SAYS:
"Tenzing and I have been climbing together and good deal and I think we have become a fairly happy pair and this was just one example how a pair roped together are a unit, and how one is always protecting the other. I was leading down the ice column and when I was crossing a crevice when a large lump of ice gave way, I set off down the crevice, Tenzing who was following made the rope right in a v
On the morning of May 29, 1953, New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary along with Nepal's Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to conquer Mt Everest.
They were given a hero's welcome when they returned from the the 8,850-metre peak.
Born in Auckland on July 20, 1919, Hillary led an uneventful life as a beekeeper until he achieved his Everest triumph at the age of 33.
Tenzing was chosen as his climbing partner.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MOUNT EVEREST CLIMBER, EDMUND HILLARY SAYS:
"Tenzing and I have been climbing together and good deal and I think we have become a fairly happy pair and this was just one example how a pair roped together are a unit, and how one is always protecting the other. I was leading down the ice column and when I was crossing a crevice when a large lump of ice gave way, I set off down the crevice, Tenzing who was following made the rope right in a v