A Climb To Remember

The mountain which had killed numerous of their kind. Mount Everest had finally been conquered by a humble Sherpa and his partner Edmund Hillary. A moment of pride for humanity as the highest peak stood beneath them.

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay: The smile that says it all; Source: National Geographic

Rachel Wolchin once quoted, “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.”

Those tiny feet can take us anywhere in the world but all of it depends on our smart brain and even extra intelligent heart. Our decision to step out and explore those untamed mountains, ever-flowing rivers, wild forests, and rough weathers starts the day when we start filling our lives with adventures, not materials. It is when we finally realize that we can have stories say to an unknown family sitting near a campfire rather than cars and houses to show.

Home- a place where comfort starts but when we set out on journeys, it takes us far from our comfort zone. And sometimes these journeys magically transform themselves into adventures which lead us to our destinies. This is the story of two such men who decided to take up the climb and reach their destiny, that is, to the top.

It was the eventful year of 1953 when a British expedition team was formed under the captainship of Colonel John Hunt. A team consisting of the best British mountain climbers along with a unique addition of Tenzing Norgay, a 38-year-old Sherpa. A 33-year-old beekeeper named Edmund Hillary was indeed a strong contender of the team. Hillary led the entire team with an enthusiasm never seen before.

After settling their ever-wandering feet on the snow-land, they went on paving their path. The team forged their path through the Khumbu Icefall, made their way up to the Western Cwm, across the Lhotse Face, and further towards the South Col at a whopping height of about 26,000 feet. They were like Subway Surfers, who made their way through trucks, trains, sky, railway tracks and still came out very alive and fresh at the end.

But mountains and troubles are synonymous to say at the least. Two brave hearts named Charles Evans and Tom Bourdillon launched their heavily padded steps on the summit on May 26 and also reached near the top and were just 300 feet near. But their oxygen sets started to dwindle, and they had to turn back their dejected feet towards the end of their journey to the top.

But when your confidence and determination are higher than Everest, toh Everest bhi tumhaara kuch nahi bigaad sakta. On May 28, a beekeeper and a Sherpa made the best team and set a camp at a freezing height of 27, 900 feet. After a night of freezing snow and sleepless eyes, the pair again stood up and marched towards the top.

They reached the South Summit by 9 am and then a steep rocky step which was about 40 feet by the next hour. A huge crack on the face with an even bigger heart to reach the top, Hillary took a final step which was later known as Hillary Step. He threw down a rope and Tenzing followed. It was 11:30 am when the climbers stood on the top with a shine in their eyes that could even match the shine of Kohinoor.

News of success spread to far and wide areas of the entire world. People rejoiced at the news. Hillary and Hunt were awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and Norgay received the British Empire Medal.

And this was how a beekeeper from New Zealand and a Sherpa from Nepal became the first people to stand on the summit of the world’s highest peak.