Mount Everest News Roundup

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April 15, 2009

Long before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquered Mount Everest in 1953, the world's highest mountain was a generator of news.

Over the years, Everest has been the scene of many triumphs and tragedies. The formidable challenges presented by climbing into thin air and frigid temperatures have been fodder for many compelling stories of bravery, determination, and failure.

Here are some of the most popular Everest stories, photos, and videos published by National Geographic News:

Everest Time Line: 80 Years of Triumph and Tragedy (April 2, 2003)
Sure, most people know Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were first to stand atop the world's tallest mountain. But can you name the first woman to summit or the first snowboarder to descend?

The Sherpas of Mount Everest (May 10, 2002)
The cheerful smiles and legendary strength of the Sherpas have been an integral part of Everest climbing expeditions from the very beginning. Indeed, very few significant successes have been achieved without them.

Video: Surviving Deadly Everest (January 11, 2008)

Climbing to the top of the world is an often fatal quest. But for many climbers, reaching the peak is a thrill like no other.

Video by Wild Chronicles, from National Geographic Mission Programs

Human Ambition: Climbing Everest Video

Mountaineer Greg Child shows how human ambition can have a high price.

National Geographic video

Sir Edmund Hillary, Everest Pioneer, Dies at 88 (January 11, 2008)
The unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers died in New Zealand.

Photos: Sir Edmund Hillary, a Life in Pictures

Video: Top Climber Recalls Hillary (January 11, 2008)
One of the world's most accomplished mountain climbers reflects on the life of a legend.

National Geographic 50th Anniversary Everest Expedition Reaches Summit (May 25, 2002)
The National Geographic 50th Anniversary Everest Expedition commemorates the first ascent of the world's highest mountain, by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in May 1953. It also honors the first Americans to stand on the top of the world, including Barry Bishop, in 1963.

Q&A: Blind Mountain Climber on Summiting Everest (July 30, 2003)
Erik Weihenmeyer reached the top of the world; but he never caught even a glimpse of the famous view. He is the only blind person to stand on Everest's peak. Tom Foreman talks with Weihenmeyer about the challenges and rewards of reaching the top, sans vision.

Everest Melting? High Signs of Climate Change (June 5, 2002)
A team sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has found signs that the landscape of Mount Everest has changed significantly since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first conquered the peak in 1953. A primary cause is the warming global climate. But the growing impact of tourism is also taxing the world's highest mountain.