Mount Everest was first summited in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, though some believe George Mallory may have reached the top in 1924 before dying on the descent. People are drawn to climb Everest for personal satisfaction and prestige, though the prestige associated with climbing it may have diminished as commercial expeditions have increased accessibility. Reaching the summit still requires excellent physical fitness, technical skills, and risk management given dangers like weather, altitude sickness, falls, and avalanches. Some climbers now attempt unprecedented feats without oxygen or new routes to regain prestige. Environmental impacts have occurred as commercial tourism has grown, including waste accumulation and impacts on local communities.

1. Mount Everest

2. • What would be the greatest
challenge in mountain climbing?

3. When was Everest first summited and
by whom?
• The official record states that Edmund Hillary
and Tenzing Norgay were the first to summit
the mountain in 1953.

4. • Some people believe that George
Mallory made it to the top in 1924. He
died on the mountain and his body was
recently discovered.

5. Why would anyone want to
scale Mount Everest?

6. Why would anyone want to
scale Mount Everest?
– Personal satisfaction
– Prestige

7. Why would anyone want to
scale Mount Everest?
– Personal satisfaction
– Prestige
• Do they think climbing Everest
holds as much prestige today as
it did in the first half of the
20th century? Why or why not?

8. Is Everest an option to
everyone?
Yes it is!
• Trip costs over US $60, 000
• Very good shape
• Mountain carries a lot of risks
 Weather
 Oxygen
 Judgment
 Falls and Avalanches

9. Highly experienced climbers are
attempting increasingly unprecedented
feats on the mountain.
• Ed Viesturs – Without
supplemental oxygen
• Davo Karnicar – Skied from
summit to base camp
• Tom Whittaker – One leg
amputated
• Erik Weihenmayer - Blind

11. How might climbers have
gotten there in the days
before commercial air travel?

12. What are some of the
environmental impacts that may
have occurred since people
started travelling to Nepal?

13. Base Camp (5364m)
Namche Bazaar (3440m)

14. Oxygen bottles waiting for removal –
Everest Base Camp
Trash lying around Everest Base Camp

15. http://youtu.be/kTRyqlj1rIQ