This book is the RGS only official publication on the expedition in 2013 marking the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent &
Includes:: a foreword by Jan Morris. It contains the largest assemblage of images ever published in a book solely about the 1953 Mount Everest Expedition. It features over 250 unique photographs h&-picked by the RGS own collections staff. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest on 29th May 1953 by Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay Ammonite Press in association with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) presents a lavish photographic record of this historic event. The Earths highest mountain with a peak 8 848m (29 029ft) above sea level located in the Himalayas between Nepal & China has long been a lure for mountaineers & explorers. The dangers of altitude sickness adverse weather conditions & ferocious winds make the peak tantalisingly difficult to attain. The ninth British expedition led by John Hunt made two attempts in 1953. The first climbing pair came to within 100m (300ft) of the summit on 26th May but were forced to turn back after experiencing oxygen problems. Two days later New Zealander Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay a Nepali Sherpa made a second assault reaching the summit at 11:30am on 29th May via the South Col Route. The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)s extensive archives contain an astonishingly detailed & intimate record of the landmark 1953 expedition with many fascinating & beautiful images captured by the photographers who accompanied the climbing team. This is the first time the RGS has worked in association with a publisher to produce a photographic art book on the subject.