On 29 May 1953, two men, Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, stood on the roof of the world. After decades of failed attempts and lost lives, Mount Everest finally yielded to human will and courage.
This is the story of those final hours, when they climbed through the throne rooms of the surrounding peaks, Lhotse and Nuptse, and rose into the thin blue air toward the highest point on Earth.
The Final Assault: Planning the Summit Push
The 1953 British expedition, led by Colonel John Hunt, was treated like a military operation. Every move was calculated, every load measured, every climber part of a vast, disciplined machine. Over 10,000 kilograms of supplies were ferried up the mountain by hundreds of Sherpas and porters.
After the near-success of Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, who were forced to turn back within 100 metres of the top when their oxygen systems failed, Hunt chose Hillary and Tenzing for the final push.
They were the perfect partnership: Hillary, the pragmatic and powerful mountaineer from New Zealand, and Tenzing, the proud Sherpa whose courage and experience made him the soul of the expedition.
Through the Death Zone: Into the Frozen Sky
They set out from Camp IX, perched at nearly 8,500 metres on the South Col route, climbing into the so-called Death Zone, where the air holds barely a third of the oxygen found at sea level.
Every breath was a battle. Their heavy oxygen sets hissed with each inhale, their crampons bit into ice that glittered like glass. The world around them was vast and silent, a white wilderness suspended between Earth and sky.
As they climbed higher, the peaks of Lhotse and Nuptse fell away beneath them.
The Hillary Step: The Final Barrier
At roughly 8,790 metres, the pair encountered the Hillary Step, a near-vertical rock wall coated with ice, jutting like a final guardian before the summit.
It was here that human courage met geological immensity. Hillary wedged himself into a narrow crack between rock and ice, swinging his axe with precision and power, inch by inch. Tenzing belayed steadily from below, his breath ragged but unwavering.
Then came the moment that would echo through mountaineering history. Hillary recalled:
“A few more whacks of the ice axe in the firm snow, and we stood on top.”
The Hillary Step was conquered, and ahead lay the gently sloping ridge to the summit.
The Roof of the World: A View Beyond Imagination
At 11:30 a.m., they stood on the summit of Mount Everest, 29,032 feet (8,849 metres) above sea level.
The sky above was a deep blue, and beneath them the world curved away. The peaks of the Himalayas shimmered in every direction, like frozen waves on a boundless sea.
Tenzing planted the flags of Britain, Nepal, India and the United Nations, symbols of unity and peace, at a place no human had stood before. They shook hands and then embraced, as partners, equals and pioneers.
For fifteen minutes, they were alone at the top of the planet. Then, with quiet reverence, they began their descent.
A Triumph Announced to the World
When Hillary reached camp, he greeted his friend George Lowe with a grin:
“Well, George, we knocked the bastard off.”
The words were understated, but the meaning immense. Within days, the news reached Britain, just in time for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. The ascent was hailed as a “coronation gift”, a symbol of renewal and discovery for the new Elizabethan age.
“The image of Hillary and Tenzing climbing through the throne rooms of Lhotse and onto the roof of the world has always inspired me. It is a moment that captures what human determination truly means, not defiance of nature, but harmony with it. Every swing of the axe, every breath in the thin air, was a testament to preparation, trust and quiet courage. At Apollo Scholars, we help students find that same spirit, the belief that with perseverance and teamwork, they can stand on their own summit, no matter how high.”
Matt
Founder, Apollo Scholars
Lessons from the Roof of the World
The 1953 ascent is not just a story of mountains; it is a blueprint for achievement:
- Preparation and discipline make dreams possible.
- Courage and teamwork turn obstacles into milestones.
- Vision and humility define true greatness.
- Every summit, like every success in learning, begins with one determined step.
At Apollo Scholars, we believe every student has their own Everest, their own climb through the clouds, their own “Hillary Step.” And with curiosity, resilience and the right guidance, they can reach their own roof of the world.
Coming Next in the Series
Part 4 – The Legacy of Everest: How Hillary and Tenzing Changed the World
Discover how their triumph inspired global exploration, redefined courage and continues to teach new generations that no peak is beyond reach.
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