People from the mountaineering community in climbing gear participated in a rally to mark the 70 anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 29, 2023.
Key points
- Nepal’s government honoured record-holding climbers on May 29 during celebrations of the first ascent of Mount Everest 70 years ago.
- Hundreds of people from the mountaineering community, Sherpa guides and officials attended a rally in Kathmandu to mark the anniversary.
- Among those honoured were Sherpa guides Kami Rita, who climbed the world’s highest mountain twice this season for a record 28 times overall, and Sanu Sherpa, who has climbed all of the world’s 14 highest peaks twice. Hari Budha Magar, who became the first double above-the-knee amputee to climb Everest, was also honoured.
- Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit on May 29, 1953.
- Nepal began celebrating the anniversary as Everest Day after Hillary’s death in 2008. Since their ascent, thousands of people have scaled the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak and hundreds have also lost their lives on the unpredictable slopes.
- The popular Himalayan climbing season begins in March and ends in May after which monsoon winds and rain and melting temperatures make the mountains too hazardous for climbing.
