Climbing Mount Everest

PowerPoint Show by Andrew

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62 years ago, New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay made the first confirmed ascent of the world's tallest peak which reaches 29,029 feet. Since then thousands of people have made the attempt, with many perishing.

Two years ago 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer Yuichiro Miura became the oldest person to reach the summit for the third time, although he said that he nearly died on the descent and that this would be his last time.

The 1953 expedition that took Hillary and Norgay to the top ended with a stay of just 15 minutes, with Norgay leaving chocolates in the snow and Hillary leaving a cross that was given to him by Army Colonel John Hunt, the leader of the British expedition.

Tenzing Norgay, left, and Sir Edmund Hillary on their historic ascent of Mount Everest in 1953.

Sir Edmund Hillary and fellow climbers, on Mount Everest in 1953 during the first credited ascent to the mountain peak.

Sherpa Tenzing Norgay stands on the summit of Mount Everest May 29, 1953 after he and climbing partner Edmund Hillary became the first people to reach the highest point on Earth.

Sir Edmund Hillary, left, and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa smile after summiting the Mount Everest in 1953 in this undated handout photograph.

From left; Colonel John Hunt, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary make a jubilant return to Britain after becoming the first men to scale Mount Everest.

Media film the statues of Edmund Hillary, left, and Tenzing Norgay during a function to mark the 60th anniversary of successful ascent of Mount Everest, in Katmandu, Nepal, on May 29, 2013.

Photograph of Mount Everest (back-center) and Everest's West Shoulder with Nuptse (Right - 8848m) on May 15, 2003 on the Nepal - Tibet border.

Buddhist prayer flags flutter in a strong wind blowing towards the snow capped peaks of Mount Everest, center, and Lhotse, right, near Tengboche village on the trail to Mount Everest in Nepal on May 14, 2003.

Drinks, rice and a kind of flour is offered near the end of the Puja ceremony for Team Everest on April 7, 2003, at Everest Base Camp in Nepal.

British mountaineering photographer Jonathan Griffith climbs in the upper reaches of Mount Everest on April 27, 2013.

Members of the E3 99 Everest Extreme Expedition negotiate a three ladder bridge over the Camp 1 crevasse at 19,500 feet on Mount Everest in Nepal, on May 13, 1999.

Mountaineers pass through the treacherous Khumbu Icefall on their way to Mount Everest near Everest Base camp, Nepal, on May 18, 2003.

A view of the Kumbhu icefall, the first hurdle in the ascent to Everest from base camp, as seen from Everest Base camp, in Nepal, on May 17, 2003.

Nepalese Sherpas climb Khumbu Icefall, on May 16, 2013 above Base Camp on their way to summit.

Climbers from various countries descend Khumbu Icefall on their way back to Base Camo on May 22, 2013 after summiting Mount Everest.

A golden glow envelopes as the sun sets on the worlds highest mountain, center, seen from Kalapathar, on the trail to Everest, Nepal, on Nov. 15, 1983.

Japanese Yuichiro Miura, 80-year-old professional skier, alpinist, as he advances amid an icefall to the advance base camp C2 on the route to the world's highest peak of Mount Everest, Nepal, on May 16, 2013.

80-year-old Japanese extreme skier Yuichiro Miura stands atop the summit of Mount Everest as he becomes the oldest person to climb the world's tallest mountain May 23, 2013.

Yuichiro Miura, 80, shows a victory sign upon his arrival at the airport after climbing Mount Everest, in Kathmandu May 26, 2013.

Two people (bottom left) stand next to their tent as they camp at the base of the earth's highest peak, Mount Everest, on Oct.13, 2011.

Members of Mount Everest (Mt. Qomolangma) expedition team inch their way up a slope of the mountain on May 19, 2005.

In this image released by mountain guide Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions and taken May 18, 2013, climbers make their way to the summit of Mount Everest, in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas.

Mount Everest (top), the highest peak in the world with an altitude of 8,848 meters is seen in this aerial view next to the 6,812 meters high Mount Ama Dablam (bottom) on April 22, 2007.

Climbers make their way to the summit of Mount Everest on May 18, 2013.

A group of top Nepalese climbers are planning a high-risk expedition to clean up Everest, saying decades of mountaineering have taken their toll on the world's highest peak.

Tents glow in the twilight as clouds cover Everest Base Camp in Nepal on May 22, 2003.

Climbers navigate the knife-edge ridge just below the Hillary Step on May 18, 2013 during their way to the summit of Mount Everest.

Arunima Sinha poses with the Indian flag on Mount Everest. The twenty-six year old Sinha, who lost her leg after she was thrown from a moving train two years ago, became the first female amputee to climb Everest.

13-year-old Jordan Romero, right, poses for photos with a Sherpa guide on the summit of Mount Everest on May 22, 2010. Jordan became the youngest climber to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Two Japanese climbers, in blue, rest on top of Mount Everest, surrounded by Tibetan prayer flags on May 20, 2013.

Nepalese Mountaineer Apa Sherpa with Mountain gear stands atop Mount Everest, Nepal, on May 22, 2010 while breaking his own record.

Nepal marked 62 years since the first ascent of Everest, celebrating the summiteers whose success has bred an industry that many climbers now fear is ruining the world's highest peak.

Mount Everest seen from above Everest Base camp, Nepal on May 26, 2003.

Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags are seen on the summit of Mount Everest on May 18, 2013 in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas.