"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."
"Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down."
"People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things."
On 29 May – four days before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II – Hillary and the experienced Tenzing reached the 8848-m summit of Mt Everest via the south-east ridge.
Hillary (at right) listens as teammate George Lowe sends a communiqué via the bulky wireless. (source:NatGeo)
In this photo, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, the first people to reach Everest's summit, are seen near 27,300 feet. The 1953 expedition had climbers carrying loads approaching 44 pounds apiece. You can see the supplementary oygen tank on his back. (Source:NatGeo