The first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest took place in 1953.
New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa climber Tenzing Norgay reached Everest’s summit on 29 May 1953 as members of the ninth British expedition to the mountain. The expedition was led by John Hunt, and the successful summit pair used the South Col route. They were later honored internationally for the achievement.
Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, with its summit on the border between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China. Earlier expeditions had attempted the mountain, and George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared during a 1924 attempt; whether they reached the summit remains unresolved. The 1953 ascent is considered confirmed because Hillary and Norgay returned safely and documented their achievement. Everest’s official elevation has been surveyed more than once as measurement methods have improved.