Which 1953 expedition first confirmed a successful ascent of Mount Everest?

The 1953 British expedition first confirmed a successful ascent of Mount Everest.

On 29 May 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Sherpa Tenzing Norgay reached the summit as the expedition’s second summit pair. Expedition leader John Hunt organized the attempt, which used the South Col route from Nepal. Hillary and Norgay descended safely and reported their achievement to the team.

The expedition followed many earlier attempts, including the 1924 British expedition, during which George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared high on the mountain. Mallory’s remains were found in 1999, but whether he reached the summit before his death remains unproven. That uncertainty is why the 1953 ascent is regarded as the first confirmed success.

News of the climb reached Britain around the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Hillary and Norgay shared the achievement, although the expedition’s organization, Sherpa support, route fixing, oxygen equipment, and many other climbers were essential to the result.