The Hillary Step

Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. Theto reach the summit of Mount Everest.
snow-covered peak, the fascinating height, and theToday you ascend and descend the Hillary Step by
perils associated with it make's it a challenging taskthe use of ropes that have been fixed to the
for all mountain climbers across the world. Mountainmountain. This however still doesn't make it any
climbing is one of the most hazardous and fantasticeasier to climb. With large precarious drops either side
sports that tests your durability and patience.of you it is a place where you cannot afford to
Many mountain climbers across the globe have triedmake any mistakes. One wrong step and your life
to climb this imposing peak. Some have failed whilecan be at stake. One of the hazards of the Hillary
others have successfully climbed and defeated all theStep is waiting for other climbers to either ascend or
perils and obstacles that lay in there way. These mendescend. There is only one way up and back down
and woman have made their nation proud and theyand all climbers share the same route. Waiting around
have emerged as winners and are regarded, as truecould lead for you in getting too cold, running out of
heroes.oxygen, losing too much time and because of this
The Hillary Step is a perpendicular upright mass ofyou may even have to give up your own summit bid.
rock that is around forty feet in height. To reach itEveryone imagines the Hillary Step with its ropes to
you must climb the South East Ridge route from theaid the climber, but imagine it in 1953 when Edmund
Nepal side of Mount Everest. The Hillary Step lies atHillary and Tenzing Norgay stood at its base for the
approx 28,840 feet above the sea level, betweenfirst time. There were no previous ropes to help
the South summit and the true summit. It is the lastthem. Hillary had to use nothing but his hands,
major obstacle before reaching the top of the world.crampons, strength and determination to some how
The Hillary Step has been clearly named after thescale this piece of rock. He did so with a safe belay
renowned Sir Edmund Hillary who was the first andfor protection from Tenzing below.
the foremost mountain climber to climb and scale it.Once this formidable looking rock step has been
He did so in 1953 with his climbing partner Tenzingsuccessfully ascended there are no other major
Norgay. They both found it very hard work but werehazards in your way before reaching the summit of
successful in ascending this barrier that lay in thereMount Everest.
way. They then went on to become the first people