Mount Everest is celebrating a 60-years-jubilee. Not concerning his real age. Chomolungma counts millions of years, not decades. 60 years ago on the 29th May Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to set their feet on the the highest point of the earth. Since 1953 Mount Everest has been climbed more than 6000 times, about 4500 times in the last ten years.  

Not unchangeable 

Tibetan side of Mount Everest

Thinking about how climbing of Chomolungma has changed in the past two decades, it’s difficult for me to celebrate this 60th birthday light-hearted – although it would deserve it. The first climb of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay was a pioneering achievement of two outstanding adventurers. Both are dead and we cannot turn back time. But do we have to accept the current situation? The problems are caused by human beings and they can be solved by human beings. 

Everest 60 

I open two pinboards titled „Everest 60“. You find them now on the right side of the blog. I invite you to write on the first pinboard how you consider Mount Everest. On the second you can send „birthday-boy“ Chomolungma your wishes for the future. Send your notes by email to stefan.nestler(ad)dw.de! I pin them to the board. Please don’t write a novel. In this case I claim the right to shorten the text.

During my visit on the trade fair ISPO in Munich I started to ask famous mountaineers to contribute their views on Everest. You will find these statements soon in blog-posts and on both pinboards too. And I’ll keep on collecting.