1953 Everest Programme

The 1953 Ascent of Everest Programme was published to accompany the Mount Everest lectures that followed the successful expedition.

The programme starts of with a message from Prince Philip, who was the Patron of the British Mount Everest Expedition 1953.

Next, you will find a detailed list of all the expedition members. You will find a nice collection of black and white photographs taken of various members and views during the expedition.

A short description of the climb, written by Wilfrid Noyce is followed by some adverts, such as, Rowntrees, Smiths Watches and Dunlop to name a few.



The 1953 Ascent of Everest Programme that I have put on Ebay Auctions has been SIGNED By Edmund Hillary on the front cover. The programme itself is in excellent condition.

To bid on this item or to view my other Mount Everest related items that I have on Ebay Auctions please visit my user ID: highplaces04

Mount Everest on TV

This Saturday evening (14th November 2009) on BBC 4 there are three programmes worth watching, that’s if you have not seen them before.

19.30 Everest ER

Documentary following a team of British doctors as they run the highest hospital in the world on the foothills of Mount Everest.

Avalanches, mountain sickness, cerebral oedema, helicopter rescues, violent storms and air so thin it barely sustains life. A cast of highly-motivated, charismatic adventurers and doctors, focused on one thing - standing on the summit of Everest. Real human drama set against a backdrop of the most spectacular mountains on Earth.

20.30 Everest: Farther than the Eye Can See

Erik Weihenmayer is a world class athlete. He's also completely blind. In one of the most daring Mount Everest expeditions ever undertaken, cameras follow Erik's ascent, capturing for the first time the scenery of this vast and stunning environment.

Diagnosed with a rare eye disease at the age of three, by thirteen Eric was totally blind. To prove himself to the world, he decided to take on one of the world's greatest physical challenges. Supported by other courageous climbers, step by excruciating step he struggles towards his goal.

Nominated for two Emmy Awards and a winner at seventeen film festivals across the globe, the film is a story of courage, humour and the triumph of the human spirit.

21.30 Mark Lawson talks to Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Mark Lawson talks to explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes about his life's work. From being bullied at Eton to the death of his first wife, Fiennes reveals the ingredients behind his incredible determination and exploits.

At age 65, after a heart attack and several near-death experiences, retirement is far from his mind - 'I would find it pretty difficult if there wasn't always an expedition in the planning... it would be the beginning of a pretty quick end I think you know, as with lots of people who retire'.

He is currently looking for sponsors for his latest expedition, but remains tight-lipped as to what it might be. Like before, he wants it to be a first for England and to beat the Norwegians.

Creatures Living On Mount Everest

There are two main creatures that have been spotted and living on Mount Everest. They are the Euophrys omnisuperstes (small jumping spider) and the Chough (bird).

Jumping Spider

The jumping spider family contains more than 500 described genera and over 5,000 species, making it the largest family of spiders in the world.

The Himalayan jumping spider (Euophrys omnisuperstes) lives high up in the mountains, and has been found on Mount Everest at altitudes as high as 6700 metres above sea level.

When moving from place to place, and especially just before it jumps, the spider tethers a filament of silk to whatever it is standing on, this is a precaution incase it falls. If it did fall it would have a silk lifeline to climb back up to its original spot.

The jumping spider has great power in its legs and can jump 20 to 60 or even 75 to 80 times the length of its body.

Most spiders will use a web to catch its prey. The Jumping Spider is an active hunter and does not rely on a web. They catch their prey by stalking and by using their excellent eyesight to spot and track their prey.

At high altitudes the spider’s only source of food are insects that have been blown up the wind.



Chough

The Chough lives on mountains in Europe, North Africa and the Himalayas. It has been recorded at an altitude of 7,950 meters (26,100 ft) on Mount Everest. This could possibly be the most elevated animal in the world.

The Chough is 15 – 16 inches in length and has a 29 – 35 inches wingspan. It has a long curved red bill, and once an adult, it has red legs.

It lives on scraps of food that have been left over from expeditions on the mountain. During the harsh times of the Himalayan season it has been known for the Chough to feed on the corpses that lay scattered on the mountain side.

Man Against Mount Everest 1952

As we all know, the Swiss made an attempt to climb Mount Everest in 1952 from the South side in Nepal.

This video footage shows some great parts from their climb. It is 9 minutes long but definitely worth watching. I for one have not seen this footage before, so was happy when I came a cross it!

Bingo At Mount Everest

Three bingo buffs from Surrey are celebrating their roles in a gruelling trek to Mount Everest to take part in the world’s highest ever game of bingo.

Patrick King, from Sunbury, and Woking Gala Coral employees Huw Thomas and Tim Buttle, joined 20 other people in the record attempt, raising more than £100,000 for the cancer charity Sue Ryder Care in the process.

Mr King, who did a year-long training programme in preparation for the adventure, said: “It’s simply unbelievable to have been part of a world record-setting team.

“Despite all the hardships that I endured on the way to Everest Base Camp, the trek was a once-in-a-lifetime challenge and it’s great to finally be able to say that I’ve trekked to the top of the world and set a new record for Britain’s favourite game.



Mr Thomas added: “The other trekkers at Base Camp simply couldn’t believe it when we started pulling out the calling cards, dabbers and bingo balls at 17,500ft for the record attempt – we’re sure that they thought we had altitude sickness.

“But the support, camaraderie and cheers that erupted across Base Camp when we broke the record is a moment that I will never forget. I hope that we did the world of bingo proud.”

Dominic Harrison, chief executive of Gala Coral, said: “I am incredibly proud of the team who volunteered to undertake this challenge of a lifetime.

“To set a new record for the world’s highest ever bingo in addition to raising £100,000 for our nominated charity, Sue Ryder Care, is a fantastic achievement.”

Paul Woodward, chief executive of Sue Ryder Care, said: “I want to say a massive thank you and congratulations to the Gala Coral Mount Everest Base Camp trekkers.

“This is a truly fantastic endeavour– firstly in completing the trek but also in the tremendous amount of money that has been raised."

Source: Get Surrey

Mount Everest Polls

It’s that time of year again for me to add six new Mount Everest related poll’s to my website.

Do you have a question you would like seen as a Poll? If you do, please let me know as soon as possible. You can put it in a reply to this post or email it to me.

If you go to the bottom of the Polls page you will see all the questions that have been asked before. So please before sending your question just take a quick look to make sure that it has not been used before.

The question can be about modern or past times on Mount Everest, climbers, routes, equipment and anything else you can think of!

If I get sent more than six I will keep the others and use next time I update the polls.

Puja Ceremony

A Puja Ceremony is always held at Mount Everest Base Camp. Until this ceremony is held, no climber or Sherpa is allowed on the mountain, for fear of angering the gods.

A lama, a Buddhist holy man, usually oversees the ceremony. During the Puja, the climbers and Sherpa’s pray to the gods for their permission to climb Mount Everest and for a blessing for a safe and successful expedition.

A small temple, known as a chorten, constructed from rocks, is where the whole expedition team crowd around for the ceremony.

During the Puja, climbers and Sherpas place their ice axes, crampons, and other items against the chorten to be blessed.

A flag pole is also raised upon the chorten and prayer flags strung across the camp. The prayer flags are said to purify the air and pacify the gods, as they flutter in the wind and, in so doing, release the prayers written upon them to the heavens.

After all the prayers and blessing are said both Sherpa’s and climbers throw rice into the air and smear it upon the faces of others around them.

This is then usually followed by drinking plenty of chang (beer)!

The Moon or Mount Everest?

Forget all about the money, being a mountaineer or an astronaut etc, given the choice which would YOU rather do – stand on the summit of Mount Everest or walk on the surface of the Moon?

That’s a tough question!

I, as you probably already know, am no mountaineer, but I do have a love for Mount Everest, so this would be my first choice, right? To be honest I don’t know!


360 degree view from Everest Summit © Roderick Mackenzie

Standing on both, the summit of Mount Everest and the Moon, you are looking down on the world beneath you. But which gives you the better view, the Moon?

Earlier this year the former astronaut Scott Parazynski stood on the summit of Mount Everest. He has not been onto the Moon but has logged more than 1,381 hours in space, including more than 47 hours spacewalking, so I wonder which view he preferred?


Earth from the Moon © NASA

As much as I would love to stand on the summit of the highest mountain in the world I would have to choose walking on the Moon. Surely that must be the ultimate dream?

I wonder what would of happened if George Mallory had a fascination for the Moon instead of Mount Everest!

Please reply with your choice, thanks.