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RGS Events to Mark 70 Years Since the Ascent of Everest

The Himalayan Trust (UK) and the Mount Everest Foundation have organised a day of talks at the Royal Geographical Society, London on 13 June 2023 to mark 70 years since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s ascent of Mount Everest.

Mount Everest framed against a purple sky

Split into two sessions, an afternoon and an evening, the events will feature contributions from Peter Hillary and Jamling Tenzing; AC members Leo Houlding, Kenton Cool, Melanie Windridge and Stephen Venables; as well as Adriana Brownlee, Hari Budha Magar and Ray Mears.

The afternoon session is aimed at a younger audience and is centered around the theme of inspiration. Speakers Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, Ray Mears, Leo Houlding, Adriana Brownlee and Melanie Windridge will speak about the inspiration they have all taken from the 1953 ascent. There will also be contributions from Duke of Edinburgh Young Ambassadors reading from the letters of expedition leader John Hunt. The talk is well-suited to school and youth group bookings. Further details are available via Eventbrite.

The evening session will include contributions from Peter Hillary, Jamling Tenzing, Kenton Cool, Hari Budha Magar and Stephen Venables who, in 1988, became the first Briton to climb Everest without the use of supplemental Oxygen when he made the first ascent of the mountain’s Kangshung face. The session is titled ‘Collaboration in Exploration’ and will look at how relationships have shaped the lives and ascents of all of the speakers as well as their relationships with Everest ‘53. Further details are available via Eventbrite.

All proceeds from the events will be split equally between the Himalayan Trust (UK) and the Mount Everest Foundation, two charitable organisations which were founded as a direct result of the 1953 expedition.

The evening is part of a worldwide programme of celebrations highlighting the continuing legacy of the Everest ’53 expedition. You can find out more at Everest70.com