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Tenzing Norgay
Reaching Everest’s summit with Edmund Hillary in the first confirmed ascent.
Swiss Everest expedition · First confirmed Everest ascent
- Born
- May 1914
- Birthplace
- Himalayan region; birthplace disputed
- Died
- 9 May 1986
More people
Tenzing Norgay
Sherpa mountaineer whose decades of Himalayan experience culminated in the 1953 ascent of Everest. He later trained generations of climbers in Darjeeling.
Early life
Himalayan childhood
Accounts differ over whether he was born in Tibet or Nepal; he grew up in the Himalayan region.
Darjeeling beginnings
Moved to Darjeeling as a young man and entered the world of Himalayan expeditions.
Career
- 1935
Expedition experience
Joined Eric Shipton’s Everest reconnaissance and began years of high-altitude expedition work.
- 1952–1953
Summit attempts
Climbed high on Everest with a Swiss expedition, then joined the successful British expedition.
- 1954–1976
Training climbers
Served as Director of Field Training at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute.
Expeditions & contributions
Swiss Everest expedition
Reached a then-exceptional altitude with Raymond Lambert on the southern route.
First confirmed Everest ascent
Reached the summit with Edmund Hillary on 29 May.
Himalayan Mountaineering Institute
Helped establish practical training for future generations of mountaineers.
Beyond climbing
A chosen birthday
His exact birthday was unknown; after the ascent, he celebrated it on 29 May.
Family on the mountains
His son Jamling later climbed Everest, continuing the family’s mountaineering connection.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Institutional biography and career ↗Photo: SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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