Our guide to the world's highest peak: those who have climbed it, measured it, written about it, and died because of it
A mountaineering history chronicling the feats of Mallory and Irvine, Hillary and Tenzing, Messner, and Habeler.
At one time, the world thought that the Andean peak Chimboraso—a mere 20,561 feet tall—was the highest. Since then, there have been numerous pretenders to the throne (as late as 1986!) looking for the chance to topple Everest.
If the number 29,028 is
seared into your mind along
with 1066, 1492, and other
seemingly immutable
figures, get ready for a big
change in the holy canon of
statistics.
From the first British reconnaissance party trying to map out a route to Everest in the 1920s to Appa Sherpa's record-breaking 14th climb in 2004.
Other than Everest, there are thirteen mountains higher than 8,000 meters. Find out who climbed each of them first. Or click here for a list of all mountains above 20,000 feet.
If the idea of the highest fourteen peaks is enough to induce the early signs of pulmonary edema, check out the slightly less rigorous mountaineering feat of climbing the Seven Summits—the highest mountains on each continent. Nearly eighty climbers have summited all seven.
Amaze your friends! Stump the Sherpas! Little known facts about the world's highest peak.
Everest encyclopedias, news sites, photo galleries, and other Web sites of interest to Everest fans.
Our recommendations of the best books for Everest fans.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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