International Everest Day (May 29): A Tribute to Mountaineering Legends

On the 29th of May, International Everest Day is celebrated in Nepal and New Zealand. Also known as International Sagarmatha Day, it is marked in commemoration of the first successful summit in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world is an ultimate challenge for every mountaineer. The journey to the summit comes with extreme conditions and risks faced by climbers, such as altitude sickness, frostbite, and unpredictable weather.

With numerous attempts, Everest has faced tragic losses and sacrifices made by those who lost their lives pursuing their Everest dreams. So, one must have excellent physical and mental determination to conquer the top of the world, Everest. 

Origin of International Everest Day

The name ‘Everest’ itself is given by the British Surveyor General of India, Sir George Everest. However, Everest is known by various other names. One such popular name goes by ‘Sagarmatha’ in Nepal which means ‘the Head in the Great Blue Sky.’ Everest is also commonly known as ‘Qomolangma’ in Tibet meaning ‘Holy Mother.’

Situated between the Nepalese and Chinese border, various expeditions led by the British made summit attempts to Everest since the 1920s. It was only when the ninth expedition in 1953 was successful by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary.

This duo comes from two nations, Tenzing Norgay from Nepal and Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand. They were officially the first ones to accomplish the summit to the top of the world. The summit was made at 11:30 am on 29 May. 

It is believed that there were other two climbers George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who got to the summit in 1924. However, they were nowhere to be found when they left for the final leg of the journey. So it is unidentified if they accomplished the summit attempt. Therefore, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary were the first ones to accomplish the summit officially. 

The International Everest Day was celebrated for the first time on 29 May of 2008 when Sir Edmund Hillary passed away. The celebration is made in the commemoration of his honor and on the date of the first successful Everest attempt. 

Celebrating Mt. Everest Day: How Do You Do It?

You can celebrate International Everest Day on the 29th of May by visiting various venues. This day is celebrated grandly in different locations in Nepal and New Zealand. 

In Nepal, mixed events are held in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital and the Everest Region. On the other hand, you can celebrate in your own way. You can trek along the same trails walked by Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary.

If not you can go to the trek popular in the Everest Region, such as Gokyo Lakes Trek, Everest Three High Passes Trek, and more. Furthermore, if you are a serious mountaineer, you can train for the summit attempt. Besides, you watch events, movies, and documentaries, or read books related to Everest. 

During the International Everest Day, Everest Marathon is one of the most popular events. This takes place in the Everest region starting from Everest Base Camp at 5,364 meters and ending in Namche at 3,440 meters. The winner of the marathon is awarded with great prizes and public praise. 

Whatever you prefer to do on Everest Day, make sure to appreciate Mt. Everest and mountaineers pursuing their Everest dreams. Whether you choose to be a mountaineer or an admirer, be inspired by the people conquering the summit. 

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Mount Everest

1. Over 4,000 people have summited Mount Everest. 
2. Tenzing Norgay (Nepal) and Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) were the first to officially summit Everest in 1953. 
3. Junko Tabei, a Japanese mountaineer, is the first woman to climb Everest. 
4. Reinhold Messner from Italy and Peter Habeler from Austria were the first to reach Everest’s summit without using supplemental oxygen in 1978.
5. Every year, Everest grows approximately 44 millimeters. 
6. The Age of Everest: 60 Million Years and Counting
7. Kami Rita Sherpa Sets Record with 29 Successful Everest Summits (2024). 
8. Bhakta Kumar Rai (Nepal) holds the record for the longest stay on Everest (Stayed for 32 hours, engaged in 27 hours of meditation, and relied on supplemental oxygen for only 11 hours.)
9. Mount Everest is often witnessed with numerous deceased climbers.
10. The Death Zone begins beyond 8,000 meters in altitude.

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