The Hillary Step
Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world. The snow-covered peak, the fascinating height, the perils associated with it makes it a challenging task for all mountain climbers across the world.
Mountain climbing is one of the most hazardous and fantastic sports that tests your durability and patience.Many mountain climbers across the globe have tried to climb this imposing peak. Some have failed while others have successfully climbed and defeated all the perils and obstacles that lay in there way. These men and woman have made their nation proud and they have emerged as winners and are regarded, as true heroes.
The Hillary Step is a perpendicular upright mass of rock that is around forty feet in height. To reach it you must climb the South East Ridge route from the Nepal side of Mount Everest. The Hillary Step lies at approx 28,840 feet above the sea level, between the South summit and the true summit. It is the last major obstacle before reaching the top of the world.
The Hillary Step has been clearly named after the renowned Sir Edmund Hillary who was the first and the foremost mountain climber to climb and scale it. He did so in 1953 with his climbing partner Tenzing Norgay. They both found it very hard work but were successful in ascending this barrier that lay in there way. They then went on to become the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Today you ascend and descend the Hillary Step by the use of ropes that have been fixed to the mountain. This however still doesn’t make it any easier to climb. With large precarious drops either side of you it is a place where you cannot afford to make any mistakes. One wrong step and your life can be at stake. One of the hazards of the Hillary Step is waiting for other climbers to either ascend or descend. There is only one way up and back down and all climbers share the same route. Waiting around could lead for you in getting too cold, running out of oxygen, losing too much time and because of this you may even have to give up your own summit bid.
Everyone imagines the Hillary Step with its ropes to aid the climber, but imagine it in 1953 when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay stood at its base for the first time. There were no previous ropes to help them. Hillary had to use nothing but his hands, crampons, strength and determination to some how scale this piece of rock. He did so with a safe belay for protection from Tenzing below.
Once this formidable looking rock step has been successfully ascended there are no other major hazards in your way before reaching the summit of Mount Everest.
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