Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Percival Hillary

Tenzing Norgay (May 15, 1914 - May 9, 1986) was a Sherpa of Nepal, a participant in many expeditions to Mount Everest culminating in the first successful ascent, during Sir John Hunt's expedition of 1953. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first men to reach the summit. In 1952, Tenzing had reached the then record height of 8,599 m (28,215 ft) while a member of the Swiss expedition led by Raymond Lambert. Tenzing later became director of field training for the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling.

Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (born July 20, 1919) is a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, most famous for the first successful climb of Mount Everest. He reached the 29,035-foot summit on May 29, 1953 with Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay.

Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northwest ridge from Tibet. Of the two, the southeast ridge is technically easier and is the most frequently used route. It was the route used by Hillary and Norgay in 1953. This, was however, a route decision dictated more by politics than by design as the Tibetan border was closed to foreigners in 1949.

The majority of attempts are undertaken during April and May before the summer monsoon season. A change in the jet stream at this time of year also reduces the average wind speeds high on the mountain. While attempts are sometimes made after the monsoons in September and October, the additional snow accumulated from the monsoons adds to the difficulties.