John Hunt
(1910 - 1998)
The Ascent of Everest
John Hunt, The Ascent of Everest, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1954, first edition, third impression
xx + 300 pages including 48 half-tone plates and many in-text illustrations after pen-and-ink sketches and 8 colour photographs, 4 maps, sketches, 9 appendices, glossary, and index; original blue cloth covers with gilt text at the spine without dust jacket
9 x 6 x 1.25 in (22.8 x 15 x 3.2 cm)
Hand-signed by Sherpa Tenzing in navy blue ink on the frontispiece.
It is generally considered that a hand-signed copy by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay is relatively rarer compared to a signed copy by Sir Edmund Hillary. This is because Tenzing Norgay, being a Sherpa from Nepal, had limited opportunities for formal education and writing, which makes his autographs and signatures less common. Additionally, Tenzing Norgay passed away in 1986, whereas Hillary lived until 2008, which means there may be more signed copies available from Hillary due to his longer lifespan and involvement in various activities after the Everest ascent.
Lord John Hunt was a British army officer and is best known for leading the expedition to Everest in which Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the mountain's summit for the first time in recorded history. As a child, Hunt spent much of his time in the Alps, where he started developing his mountaineering skills. He continued climbing throughout adulthood, and when, in 1931, his military regiment was posted to India, he began climbing various parts of the Himalayas. After WWII, in which Hunt achieved the rank of Colonel, he was chosen to lead the Everest expedition on account of his military leadership skills as well as his proven abilities at climbing. In later life, he became the first Director of the Duke of Edinburgh awards, and in 1966 he was awarded life peerage for his work with young people.
Edmund Hillary was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Hillary was born on July 20, 1919, in Auckland, New Zealand, and developed a passion for mountaineering at a young age.
In 1953, Hillary and Norgay participated in an expedition led by British mountaineer John Hunt, which aimed to reach the summit of Mount Everest. After several weeks of acclimatization and challenging climbing, Hillary and Norgay made their final ascent on 29 May, 1953, at 11.30am. They braved extreme weather conditions and overcame numerous obstacles to reach the summit of Mount Everest, standing at an elevation of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet).
Sidar Tenzing Norgay was a Sherpa mountaineer born in Nepal. He climbed Everest alongside Hillary, and they reached the summit together. Earlier on in the expedition to Everest's summit, Norgay saved Hillary from a near-miss when he fell into a crevasse - Norgay's quick thinking secured Hillary's rope, thus preventing him from hitting the bottom. As a result, Hillary made Norgay his climbing partner of choice for the final ascent.
The successful ascent of Everest by Hillary and Norgay was a historic achievement and garnered worldwide acclaim. Hillary's accomplishment made him a hero in New Zealand and earned him international recognition. He went on to have a distinguished career as a mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist, and made significant contributions to the people of Nepal through his charitable work.
Both Hillary and Norgay are considered legendary figures in mountaineering history and there ascent of Everest is considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of mountaineering and has inspired countless and climbers to attempt the same feat. Hillary's legacy as a pioneering explorer and his contributions to the field of mountaineering continue to be remembered and celebrated to this day.