{"id":3879614,"date":"2014-04-18T15:27:16","date_gmt":"2014-04-18T15:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/life.time.com\/?p=20346"},"modified":"2020-01-20T18:53:07","modified_gmt":"2020-01-20T18:53:07","slug":"mount-everest-photos-of-edmund-hillary-and-tenzing-norgay-1953","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/history\/mount-everest-photos-of-edmund-hillary-and-tenzing-norgay-1953\/","title":{"rendered":"High Society: Hillary and Tenzing After the First Ascent of Everest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s been more than 60 years since Edmund Hillary (later Sir Edmund, of course) and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to summit Mount Everest, and all these decades later their feat still resonates as one of the 20th century&#8217;s signature moments. Here, LIFE.com looks back at that remarkable time with some rare photos from the celebrations after the climb, as well as page spreads from the cover story that ran in LIFE a few months later chronicling the accomplishment and the bitter controversy that swirled around the entire event.<\/p>\n<p>As LIFE noted in its July 13, 1953, issue, the historic ascent was hardly greeted with unalloyed goodwill and enthusiasm from all corners of the globe. In fact, international politics and racial pride were quickly thrust into the conversation about Hillary&#8217;s and Tenzing&#8217;s astonishing feat.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Everest&#8217;s Conqueror&#8217;s Come Back,&#8221; LIFE roared in one headline in that special issue, then immediately blunted the celebratory tone with a caveat: &#8220;They bring thrilling stories of a great deed, but little men besmirch their riotous welcome.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Thus in a sad foreshadowing of the often contentious debate that had dogged so many attempts on Everest throughout the years (Is it worth the risk of life and limb? What does the local community get out of it?) the very first successful climb to the top of the world&#8217;s highest peak sparked some often quite ugly jockeying for credit and supremacy. Jockeying, it should be noted, that both Hillary and Tenzing, who were fast friends, readily denounced.<\/p>\n<p>(Also, while LIFE makes more than one mention of &#8220;British climbers&#8221; in its reporting, Edmund Hillary was in fact a proud, born-and-raised New Zealander. He died in 2008, at the age of 88, in Auckland. Tenzing died two years before Hillary, at age 71, in India.)<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The climbers who conquered Everest,&#8221; LIFE wrote, &#8220;came down to a world eager to see them, honor them and hear their full story. . . . They came down to such a welcome such surging excitement and hero worship as had never before stirred the steamy lowlands of Nepal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #808080;\"><em>The first official welcomers met the mountaineers outside of Banepa [the article continues], 20 miles from Nepal&#8217;s capital Katmandu. In the lead was British embassy party, bearing beer and sandwiches; then came the Nepalese to garland the heroes with flowers and sprinkle them with <\/em>kumkum<em>, a vermilion powder of rejoicing. Devil dancers met that at Bhadgaon, still 15 miles out. The wife of Sir John Hunt, the expedition&#8217;s leader, came out to meet him. Tenzing&#8217;s wife and their two teenage daughters flew from Darjeeling, India. . . .<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #808080;\">To the distress and the half-resentful bewilderment of Colonel Hunt and his British climbers, however, these first wild welcomings carried a clear implication that, in Asia, the real hero of Everest was Tenzing alone. The conquest of Everest, a product of selfless teamwork between Asian and European, was being twisted into an ugly tool of Asian nationalism, inflamed further by the normal British habit of treating the hired Tenzing like a hired man. . . .<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Today, as men and women continue to test their own mettle on the peaks of the Himalayas and on the heights of other, equally lethal mountain ranges around the globe, the pictures in this gallery are a reminder that for some people, the risks have always, unquestionably, been worth the rewards.<em><br \/><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LizabethRonk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@lizabethronk<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872682\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872682 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Moving down after triumph, Hillary and Tenzing are still united and delighted.&quot;\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay after their ascent, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/01_01020823.jpg\" alt=\"Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay after their ascent, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872683\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872683 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Street banner, like most in Katmandu, singled out Sherpa Tenzing for honors of Everest.&quot;\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"A welcoming sign in Nepal, like most in Katmandu, singled out Sherpa Tenzing for honor, 1953\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/02_1199918-1024x677.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">A welcoming sign in Nepal, like most in Katmandu, singled out Sherpa Tenzing for honor, 1953<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872684\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872684 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Edmund Hillary (later Sir Edmund Hillary), 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/ Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Edmund Hillary, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/03_1048983.jpg\" alt=\"Edmund Hillary 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Edmund Hillary, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/ Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872685\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872685 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Tenzing Norgay (George Medal honoree), 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Tenzing Norgay, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/04_1048981.jpg\" alt=\"Tenzing Norgay 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Tenzing Norgay, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872686\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872686 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; John Hunt (later Sir John Hunt), leader of the successful 1953 Everest expedition.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"John Hunt, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/05_112464244.jpg\" alt=\"John Hunt 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Hunt, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872687\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872687 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Nepalese greet Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Nepalese greet Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/06_112464234.jpg\" alt=\"Nepalese greet Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 1953.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nepalese greet Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872688\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872688 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Heroes ride into welcoming throng in Temple Square of Bhandgaon. Tenzing stands in leading jeep, Hunt and Hillary sit in second.&quot;\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Heroes rode into a welcoming throng in Temple Square of Bhandgaon in India. Tenzing stood in the leading jeep, while Hunt and Hillary sat in the second.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/07_00983323.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Heroes rode into a welcoming throng in Temple Square of Bhandgaon in India. Tenzing stood in the leading jeep, while Hunt and Hillary sat in the second.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_20354\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=20354 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Celebrating Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal, 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"A celebration for Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/08_112464437.jpg\" alt=\"Celebrating Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal, 1953.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">A celebration for Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, Nepal, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_20355\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=20355 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Caption from LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; &quot;Getting ready for heroes, devil dancers prance in Temple Square.&quot;\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Devil dancers pranced in celebration in Temple Square.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/09_112464122.jpg\" alt=\"Getting ready for heroes, devil dancers prance in Temple Square, Nepal, 1953.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Devil dancers pranced in celebration in Temple Square.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872691\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872691 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Tenzing Norgay arrives in India after first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Tenzing Norgay arrived in India after first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/13_112464333.jpg\" alt=\"Tenzing Norgay, 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Tenzing Norgay arrived in India after first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_20356\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=20356 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; From left: John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay in India, after the first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay in India, after the first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/10_112464413.jpg\" alt=\"John Hunt, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay in India, after the first ascent of Mt. Everest, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872689\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872689 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"The reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, Nepal.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/11_00983329-1024x989.jpg\" alt=\"Reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, Nepal.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">The reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, Nepal.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872690\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872690 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; Edmund Hillary at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Edmund Hillary at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/12_112464357.jpg\" alt=\"Edmund Hillary, 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Edmund Hillary at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872692\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872692 desc=\"&lt;strong&gt;Not published in LIFE.&lt;\/strong&gt; John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.\" caption=\"James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock\" title=\"John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/14_1153407.jpg\" alt=\"John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay in Nepal, 1953.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay at a reception for the 1953 Everest expedition, India.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">James Burke\/Life Pictures\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872693\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872693 desc=\"\" caption=\"\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/15_pagelayouts_slide-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872710\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872710 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine Cover July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-11.jpg\" alt=\"Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summit Everest, May 1953\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine Cover July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872711\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872711 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872712\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872712 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872713\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872713 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-7-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872714\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872714 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-9-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872715\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872715 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-111-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872718\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872718 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-131-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872716\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872716 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-15-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872717\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872717 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-17-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872719\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872719 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-191-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3872720\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3872720 desc=\"LIFE magazine, July 13, 1953. NOTE: Best viewed in &quot;Full Screen&quot; mode; see button at right.\" caption=\"\" title=\"Life Magazine July 13, 1953.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2012\/05\/picture-211-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Life Magazine July 13, 1953.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\"><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Six decades after Edmund Hillary&#8217;s and Tenzing Norgay&#8217;s first ascent of the world&#8217;s highest peak, LIFE.com pays tribute to the feat &#8212; and remembers the controversies that surrounded it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31476327,"featured_media":20356,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[168,611,825,907,1167,1491,1602],"class_list":["post-3879614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","tag-168","tag-edmund-hillary","tag-history","tag-james-burke","tag-mount-everest","tag-sir-john-hunt","tag-tenzing-norgay"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mount Everest: Photos of Edmund Hillary and Tenzig Norgay, May 1953<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"LIFE pays tribute to Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, and recalls the controversy around their May 29, 1953, first ascent of Everest.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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