CELEBRATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST STEPS ON EVEREST'S PEAK

Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary made history with their daring climb to the summit of the world's highest mountain. Today, Rolex is supporting their legacies in the Himalaya through its Perpetual Planet Initiative. The Himalayan Trust and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa Foundation, now run by the climbers' children, are protecting the region's environment and empowering its local communities

CELEBRATING A HISTORIC CLIMB

On May 29, 2023, the families of Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary gathered once again near the foot of Everest to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the two men's momentous achievement.

To commemorate the event, both family foundations, with support from the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, have refurbished two cultural centres in the Everest region. These centres celebrate the history, traditions, culture, and accomplishments of the local communities. The centres are dedicated to the history and identity of the Sherpa people, and will act as a platform to raise awareness of environmental issues in the area and celebrate the valuable contribution of the Sherpa community to mountaineering, just as the two legendary mountaineers did throughout their lives.

AN EXPLORATION OF LIMITS

Mount Everest, also known as Chomolungma to Sherpas and Tibetans, had always captivated the imaginations of explorers and mountaineers, but no one had successfully reached the top. Then, finally, on May 29, 1953, two men made history: Nepali-Indian Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand's Edmund Hillary, members of a British expedition led by Sir John Hunt, became the first people in recorded history to successfully step onto the Earth's highest peak. With this triumphant climb, the duo demonstrated to the world that summiting Mount Everest was possible.