Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay were the first men to summit Everest. But these impressive climbers are ‘noteworthy firsts’ involving Everest.

IN 1985 Richard Bass summited the Mt Everest on his fourth attempt. At that time, he was the oldest man to do so. He was 55 years old. He was also the first man to climb the highest mountain in each continent. Denali- North America, Aconcagua-South America, Erebus-Europe, Kilimanjaro- Africa, Vinson Massif- Antarctica, Kosciusko-Australia and of course Mt Everest-Asia. In 2013 this record was broken by Yuichiro Miura who was 80 years old when he scaled the Everest. Age no bar.

Filmmaker and mountaineer David Breashers was the first American to summit Mt Everest multiple times. He was the first person to transmit live pictures on top of Mt Everest in 1983. This Emmy award winner worked on numerous films involving the Himalayas- ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ and the IMAX film ‘Everest’.

in January of 1980, Andrez Zawada, Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof of Poland were credited for being the first people to reach the top in winter. Expeditions always take place in late spring when the weather isn’t as brutal. The weather is warmest in summer but the monsoon from the Indian Ocean bring stormy weather that makes it difficult to climb.

Jean Marc Bovin was the first person to para glide down the mountain. He made it down from the top in less than 12 minutes. Bovin was a mountaineer, extreme skier, hang glider, para glider, speleologist, BASE jumper, award winning film maker and author. Sadly, he died from injuries incurred after BASE jumping off Angel Falls. What a dare devil.

Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler were the first people to reach the summit without supplemental oxygen. There is two thirds less oxygen on top, then there is at sea level. Climbing without supplemental oxygen was thought to be impossible until these Italian mountaineers accomplished this feat in 1978. Messner was also the first person to reach the top on a solo ascent. Yes, he accomplished this feat without oxygen. Remarkable.

Junko Tabei was the first woman to reach the summit. Tabei was a leader of a Japanese team who had a treacherous climb up Everest in May of 1975. Their camp was hit by an avalanche, burying several members of her team including Tabei. They were rescued by their Sherpa guides. Twelve days later, she was the first of the team to summit Everest. In 1992 she also became the first woman to conquer the Seven Summits- the highest point on each continent. What a woman.

Davo Karnicar was the first person to ski down Everest. He remained on his skis from the summit to the base camp. He had accomplished over 1500 mountain climbs and was also the first person to make a complete ski descent from Seven Summits.

Pem Dorjee and Moni Mulepati earned their place in history. They were married on top of Everest. The couple had kept their plans secret from their families and friend incase they weren’t able to summit. They were on top for just 10 minutes which allowed for a brief ceremony and pictures. Moni was also the first non Sherpa Nepalese woman to climb Everest.

Didier Deisalle was the first person to land the helicopter on top. He touched down the summit and remained there for a couple of minutes. He repeated the feat the following day.

Erik Weihenmayer was the only blind person who made it to the top of the highest mountain on earth. He was born with a disease that left him totally blind by the age of 13. He never let this disability to slow him down. He participated in marathon, rock climbing, sky diving and cycling. He was the first blind person to climb the Seven Summits. Amazing.

Other notable mentions:

Kusang Sherpa: First person to climb all four sides of Everest.

Roche Bertrand & Jean Noel Bertrand: First father & son pair to summit. Roche was also the youngest person to summit. He was just 17 years.

Mcintyre: First person to fly over Everest.

Gary Guller: Made it to the top with one arm

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Top of the Mountain- Mt Everest ‘firsts’