10 Interesting Records on Everest; 1953 till Today

Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, period! The mountain has long symbolized human ambition, courage, and determination. 

But ever since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s historic first ascent in 1953, Everest has been the stage for some of the most awe-inspiring mountaineering achievements and outstanding records.

Some interesting records set on Everest continue to push the boundaries of human performance. From the fastest climbs to remarkable feats by astronauts and the youngest climbers, there are several jaw-dropping records.

Today, we will take a deep dive into some of these interesting and remarkable records.

1. The First Ascent: A Moment That Changed History (1953)

It was on 29th May 1953 that the highest peak in the world was climbed for the very first time. Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal were the first to climb the summit. 

Even though they were heckled by the extreme and harsh conditions, high winds, and the physical toll of the climb—the two men had successfully reached the top of the world.

Oh, and there’s one interesting piece of information: A year earlier, before the summit took place, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa had already come within 150 meters of the top with Swiss climber Raymond Lambert. This historic ascent was a pivotal moment for Nepal; as the country had just opened its borders to climbers.

2. First Women on Mount Everest: Breaking New Ground

 Junko Tabei, a Japanese Climber, was the first woman to conquer Mount Everest in 1975. Yup, it took exactly 22 years for a woman to place a foot at the summit after the first ascent. And she was able to do it even though she was buried unconscious during an avalanche for six minutes.

Junko Tabei was rescued, and she then continued to the summit. Now, isn’t that inspiring?

You might think that her achievements were just to this extent. But it didn’t stop there—she later went on to become the first woman to climb the Seven Summits, the highest peak on every continent.

3. Record-Setting Summits: Reaching the Top Again and Again

Reaching the top of the highest mountain in the world is an achievement of a lifetime, but for some, it’s become a regular affair. Yeah, you heard it right!

Imagine climbing a summit 21 times. Sounds impossible, right? But Kami Rita Sherpa has done it! The daredevil holds the current record for the most summits of Mount Everest.

He now holds the staggering record by climbing the summit 30 times (as of 2024 A.D.). His first ascent came in 1994, and he reached the top in May 2024. Alongside him, Phurba Tashi Sherpa and Apa Sherpa have climbed the summit 21 times.

Kami Rita Sherpa’s brother, Lakpa Rita, has also scaled Mount Everest 17 times. Likewise, Dave Hahn, an American guide, has reached the summit 15 times.

4. First Winter Ascent of Mount Everest

Polish climbers Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof Wielicki were the first to summit Mount Everest in the Winter. Supported by a 20-person strong team led by Andrzej Zawada, the Polish duo climbed to the height of 8848 meters despite the extreme wind, constantly changing weather conditions

5. Youngest and Oldest Climbers: Everest Knows No Age 

At the extremes of age, Everest has seen climbers from both ends of the spectrum. Jordan Romero, hailing from the USA, is the youngest person to have conquered the summit. He accomplished the feat when he was just 13 years and 10 months old in 2010.

What makes his record even more amazing is that he had already climbed all the tallest peaks on other continents before conquering Mount Everest.

On the other end of the spectrum, Yuichiro Miura from Japan is the oldest person to climb Mount Everest. In 2013, at the age of 80, he reached the highest peak in the world.

Miura is a former extreme skier who skied down Mount Everest in 1970. It is commendable that he climbed Everest despite undergoing heart surgery a few months before his summit attempt. He even planned to return at 90, proving that age is no barrier to climbing the world’s tallest peak.

6. The Fastest Ascent: Speed Records on Everest

While most climbers take days to climb from base camp to summit—often stopping at various camps for acclimatization—some athletes have turned Everest into a race against the clock.

In 2004, Pemba Dorje Sherpa set a record for the fastest ascent from base camp to the summit, completing the journey in an astonishing 8 hours and 10 minutes. To put that in perspective, most climbers take 34-38 hours over multiple days.

However, Kilian Jornet, a Spanish ultra-runner, later pushed the limits even further in 2017 after climbing Mount Everest from base camp to summit in mere 26 hours without supplemental oxygen or fixed ropes. His effort was a mind-blowing display of speed and endurance.

7. The Fastest Descent Records on Everest

Yeah, there’s a record for the fastest descent from Everest as well. Slovenian skier Davo Karnicar was the first to ski down Mount Everest in 2000 A.D. It took him just 5 hours to descend.

Likewise, Marco Siffredi, a French snowboarder, was the first person to make a snowboard descent from the summit of Everest. It took him a mere 2.5 hours to reach an advanced base camp situated at 6,400 meters. Sadly, he lost his life during another attempt back in 2001 A.D.

8. First Astronaut to Climb Everest

Now, ain’t that interesting, Astronaut on top of the world. Scott Prazynski, hailing from America, became the first astronaut to climb Mount Everest in 2009.

It was another addition to his extraordinary list of accomplishments. He had already logged 47 hours of spacewalks and five shuttle missions

But even for him, climbing Everest put forth an entirely different kind of challenge. It was his third attempt at the summit, and he succeeded after overcoming the challenges of high-altitude sickness and extreme conditions.

9. First Tweet from the Top of the World

This marked the day when technology met adventure. Kenton Cool, a British mountaineer, was the person to send the first-ever tweet from Mount Everest via a weak 3G signal. He tweeted, “Everest summit no 9! 1st tweet from the top of the world thanks to a weak 3G signal,” thanks to a Samsung Galaxy S2.

10. Extraordinary Superhuman Feats

Yup, there are various instances of extraordinary feats from different people. Would you believe it if I said someone biked all the way from Sweden to Everest, climbed it, and biked back home? Unbelievable, right? But Goran Kropp did just that.

Likewise, Tim Macartney-Snape traveled all the way from sea level in the Bay of Bengal and climbed Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Just imagine how many years it took for this preparation.

Oh, and Erik Weihenmayer is the first blind person to climb Mount Everest, breaking both the mountaineering and disability barriers. He climbed the mountain in 2001 A.D.

Summing Up— Everest: Never-Ending Journey of Records 

All the stories of Everest’s summit are a testament to human resilience and determination. The peak continues to inspire everyone with all the amazing feats, endurance, daredevils, and courage in the years since the mountain continues to inspire. 

Mount Everest keeps on testing the limits of human ability. The mountain doesn’t just reward the strongest climbers; it celebrates the human spirit, daring ambition, and those willing to push the limits of what’s possible.

Whether you come for the challenge, the beauty, or the stories of those who’ve been before you, Mount Everest promises an adventure like no other.

So, hurry up, pack your gear, and make your way to Mount Everest—who knows what kind of mind-boggling feat is waiting for you! And it is irrefutable that the records set on Everest will continue to be as breathtaking as the mountain itself.

Reach out to Awesome Holidays Nepal, and we will be more than happy to be a part of your journey.