Hillary, Sir Edmund (1953- ):

Sir Edmund Hillary is a famous explorer from New Zealand. He was a member of the 1953 expedition to Mount Everest. Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to climb Mount Everest when they reached the summit on 29th May 1953. Hillary has since completed an expedition to the South Pole and has set up a charity to help the Sherpa people. The charity has funded the construction of schools and hospitals in the Khumbu region.

Norgay, Tenzing (1914 -1986):

Tenzing Norgay was a Nepalese Sherpa. Tenzing and Edmund Hillary became the first people to climb Mount Everest when they reached the summit on 29th May 1953. He was selected for this expedition because he had been a valued member of previous attempts on Everest. Tenzing Norgay became famous after conquering Everest and was an ambassador of the Nepalese and Sherpa peoples.

Sherpa:

Sherpa literally means ‘people from the East’. The Sherpa people originated in eastern Tibet. Today, they are largely based in the Khumbu region of Nepal, to the south of Mount Everest. Sherpas have an outstanding worldwide reputation as mountain guides and porters. Their local knowledge of the Himalaya has been essential to the success of many international ascents of Everest. The first Sherpa to reach the summit of Everest was Tenzing Norgay in 1953.

Sherpani:

Sherpani is a word used to describe a female Sherpa. The first female Sherpa to climb Mount Everest was Pasang Lhamu Sherpa in 1993.

Sirdar:

A Nepalese word for the head Sherpa of an expedition party.

Yak:

A yak is an animal that is native to the Himalaya. Yaks live at between 3,048 and 6,096 metres (10,000-20,000 feet). They are well adapted to their environment and have large lungs to allow maximum absorption of oxygen at high altitudes. Yaks are often used by Sherpas to carry loads because they cross mountainous terrains well and can carry up to 100kg (220 lb) of packs.