Complete Timeline

1852

Peak XV Measured

The Great Trigonometric Survey of India determines that Peak XV (later named Everest) is the world's highest mountain at 29,002 feet.

First scientific measurement of Everest's height

1865

Mount Everest Named

Peak XV is officially named Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, the British surveyor-general of India.

1921

First Everest Expedition

The first British reconnaissance expedition to Everest, led by Charles Howard-Bury, maps the northern approaches through Tibet.

Beginning of systematic Everest exploration

1924

Mallory & Irvine Mystery

George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappear near Everest's summit, creating mountaineering's greatest mystery.

The question "Did they reach the summit?" remains unanswered

1950

First Eight-Thousander

Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal summit Annapurna, becoming the first to climb an 8000-meter peak.

Proved humans could survive at extreme altitude

1953

Everest First Ascent

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of Mount Everest, achieving the ultimate mountaineering goal.

Opened the modern era of high-altitude climbing

1954

K2 First Ascent

Italian team led by Ardito Desio successfully climbs K2, the world's second-highest and most technical peak.

Proved the most technical peak could be climbed

1964

Shishapangma Conquered

Chinese team summits Shishapangma, completing the first ascents of all fourteen eight-thousanders.

All 8000m peaks had been climbed

1975

First Woman on Everest

Junko Tabei becomes the first woman to summit Mount Everest, breaking gender barriers in mountaineering.

Opened high-altitude climbing to women worldwide

1978

Everest Without Oxygen

Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler summit Everest without supplemental oxygen, proving it was humanly possible.

Redefined the limits of human endurance

1980

First Solo Everest

Reinhold Messner completes the first solo ascent of Everest without oxygen, pushing alpine-style climbing to its limits.

Ultimate expression of self-reliant mountaineering

1986

All 14 Eight-Thousanders

Reinhold Messner completes his quest to climb all fourteen peaks over 8000 meters, finishing with Lhotse.

First person to climb all the world's highest peaks

1987

Kukuczka Completes 14

Polish climber Jerzy Kukuczka becomes the second person to climb all fourteen eight-thousanders in record time.

Completed in just 7 years and 11 months

1996

Everest Disaster

Eight climbers die in a storm on Everest, highlighting the commercialization risks and inspiring "Into Thin Air."

A turning point for expedition ethics