Just who was the first to climb the world's highest mountain ?
History records it as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay - on May 29, 1953, but many made earlier attempts and many of these resulted in fatalities for the climbers.
Such was the case of Andrew Irvine and George Mallory, who were last sighted near the top on June 8, 1924.
Many think they may have reached the summit before perishing. Mallory's body has been discovered preserved by the intense cold, and now there is hope that Irvine may be found because unusually harsh winds have stripped most of the snow from the peak.
Irvine is believed to have had a camera with him, and some people hope that if this is found the film may have survived to settle the mystery.
The question is probably academic after all this time, but it is generally accepted that success in mountain climbing is the ability to reach the goal - and safely return.
The first to achieve that was undoubtedly Hillary and Norgay !
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