Tenzing Norgay

Hello, my name is Tenzing Norgay, and I want to tell you the story of how I climbed the tallest mountain on Earth. I was born in a place surrounded by giant, snowy peaks in late May of 1914. My home was in the Khumbu region of Nepal, right in the shadow of the great mountains called the Himalayas. I grew up as a Sherpa, and for my people, the mountains were our home and our life. From my village, I could see the highest mountain of them all. My people called it Chomolungma, which means “Goddess Mother of the World.” You might know it by another name: Mount Everest. Ever since I was a young boy, I was fascinated by its power and beauty and dreamed of one day reaching its peak.

When I grew older, I knew I had to get closer to the big climbing expeditions. Around the year 1933, I moved to a busy town in India called Darjeeling. Many of the world’s greatest climbers came here to begin their journeys into the Himalayas. My big chance came in 1935, when I was chosen to join an expedition led by an Englishman named Eric Shipton. It was my first time on a major climb. For many years after that, I worked as a high-altitude porter. My job was to help climbers carry heavy supplies up the steep, icy slopes. I learned so much about the mountains during those years—how to read the weather, how to use ropes and ice axes, and how to stay safe in such a dangerous place.

With every expedition, my dream of reaching the very top of Everest grew stronger. I didn't just want to help others get there; I wanted to stand on the summit myself. A very important climb happened in 1952 when I joined a Swiss expedition. My climbing partner was a man named Raymond Lambert, and together, we pushed higher up the mountain than anyone had ever gone before. We were so close to the top, but a fierce storm suddenly blew in, forcing us to turn back. It was a difficult decision, but a necessary one to survive. That experience didn't discourage me. Instead, it filled me with even more determination. I knew it was possible to reach the summit, and I was ready to try again.

The next year, in 1953, I joined a large British expedition led by a man named Colonel John Hunt. This was the team that would change my life forever. I was paired with a climber from New Zealand named Edmund Hillary. We quickly became good friends and trusted partners. We understood that we had to work together as a team to have any chance of success. The final climb was the most difficult thing I had ever done. The air was thin, making it hard to breathe, and every step took all of our energy. We carefully climbed up steep walls of ice, knowing one wrong move could be disastrous. Finally, on the morning of May 29th, 1953, Edmund and I took the last steps together. We stood on the summit of Mount Everest, the very top of the world. It was an incredible feeling of joy and peace.

After our amazing achievement, our lives changed completely. When we returned, there were huge celebrations. Edmund Hillary and I became famous all over the world. I traveled to Great Britain and received a special medal from Queen Elizabeth II herself. But I wanted to do more than just be famous. I wanted to help other climbers learn how to explore the mountains safely. So, in 1954, I helped start the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. I became its first Director of Field Training, where I spent many years teaching new generations of climbers the skills they needed to follow their own dreams in the Himalayas.

My journey took me from a young boy who loved the mountains to a man who stood on top of the highest one. I lived to be 71 years old and passed away on May 9th, 1986. Today, people remember me and Edmund Hillary as a team that showed what is possible when people from different backgrounds work together with courage, friendship, and great respect for the mountains. My story continues to inspire people everywhere to look up at their own 'Everest' and have the courage to start climbing.