Description

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Celebrating the first ascent of Mount Everest in May 1953 with exclusive access to the remarkable imagery and private archives of legendary climber and photographer George Lowe, who accompanied Hillary and Norgay on that first triumphant expedition

Published to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest, this visually spectacular book features a trove of original photographs and other rare materials from the George Lowe collection, many unpublished, complemented by classic images from the final ascent. Stunning landscapes, candid portraits, and action shots describe the day-by-day moments of the historic expedition as never before.



The extraordinary journey is retold from Lowe’s point of view, capturing the drama of the expedition and the personal stories of those involved. In addition, earlier attempts at climbing the world’s highest mountain and key later ascents are described. The book also includes contributions from an impressive team of mountaineers and explorers, including Reinhold Messner, Sir Chris Bonington, the late Sir Edmund Hillary, Peter Hillary, Doug Scott, Stephen Venables, Norbu Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hornbein, Kenton Cool, and Jan Morris.



Not only the anniversary of the first successful ascent, 2013 also marks fifty years since the first American ascent and the epic first ascent of the West Ridge.

About the Author

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George Lowe was a New Zealand born explorer, mountaineer, photographer and filmmaker. His stunning photographs of the first ascent of Everest were published in 2013 by Thames & Hudson in The Conquest of Everest.

Huw Lewis-Jones is a historian of exploration who travels in the Arctic and Antarctica each year as a polar guide. He was formerly a curator at the Scott Polar Research Institute, Cambridge, and the National Maritime Museum, London. His books include The Writer’s Map: An Atlas of Imaginary Lands, Explorers’ Sketchbooks: The Art of Discovery & Adventure, and The Sea Journal: Seafarers’ Sketchbooks.

Praise For…

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Essential for all Everest collections as one of the expedition’s last primary sources and a deserved testament to Lowe’s contributions.
— Library Journal

This handsomely published work provides a visual account of one of the most significant accomplishments in the history of mountaineering. . . . Though Lowe is seldom credited for the significant role he played as a climber and talented photographer on the expedition, his photographs—both black-and-white and color—provide the dramatic illustrations of the ascent. . . . Recommended.
— Choice

These images were shot by the photographer who climbed with Hillary and Norgay on their famous ascent.
— Entertainment Weekly

Documents the journey through rare and previously unpublished photographs.
— Four Seasons Magazine

These photographs [give] a candid look back on this historic expedition, which . . . remains an incredible feat into the thin air.
— Atlas Obscura

All the drama and excitement is captured.
— Woman Around Town

Huw Lewis-Jones brings together the remarkable imagery and rare materials from the private archives of legendary climber and photographer George Lowe.
— Longitude