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Every May 29th, the world celebrates World Everest Day, a date that commemorates the historic ascent of Sir Edmund Hillary (from New Zealand) and the sherpa Tenzing Norgay (from Nepal) to the summit of Mount Everest, in 1953. This event not only marked a milestone in the history of mountaineering, but also initiated a worldwide fascination with this majestic mountain, a symbol of challenge, overcoming, and respect for extreme nature.
Located in the Himalayan range, Mount Everest, or Sagarmatha in Nepali and Chomolungma in Tibetan, is the highest mountain on the planet, with an altitude of 8,848.86 meters above sea level, according to the most recent joint measurement between Nepal and China.Everest was named after the British surveyor Andrew Waugh in honor of George Everest, former Surveyor General of India. However, for local communities, the mountain already had spiritual meanings long before it was recognized worldwide.
How do you get to the top?
There are two main routes to the summit: the route from the southeast from Nepal, and the one from the north from Tibet. The southeast route, more frequented, starts from the Everest Base Camp (at 5,364 meters), which is reached after a demanding trek of about 10 days from Lukla, a small town with one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
From there, the mountaineers traverse intermediate camps, the dangerous Khumbu Icefall, the South Col, and finally the summit, in a journey that can last from 6 to 9 weeks, depending on the weather and acclimatization.
The Benefits of Everest
Beyond the physical challenge, Everest is a source of spirituality, biodiversity, and culture. The Khumbu region, which surrounds it, is home to Buddhist monasteries, millennial glaciers, and Sherpa communities who live in harmony with the mountain. For the locals, Everest is not just a mountain, but a living deity. Furthermore, Everest has served as a platform to highlight issues such as climate change, gender equality in mountaineering, and human resilience.Thais Herrera: At the summit of Everest
The only woman to reach the summit of Everest and making her mark on the history of the Dominican Republic is Thais Herrera, who achieved this feat in May 2023. Her achievement was celebrated as a symbol of empowerment, courage, and discipline of women.
Herrera, an industrial engineer and high-performance athlete, has used her voice to promote mountaineering in Latin America, make women in extreme sports visible, and encourage respect for nature.
“My ascent to Everest was not just personal, it was a representation of everything that Caribbean and Latin American women can achieve with preparation and determination,” Herrera expressed after returning from her expedition.
World Everest Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to those who have challenged their limits to reach the summit, but also to reflect on the delicate balance between exploration and conservation. Everest, more than a mountain, is a symbol of the greatness of nature and the human spirit that refuses to give up.
In times where global challenges multiply, looking towards Everest reminds us that there are still peaks to conquer —within and outside of ourselves.
