Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world at 8,850 metres above sea level, has become one of the world's most legendary adventure holiday destinations. Every year brings new stories of personal triumph from those who have shown the determination and resilience it takes to journey through the region, whether on an Everest Base Camp trek or an attempt on the summit itself. But several decades ago it had never been ascended successfully, and only a century earlier than that it was barely known to the outside world. The summer of 2013 sees the 60th anniversary of the historic ascent of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, who reached the summit on May 29 1953, and those who visit the region during this time can trace the legacy of that legendary journey in a number of locations. Here are some of them.
Namche Bazaar
The communities that travellers pass through on the Everest Base Camp trek route are understandably proud of their region's grand heritage, and for those who take the time to search them out while making the trek, there are plenty of reminders of that heritage. In Namche Bazaar, the Khumbu region's unofficial capital, where trekkers traditionally spend at least a day resting and acclimatising before continuing on their way, the history of Sherpas who have climbed Mount Everest can be traced at the Mount Everest Documentation Centre. Connected to the illuminating Sherpa Culture Museum, the centre presents images and press clippings about the individual Sherpas who have reached the great mountain's summit - starting with Tenzing Norgay himself.
Thyangboche
Another favourite destination to visit while making an Everest Base Camp trek is Thyangboche Monastery, a site made famous by its stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains - and its part in the Everest legacy. Tenzing Norgay was born in the vicinity of the village of Thyangboche, and during his teenage years was sent to the monastery to become a monk. Had he stayed, the history of Everest exploration might have gone very differently, but he found that the monastic life was not the path he wished to follow, and became involved in mountaineering instead. Because of its connection to the region's mountaineering history, and its position on the route to Base Camp, the monastery has become a popular place for hopeful mountaineers to make offerings and appeal to the local deities for a successful journey.
Khumbu Icefall
Higher up on the Everest Base Camp trek route, the villages and monasteries give way to a landscape of rock and ice, but even these seemingly stark environs offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by the early Everest climbers. Khumbu Icefall, an awe-inspiring sight about a seven-hour trek from Base Camp, presented one of the most dangerous obstacles to those hoping to tackle the mountain's summit: a constantly flowing cascade of ice from the Khumbu Glacier. Seeing it up close and knowing that is a challenge for even today's climbers makes it all the more impressive that Edmund Hillary successfully crossed it in 1953.
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