Everest Anniversary Part 5: South summit conquered

May 26, 1953 Edmund Hillary woke early at Camp VII, half way up the Lhotse face at 7315m.

With Tenzing Norgay, their support team of George Lowe and Alfred Gregory, and eight Sherpas, they were pushing over The Traverse for the South Col. Each step sucked breath from their lungs.

On the way Hillary looked up and experienced one of his "greatest thrills" - colleagues Charles Evans and Tom Bourdillon had become the first to reach Everest's South Summit, only 100m from the top.

For Bourdillon and Evans, the moment was a mixture of victory and torment. It was 1pm. They had achieved their primary goal, but they had the chance to reach the top.

The younger Bourdillon wanted to continue. Evans argued that the top was still three hours away. They could get up, but they would not get down. They reluctantly turned back.

Expedition leader John Hunt and Sherpa Da Namgyal had given their all climbing to 8335m, leaving a tent, food and oxygen for Hillary and Tenzing's attempt. That night the three teams huddled together at Camp VIII (7925m); those who had tried for the top sharing knowledge with those who were about to.