UKH

The official account of the first successful Everest expedition is a bit of a plod. For a more insightful and entertaining story, try the version written by Wilfrid Noyce, suggests Ronald Turnbull. Published the year after the first ascent, his book, 'South Col: One Man's Adventure on the Ascent of Everest', even includes some poems.

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Somebody I was privileged to meet when a schoolboy. His book sits proudly on my bookshelf.

I'm fortunate enough to own George Band's copy of the book, together with his post-it annotations. On p253, where it is mentioned that Everest's "top had first been trodden by Hillary or Tenzing-which?", there is the enigmatic note "T on top". I wonder what that means?? 

(The book is also signed by Hillary, which is nice)