It seems like climbing Mt Everest isn’t the challenge it used to be now we routinely see hundreds of people summiting on days when the weather permits. They’ve often paid significant wads of cash for the privilege to be part of an expedition.

But let’s not forget the original explorers and their sherpas (explorers in their own right) who took on this challenge of climbing the world’s tallest lump of rock.

International Everest Day commemorates the historic 1953 day when Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (Nepal) became the first humans to reach the summit of Mount Everest (assuming George Mallory never made it in 1924). It celebrates and pays tribute to the spirit of adventure, human endurance, and the indomitable will to conquer, rather than some paid for tourist visit for the rich and famous.

Original Prompt (ChatGPT)

For international Everest Day I’d like something a little different that the ordinary planimetric map. For the main image I’d like a side-aspect view of Mt Everest as close to photo-realistic as possible. I’d like the main routes depicted in a red line across the landscape with key features such as camps, ice falls, and the famous Hilary steps identified. Please provide a planimetric map inset and also annotate the illustration with famous expeditions, first ascents and other notable incidents. Provide some statistical information such as the total number of ascents, first male ascent, first female ascent etc.