Joint Himalayan Committee
Encyclopedia
The Joint Himalayan Committee was the name given in 1947 to the body that was previously known as the Mount Everest Committee
. Like its predecessor, it was composed of high-ranking members of the Alpine Club
and the Royal Geographical Society
.
The Joint Himalayan Committee was responsible for organising and financing British
attempts on Mount Everest
, including the first ascent
in 1953
– was undertaken to Cho Oyu
, although the mountain was not climbed.John Hunt, The Ascent of Everest, Hodder and Staughton, 1953, p. 22
, the leader of the 1953 expedition, wrote that the various British mountaineering clubs had been requested to submit lists of qualified candidates that would be considered by the Committee, 'whose responsibility it was to issue the formal invitations'.The Ascent of Everest, p. 23–4
A number of organizations contributed to the Committee, including The Times
newspaper, which had also supported earlier expeditions.The Ascent of Everest, p. 23
, another to the Himalayan Committee saying that I proposed to bring Tenzing
and Hillary to England – George Lowe had already planned to come.'The Ascent of Everest, p. 219
Mount Everest Committee
The Mount Everest Committee was a body formed by the Alpine Club and the Royal Geographical Society to co-ordinate and finance the 1921 British Reconnaissance Expedition to Mount Everest and all subsequent British expeditions to climb the mountain until 1947...
. Like its predecessor, it was composed of high-ranking members of the Alpine Club
Alpine Club (UK)
The Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857 and was probably the world's first mountaineering club. It is UK mountaineering's acknowledged 'senior club'.-History:...
and the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
.
The Joint Himalayan Committee was responsible for organising and financing British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
attempts on Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
, including the first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
in 1953
Background
The Committee began the organisation for the full-scale 1953 attempt (in case the Swiss attempt in 1952 failed) in 1951, when it arranged a Reconnaissance expedition to the mountain. The following year, 1952, a training expedition – which included Edmund HillaryEdmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE , was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest – see Timeline of climbing Mount Everest...
– was undertaken to Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu is the sixth highest mountain in the world at above sea level. Cho Oyu lies in the Himalayas and is 20 km west of Mount Everest, at the border between China and Nepal...
, although the mountain was not climbed.John Hunt, The Ascent of Everest, Hodder and Staughton, 1953, p. 22
Selecting members
John HuntJohn Hunt, Baron Hunt
Brigadier Henry Cecil John Hunt, Baron Hunt KG, PC, CBE, DSO, was a British army officer who is best known as the leader of the successful 1953 British Expedition to Mount Everest.-Early life and career:...
, the leader of the 1953 expedition, wrote that the various British mountaineering clubs had been requested to submit lists of qualified candidates that would be considered by the Committee, 'whose responsibility it was to issue the formal invitations'.The Ascent of Everest, p. 23–4
Financing
According to Hunt, the Committee's responsibility for drumming up funds for the 1953 expedition was not a welcome one:A number of organizations contributed to the Committee, including The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
newspaper, which had also supported earlier expeditions.The Ascent of Everest, p. 23
Success
On 2 June, four days after the successful ascent, Hunt sent a runner to 'carry messages to Namche Bazar, to go thence by the good offices of the Indian wireless station to Kathmandu. Cables of humble appreciation were sent to the Queen and the Prime MinisterWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, another to the Himalayan Committee saying that I proposed to bring Tenzing
Tenzing Norgay
Padma Bhushan, Supradipta-Manyabara-Nepal-Tara Tenzing Norgay, GM born Namgyal Wangdi and often referred to as Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer...
and Hillary to England – George Lowe had already planned to come.'The Ascent of Everest, p. 219
Members
- L. P. Kirwan (Director, Royal Geographical Society)
- Peter LloydPeter Lloyd (mountaineer)Peter Lloyd CBE , was a mountaineer and engineer, a President of the Alpine Club.-Education:...
- B. R. Goodfellow (Honorary Secretary)