It was too late to take risks now...

"It was too late to take risks now. I asked Tenzing to belay me strongly, and I started cutting a cautious line of steps up the ridge. Peering from side to side and thrusting with my ice axe, I tried to discover a possible cornice, but everything seemed solid and firm. I waved Tenzing up to me. A few more whacks of ice-axe, a very few weary steps, and we were on the summit of Everest. It was 11:30 am. My first sensation was one of relief - relief that the long grind was over, that the summit had been reached before our oxygen supplies had dropped to a critical level; and that in the end the mountain had been kind to us in having a rounded cone for its summit and not a fearsome and unapproachable cornice. But mixed with the relief was a vague sense of astonishment that I should be the lucky one to have obtained the ambition of so many brave and determined climbers. It seemed difficult to grasp that we'd got there. I was too tired and too conscious of the long way down to safety to feel any great elation. But as the fact of our success thrust itself more clearly into my mind, I felt the glow of satisfaction spread through my body - a satisfaction less vociferous but more powerful than I had ever felt atop a mountain before. I turned to look at Tenzing. Even beneath his oxygen mask and the icicles hanging from his hair, I could see his infectious grin of sheer delight. I held out my hand in good Anglo-Saxon fashion. But this was not enough for Tenzing, and impulsively he threw his arm around my shoulder and we thumped each other on the back in mutual congratulations."

- The late Sir Edmund Hillary upon reaching the summit of Everest for the first time with Tenzing Norgay on the 19th of May, 1953

It was too late to turn around now. I asked Namgyal how far we were, as we hiked up the ridge. Peering from side to side looking for a glimpse at the mountain scenery. I tried to discover a possible summit, but everything seemed to be obscure by the foothills. Namgyal waved down to me. A few more steps down a gravel road, a few weary meters, and we were at the Base Camp of Everest. It was 7:30 am. My first sensation was one of awe - awe at the mountain that stood before us, awe at the summit that protruded 8848 meters above the earth; and awe that in the end, the sky had been kind to us in giving an unobstructed view, as opposed to one concealed with clouds. But mixed with the awe was a strong sense of purpose that we were among the lucky trekkers, tourists and climbers to have obtained the ultimate view. I was too tired and too conscious of the long drive to Shigatse to fully relax. But as the reality of our journey thrust itself more clearly into my mind, I felt the glow of satisfaction spread through my body - a satisfaction more potent than any we had experienced elsewhere on earth. I turned to look at Namgyal. Even beneath his long hair and Tibetan hat, I could see his infectious smile of sheer happiness. I took a photo in good Anglo-Saxon fashion.  But this was not enough for Namgyal, and impulsively he lifted his camera for a group selfie as we marveled at the natural wonder towering above our heads.

-Pacific Discovery, Nepal and Tibet, 2016, upon reaching the base camp of Mount Everest following an overland journey across Tibet.