Chip and Martin GT Magnet Middle School on Mount Everest's Summit

At the top of Mount Everest, Chip proudly holds up the Martin GT Magnet Middle School flag. To his left, his climbing partner, Vance Cook, and Pemba Sherpa breathe from their oxygen tanks. The safety lines connecting Vance Cook and Pemba Sherpa hang between them, attached to their harnesses. (Learn more)

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In Chip’s journal, he describes the challenge of climbing the Hillary Step — a 40-foot rock wall at 28,740 feet that must be ascended before reaching the summit. He expresses his admiration for Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, who made this part of the ascent long before advances in climbing gear technology and without fixed ropes. Modern climbers ascend the Hillary Step using fixed ropes that have been anchored to the step by sherpas.

From Chip’s journal, Friday, May 23, 2008:

The Hillary steps were not easy; they were bare rock due to a lack of snow. Now we had some rock climbing at over 28,000 feet which is not the hardest part… the hardest part is finding some foot grip with the crampons (metal on smooth rock). The experience makes you appreciate Hillary’s achievement! At 4:45am we reached the summit just behind a small team of Korean climbers. This was it… and it was magnificent! Martin team… it took us two months but WE MADE IT!

Learn more about Himalaya Mountains, Mount Everest, mountain climbing, and summit.

Definitions

sherpa n.
When capitalized, refers to an ethnic group living in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. Lowercase "sherpa" refers to local people who work as guides to mountain climbers in the Himalayas.
crampon n.
Spiked metal device that attaches to a mountain climber's boot and provides sure footing on ice and snow.

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