The First Attempt

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After weeks of poor weather conditions the afternoon snowfalls cease and the weather is fair enough for the first attempt. On May 21st the first assault pair of Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, supported by John Hunt, leave Camp Four on their way up to the South Col, and then on to the summit.

Using the closed circuit oxygen set they start off on the first attempt on the summit. First on the rope is Tom Bourdillon, wearing a blue wind proof suit and rubber-soled high altitude climbing boots. He is carrying his rucksack, eiderdown, sleeping bag and crampons strapped to his oxygen set. Behind him Charles Evans is similarly dressed, but in shelter of the Cwm is not yet wearing his wind-proof anorak.

Bourdillon & Evans Leaving For The South Col

Digital print signed & inscribed on Verso.

Original image size may vary slightly.

ID | EV60-7.1

Evans South Summit

Image taken by Tom Bourdillon.

Original image not availble.

ID | EV60-7.2

By May 26th Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans have been the highest men on earth managing to reach as high as the South Summit. They return exhausted, their lack of success attributed to inadquate support and the fact that their close circuit oxygen did not function well at that height.