Shadow of Everest

Shadow of Everest

Photograph by Ed Viesturs

National Geographic grantee and Rolex ambassador Ed Viesturs has done what most folks would consider impossible; he has summited all 14 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen. He is one of the few elite climbers in history to accomplish this feat. In 1997, he became the first non-Sherpa to summit Everest five times and survive. He has now summited Everest seven times.

"On the morning of May 23, 1997, I was making my way up toward the summit of Everest, once again, via the Southeast Ridge. We began our ascent at 10 p.m. from our high camp at the South Col. Exactly one year earlier, I had reached the summit for a fourth time as the climbing leader of an IMAX film team. Recalling the consequences of the crowding on the final summit ridge in 1996, we decided on this expedition that an early start from camp would be a great way to get ahead of the others who were hoping for a summit ascent the same day. Leaving camp well before midnight allowed us to be very high on the mountain at dawn. At about 27,800 feet, as the sun rose, I looked to the west and witnessed this beautiful phenomenon of Everest’s shadow, a perfect penumbra, on the landscape. Thankfully, I had the strength, patience, and clarity of mind to stop and take a photo. My mittened hands and the subzero temperatures made keeping the camera steady a huge effort. At the time I was still using a film camera and it would be weeks before I could see if the photo turned out. I still consider it one of my favorite shots and it will always bring back great memories of my fifth ascent of Everest on that beautiful day."