From Machu Picchu to King Tut’s grave, the ‘National Geographic’ auction takes us on a rich pictorial history, writes Trevor Coin

An expedition on Mount Everest retracing the 1924 climb by George Mallory and Andrew Irvine returned from the mountain today unable to say whether the two men were the first to scale the world's highest peak.

A DUTCH daredevil is to tackle the world’s highest peak wearing just boots, shorts, gloves and a cap, the expedition leader said yesterday.

Edmund Hillary, who was first to conquer Mount Everest along with his Sherpa guide more than 50 years ago, will miss his annual trip to this Himalayan nation where he is considered a hero, a close associate said today.

Mountaineers from around the world and Nepal’s royal family were gathering in the capital Kathmandu today to join Sir Edmund Hillary in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the conquest of Mount Everest.

THE Irish Mount Everest expedition team had a miraculous escape when a helicopter crashed on the mountain yesterday, killing one crewman and three climbers on the ground.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of his historic conquest of Mount Everest, Edmund Hillary complained that legions of modern-day climbers were holding drunken parties at base camp and then scrambling to the summit on fixed ropes and ladders.

A helicopter that was flying to pick up climbers in the Mount Everest area crashed near the base camp today, killing a Nepalese flight attendant and injuring six other people.

Edmund Hillary and a Sherpa from his 1953 Everest expedition led a colourful procession through the Nepalese capital today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their conquest of the world’s tallest mountain.

A visibly exhausted Sir Edmund Hillary, confined to a wheelchair, arrived in Nepal today to take part in celebrations to commemorate his conquest of Mount Everest a half century ago.

Storms forced more than 100 climbers to retreat from the south face of Mount Everest today, amid celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the first conquest of the world’s highest peak.

A group of Chinese climbers who conquered Mount Everest beamed the first live television pictures from the summit today.

Strong winds and deteriorating weather thwarted attempts today by more than 100 climbers to scale 29,035ft Mount Everest.

Mount Everest conqueror Edmund Hillary was lauded today for his skill, courage and endurance in being the first to climb the world’s tallest peak in the Himalayan mountains nearly 50 years ago.

British officials are trying to clear up a VAT problem that has stalled the return of artifacts recovered near the body of English climber George Mallory, who died on Mount Everest more than 75 years ago.