The event that made me want to start this thread happened May 1 and May 22, 1963, when the first Americans made it to the top of Mount Everest. I've been reading a book written by one of the climbers:
See the two tiny figures at the bottom of the picture? That's Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld heading up the West Ridge, the first climbers ever to try that route to the summit. They made it, too, and though Jim Whittaker will be remembered as the first American to reach the top of Everest (he came with 3 others up the tried-and-true South Col route), the pioneering of the West Ridge is equally if not more important in mountaineering history.
Here's a brief account of the climb, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Of the six men to summit, only two are still living, Tom Hornbein and Jim Whittaker.
http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/MP/Everest/index.cat[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1YaIOH1Sbk[/youtube]
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RmJ25VBKTLI[/youtube]