The Mother Goddess of the Earth
Chomolungma
pic. View of the Himalayas from the Nepalese foothills.
Mount Everest lies tucked away in the north-east corner of Nepal, on the border of Tibet, half hidden by its impressive neighbouring peaks. It was in 1808 that the British began the process which was to locate and name the world's highest mountain. Their goal was to survey the entire Indian sub-continent.

Sir George Everest was Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843. It was Everest's successor, Andrew Waugh, who proposed naming the world's highest mountain after him as a tribute to his pioneering work in mapping India. The name of Everest was officially adopted by the Royal Geographical Society in 1865. one year before Everest died.

Long before this, the mountain was known as Chomolungma – The Mother Goddess of the Earth.

The great British 19th century explorer Sir Francis Younghusband once described it: "Mount Everest for its size is a singularly shy and retiring mountain. It hides itself away behind other mountains. On the north side, in Tibet, it does indeed stand up proudly and alone, a true monarch among mountains….."

The northern side of the mountain was the first to be explored. From the summit a great ridge runs down to the north-east for five km. About a kilometre from the summit, this ridge has a distinct shoulder from which another ridge descends northwards to a high and icy pass (also known as a "col") called Chang La - the North Col of the pre-war expeditions. This, the North Ridge, rising up to three quite noticeable 'steps', where the harder limestone tops the Yellow Band. It is this ridge which formed the line of attack of the pre-war British attempts on the mountain, and the Chinese post-war ascents.