Queuing for the top of the world -------------------------------- The 2019 climbing season saw Mount Everest become more overcrowded than any year since it was first conquered in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay -------------------------------- KEY Failed attempts at summit Successfully reaches summit Dies in attempt -------------------------------- SHARP DIP IN DATA 2014: Icefall kills 16 sherpas. Out of respect, many expeditions called-off 2015: Earthquake and subsequent deadly avalanche ends climbing season -------------------------------- TOTALS Attempts: 23,917 Summits: 10,050 Deaths: 291 -------------------------------- NUMBERS OF CLIMBERS, 1953-2019 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 1953 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2019 May 29, 1953: Hillary and Norgay * Note: Data reflects climbers and sherpas. “Attempts” shows those who went above base camp. Of those who summited, 75 died during descent -------------------------------- Sources: Time, The Himalayan Database *No “attempts” data available Pictures: Nirmal Purja/@nimsdai Project Possible, Creative Commons © GRAPHIC NEWS