Max Pearson presents a collection of this week’s Witness History episodes focusing on Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
It's 70 years since Edmund Hillary with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, became the first people to reach the summit of Everest in 1953.
We hear about some of the earliest, tragic attempts to scale the mountain, and from those who'v ... Show More
Jun 28
Robert Kennedy's funeral train and the opening of the Medellin Metro
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service, all related to trains and journeys which have helped to shape our world.Our guest Nicky Gardner, travel writer and co-author of Europe by Rail: the Definitive Guide, discusses t ... Show More
50m 58s
Jun 2023
The first Indian woman to conquer Everest
As a child, Bachendri Pal never dreamt of conquering mountains but a chance meeting with a climber changed all that.She applied for a mountaineering course and was chosen to be part of India’s first mixed-gender team to climb Mount Everest. On the journey, she faced icy winds, fr ... Show More
9m 13s
Feb 2022
Summiting the World’s Most Dangerous Mountain
K2, a mountain in the Kashmir region of Asia, is the second highest peak on Earth and yet more dangerous than Mount Everest, especially in the winter. But in January 2021, a group of Nepali climbers attempted to accomplish what people thought was impossible. Team co-leader Mingma ... Show More
32m 54s
Sep 2022
Did Mallory Make it to the Top of Everest First?
George Mallory was a member of the first three European expeditions to Everest, world’s tallest mountain. He wanted to summit it so badly, he gave his life trying. Since that fateful day in 1924, climbers have wondered – was Mallory the first to summit?See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
52m 6s
Sep 2019
Mount Everest Pt. 1: The Blizzard of 1996
In 1996, two climbing groups set out to reach the peak of Mount Everest, the highest point on planet Earth. A sudden, unexpected blizzard would leave them stranded on the mountain's summit, where the freezing cold and lack of oxygen slowly killed them off, one by one. Learn more ... Show More
52m 8s
Oct 2023
The First Ascents of Everest - Mallory and Irvine
Welcome to When It Goes Wrong, the podcast about disasters, accidents and when things fall apart. On this episode we will be heading back to Mount Everest and covering some of the first attempts at climbing it. We will cover Mallory's attempts in 1921, 1922 and the fateful t ... Show More
50m 22s