June 2013 issue out now!
Our Everest Special Issue, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of the world’s highest mountain, is now in the shops and available digitally. This commemorative edition has many unique images from The Royal Geographical Society's archives and is packed with fascinating features including:
Top shots
The 1953 Everest expedition left an evocative visual legacy, as these lesser-known images from the archives of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) show
The only way is up
Mick Conefrey reveals how the expedition’s success came down to a series of gambles and a slice of luck
On top of the world
In an edited extract from the book finished shortly before he died, expedition member George Lowe, the first person to greet Norgay and Hilary on their way down from the peak, describes the events of summit day
Innovation Everest
From aluminium ladders to innovative oxygen equipment, Geographical takes a closer look at some of the more important pieces of equipment used, including a number of items designed specifically for the expedition
Letters from the top of the world
The last surviving member of the expedition was George Lowe. In excerpts from previously unpublished letters he shares first-hand insights into the expedition’s day-to-day events
Putting on a show
Mick Conefrey describes the controversy that threatened to divide the team in the expedition’s aftermath
The missing map
Tony Astill tracks down a lost map made following the 1935 Everest expedition
The changing face of Everest
Mark Rowe asks whether climate change is altering Everest’s environment
And don’t forget…
our regular features including an Essential Gear feature about how to avoid altitude sickness on a trek to Everest Base Camp; reviews of Everest books – both classics and those published to mark the anniversary; and an interview with writer John Keay, whose book The Great Arc details the decades-long surveying project that became the backbone of Indian cartography and led to Mount Everest being identified as the tallest mountain in the world
Buy your copy now, subscribe and save up to 35 per cent or call +44 (0)1635 588 496. Geographical is also available in WHSmith and many independent newsagents
Geographical resource
George Steinmetz
graduated with a degree in geophysics before going on to become a photographer. He now specialises in aerial images taken from a motorised paraglider. He talks to Olivia Edward on the release of his latest book Desert AirRead on
Damned if you do...
On all of the world’s great rivers large dams are being planned to help cope with climate change and promote development. But will their construction inevitably come with social and environmental costs, asks Mark RoweRead on