Eric Shipton (1907-1977) was one of the great mountain explorers of the 20th century, often known for his infamous climbing partnership with H.W. 'Bill' Tilman. He climbed extensively in the Alps in the 1920s, put up new routes on Mount Kenya in 1921, and in 1931, made the first ascent of Kamet with Frank Smythe - the highest peak climbed at that time. Shipton was involved with most of the Everest expeditions in the 1930s, reaching a high point of 28,000 feet in 1933. He went on to lead the 1951 expedition, which was the first to approach Everest from the north (Nepali) side through the Khumbu ice fall, and on which Edmund Hillary first set foot on the mountain.

• 1   AStrange Land. 2   SomePioneer. 3   LagoOnelli. 4   ‘Vulcan Viedma. 5   Seno Mayo. 6   The Elusive Volcano. 7   The Nunatak. 8   Preparing for a Journey. 9   Crisisin Punta Arenas. 10   Voyage Through the Channels. 11   TheLanding. 12   The Approach. 13   The Reluctant Sledge. 14   A Cheerless Christmas. 15   On the Plateau. 16   FamiliarLandmarks. 17   Cordon Darwin. 18   The Journey’s End. 19  Land of Fire. 20   ‘TheUttermost Part of the Earth’. Addenda. Maps. Photographs.