1-2) On To The Summit: We Reach The Top

 1-2) On To The Summit: We Reach The Top.        

Ice BREAKERS
• Discuss with your partner and complete the web of different activities 
related to climbing. 

Rapelling CLIMBING Rock Climbing

• There are certain prerequisites for Mountaineering. With reference to the 
following points, develop a short dialogue between you and your friend 
about mountaineering.

Time Distance Equipment

Mental and

physical fitness Training Clothes

• Discuss with your partner the various hazards and risks that a 
mountaineer/ trekker has to face in an expedition.

Tenzing Norgay 

29 May1914- 9 May 1986), known 

by birth as Namgyal Wangdi and often referred to as 

Sherpa Tenzing, was a Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer. 

He was one of the first two individuals known to reach 

the summit of Mount Everest, which he accomplished with 

Edmund Hillary on 29 May 1953.

Sr No     Honour             Medal             Honoured by             For

1     Tiger Medal                 1938                 Himalayan Club         III Everest Expedition

2     Star of Nepal             1953                 King Tribhuvan         All accomplishments

3     Padma Bhushan         1959                 Govt. of India         All accomplishements

        Tenzing describes the climb to the top and all events occurred during the 

historic climb. The article also describes what brought him to climbing 

mountains.

    

On To The Summit: We Reach The Top

( माऊंट एवरेस्ट )

        When we left Camp Nine on Friday morning, I 

was determined to get to the top on this day. That 

morning I remember thinking, “I was to get to the top 

even if I die.” I was not afraid to die that day. We 

set out (start) early and all the way from Camp Nine to the 

peak (शिखर) we alternated.

 I would take the lead and then Hillary. The man 

who follows when climbing has a difficult job both in 

climbing up and climbing down. He is the anchor. The 

man going in the lead cuts the steps and breaks the 

way.

In my pocket I had four flags. When we were still 

at Camp Four, Colonel Hunt gave me three flags, 

those of Britain, the United Nations and Nepal. He 

charged me with the duty of planting them on the top 

of the world.

“These three flags are in your care,” he said. 

“When you and Hillary reach the top, put them at the 

peak. I am sure that you and Hillary are going to do 

it. ”I told Colonel Hunt that I was carrying the Indian 

flag with me and I would like to be on the top with 

the other flags. I had to ask Colonel Hunt’s permission 

in his capacity as leader of the expedition.

Indian Flag

    Colonel Hunt said, “By all means, I am glad to 

know that you brought an Indian flag”.

After one hour of steady going, we cut across 

from the south face and started up the west side where 

we had to pass up a steep line of rocks (मोठी चढण) . This was 

slow and difficult. Once we had cleared these, there 

was nothing barring our way to top but a 

snow-covered incline, sloping (उतार) Less and less as it neared 

the top. 

    These last sixty or seventy feet up the top were 

not very dangerous. But we kept up the same steady 

pace वेग . And we reached the small, flattened summit 

almost together :

    During the last fifty feet from the peak, Hillary 

and I were moving about twenty feet apart. We were 

tied together with a rope. Most of the time the rope 

was loose, but when we went over dangerous ground, 

we drew it taut.ताण 

    This rope was a symbol. It tied us together. 

One could not move without the other. 

We were not two individuals, but a team.

I have been asked many times, “Who w

as first?” 

When we were within reach of the summit, I did not think of who was going to be “first.” I am sure that 

Hillary was not thinking that. Climbing takes all your attention. You have many more important worries.

What does it matter whether I reached the top first or Hillary? Our main thought was that both of us 

reach the top. We had to. One couldn’t do it alone.

If there had been a difference of one thousand feet between us, then one could make the claim that he was first. But even then, only the man behind him 

could confirm the distance between the two of them. 

        When we reached Kathmandu we discovered that a controversy (वादविवाद ) had arisen. 

We talked it over, 

Hillary, Colonel Hunt and I. We agreed that all the talk was childish.

So we made a pact, (करार and each of us signed it in 

the office of the Prime Minister of Nepal. Each one signed his own statement. I have a copy of 

Hillary’s statement which I carry in my pocket. 

It reads: “Kathmandu, June 22, 1953.”

“On May 29th, Tenzing Sherpa and I left our high camp on Mt. Everest for our attempt on the summit. 

As we climbed upwards to the South Summit, first one and then the other would take a turn at leading. 

We crossed over the South Summit and moved along 

the Summit ridge (narrow piece of raised land ). We reached the summit almost together. 

We embraced (hug, hold closely in arms) each other overjoyed at our 

success, then I took photograph of Tenzing holding 

aloft the flags of Great Britain, Nepal, the United Nations and India.” (Signed: E.P. Hillary) There is 

another paper like this in English, signed by me. Thus, we will not take part in any controversy. As the 

statement says, Hillary and I embraced when we reached the top.

 We did as well as our bulky  (heavy) equipment (जड साहित्य)

would let us. I remember saying to him: “We have 

done it.” But we couldn’t hear. We had our oxygen mask on.

            

    First Thought

        My first thought on reaching the top was a sense of gratitude to God, that after 

having failed six times, He had blessed me with fulfillment of this desire I had held so long.

        I placed on the summit the offerings to God that 

I had carried with me. This is in accord (सहमत) with my religion. Both my wife and I are

 Buddhists. I could not kneel (गुडगे  वर न  बसने ) because of my clothes and equipment. But 

I offered a silent prayer in my heart. 

        The offerings (पूजा) were biscuits, candy and a little blue 

pencil. My youngest daughter, Nima, had given me 

the pencil before I left home. She asked me to put it 

on the top of the mountain as her offering. It was anordinary blue pencil, not even a long one, 

but it was one of her prized (बहुमोल) possessions.

As I put it down, I pointed it out to Hillary. He gave me a big smile, showing that he understood. 

        Then I got out the flags which I had on piece of string about four feet long. 

I fastened one end to my ice axe and Hillary took pictures as I held it up.

        As I had to bring my ice axe down with me, I buried one end of the string in the ice on the top, 

and the other in snow on the slope down below. When we left, they were lying flat against the summit.

I was very thirsty. I took out a water tumbler for a drink, but found the water in the metal container 

had frozen so I couldn’t quench my thirst. I ate some biscuits and offered some to Hillary.

            I was wearing a red scarf which my great friend 

Lambert (leader of the 1952 Swiss expedition) had given me last year. It was just a year ago,

 on May 28th, when we were standing at 28,215 feet, that he gave me the scarf. 

I wore it all the way up the mountain from Darjeeling. As I stood at the top, I remembered him, 

and felt that he was with me. I felt absolutely fit at the summit. My mind was absolutely clear

. I didn’t feel tired I felt exhilarated. It was a very clear sensation.

        Below, all the hills and mountains looked like 

Gods and Goddesses to me. The plains below looked like so many broken pieces of the map. 

        Two or three people could stand there on the roof 

of the world if you cut ice. Twenty or 30 feet below the top, there was enough flat square

 for two people to sleep. You could pitch one tent there. The summit 

is flat on one side and steep on the other. There is snow on the northern side, rocks on the 

South and East and snowy rock on the West. We stayed on the 

top a little more than fifteen minutes. We were lucky 

that there was no gale, or it would have swept us off. My next thought was how to get 

down safely 

        On the descent from the summit, I was walking behind Hillary. I was following

 him and holding the rope tightly, and my determination was to make sure he 

descended  खाली येणे) safely. I must say that the climb down 

was more difficult and dangerous than the climb up. 

If you slipped down, you would go into Kangshung glacierहिमनदी ) and there 

would be no trace left of you. 

    More Caution Needed  

        Of course it took less time climbing down, but you needed more 

“husiar” (caution). When I reached Camp Nine, my first thought was: “Thank God we have 

been spared (सुरक्षित)  an accident, and if up to now there have been no accidents I hope there will be

 none in future.” I had always prayed to God and he had saved me.

        At Camp Nine, Hillary and I were in no mood for any talking. We just attended to our own things.

 We stayed there about half an hour. We boiled some snow to make lemon water and drank it. 

When we left, we took only our sleeping bags and left everything else behind in the tent. 

From Camp Nine to Camp Eight, 

where we spent the night, was an easier job. Just above Camp Eight where the others 

could see us. I raised my arm with my thumb up. (C.W.F.) Noyce ad 

(W.G.) Lowe saw us and their faces flushed with joy. 

In this way I was able to tell them of our success. 

As we got nearer to Camp Eight, Lowe came to meet us and came up about 300 feet

 with tea and coffee.

            Another 50 feet down, we met Noyce who brought us more tea. This tea smelled kerosene.

 Apparently it had been made in a hurry and somehow some kerosene got into the welcome cup. 

But I thought since the gentleman had taken so much trouble to bring it, I was going to 

enjoy it whatever the smell.

-                                                                                Tenzing Norgay

                                                                    From archives of TOI)

 BRAINSTORMING

(A1) Summarize to the class in your own words the highly risky and dangerous journey
 of Tenzing and Hillary from the base to the top of Mt. Everest.

(A2) (i) Complete the web highlighting the feelings/emotions of Tenzing after reaching 
the summit.

Tenzing’s feelings/ 

emotions after reaching 

the summit

(ii) Glance through the text again and explain the qualities of Tenzing Norgay. 
Pick lines that show his unique qualities..

Sr No. Qualities Lines 

1. Patriotic I told Colonel Hunt that I was carrying the Indian flag with me and I would

 like it to be on the top with other flags.

2.

3.

4.

(iii) Write down the significance of the following in the context of 'On to the 
Summit' :

 (i) Red Scarf (ii) husiar (iii) Kerosene flavoured tea

 (iv) Ice axe (v) Anchor

(A3) (i) Add suitable suffixes (-tion,- ly, -ment, -ous) and prefixes (un, il, im) to the words
 given below.

Sr. No Word Prefix Suffix

1. absolute absolutely

2. fulfill 

3. determine

4. danger

5. tight

6. clear

7. sure

8. legal

9 legitimate

10. possibl

(ii) By filling appropriate letters in the blank spaces, you will get a past participle

 from it. Use the word as adjective in your own sentence. 

One is done for you.

 (a) s _ _ n _ d

 Word- signed. The advocate took all the signed documents to the court.

 (b) p_ _ z _ d

 (c) f_ _ t_ e n e_

 (d) b _ i _ e_

(iii) Spot the error.

 I was not afraid for die that day.

 Correct Sentence- I was not afraid to die that day.

 (a) Tenzing and Hillary made an pact at the office of P M of Nepal.

 (b) I has to bring my ice axe down with me.

 (c) Tenzing have spent a night with Camp Eight. 

 (d) Pact was signed from Tenzing and Hillary.

 (e) I and Hillary were in no mood of talking.

(A4) When Tenzing and Hillary reached the summit, Tenzing in utter joy said, 

“We have done it.” In this sentence the subject (we) is the doer of the action while it 

(achieving the feat) is the subject. The verb of passive voice is formed by using the correct

 form of the verb ‘to be’ + past participle of the main verb. Construct the sentences accordingly.

 Now carefully go through the changes in both the sentences and do the changes 

accordingly in the remaining sentences.

 • We have done it.

 It has been done by us.

 (a) We made a pact.

 (b) I offered silent prayer in my heart.

 (c) Colonel Hunt gave me three flags.

 (d) I was carrying the Indian flag.

 (e) I took photographs of Tenzing holding aloft the flags.

 (f) I remembered him.

 (g) We spent the night at Camp Eight.

(A5) (i) After reading the text one can easily understand that there is a lot of risk 
involved in mountaineering. Write in short about any adventure sport that 
you like and the risk involved in it.(ii) Give your opinion: Whether we should or 
should not participate in adventure sports because 

(A6) (i) Tenzing and Hillary created history by reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. 
There are many mountains in Maharashtra where one can fancy his or her 
chances of climbing them. Imagine that you have climbed a mountain and are immensely
 thrilled and excited. Write a letter to your friend about it. 

(ii) You are the college representative and your Principal has assigned you the task of
 writing a letter to the Divisional Officer, Satpuda Mountain Ranges, 
Nagpur, seeking permission for the mountaineering expedition to be organized by your college.

(iii) Convert the letter into e-mail format.

Name

Address

Date

Sender

Receiver's designation

Address

Salutation

Subject : 

Respected Sir/Madam,

Introductory paragraph (purpose)

Main body (information/explanation/elaboration)

Concluding paragraph (opinion/request)

Complimentory close

Signature

List of enclosures

Comparisons
• Look at the sentences given below. Find out which one is correct. If the sentence is 
wrong give reasons.

 a. Sunita is the quieter of four sisters.

 b. Sunita is the quietest of the four sisters.

 c. Anil’s computer is more new than mine.

 d. Anil’s computer is newer than mine.

 e. I have the wonderfullest mother in the world

 f. I have the most wonderful mother in the world.

 g. Aditi is more carefuller than Mary.

 h. Aditi is more careful than Mary.

• When we compare two nouns, we use comparative adjectives. When we compare more 

than two nouns, we use superlative adjectives.

 For Example. – a. Milind is taller than John.

 b. Zakir is the tallest of the three brothers.

• Look at the following sentences and observe the changes in the three sentences. 
Discuss the changes and note your responses:

 a. Atul is not as bright as Milind in studies.

 b. The dining room is brighter than the kitchen.

 c. Anne is the brightest girl in class.

• Make a list of adjectives in three different forms of comparison. Use 
different texts to find these.

• Fill in the blanks with comparative, superlative and positive forms of the correct

 adjectives in the brackets.

 a. You are very naughty. You are your brother (clever)

 b. The tiger is the animal in the zoo (dangerous)

 c. This is road in town. (busy)

 d. My new house is the one I used to live in. (big)

 e. He is the boy in class. (forgetful)