[Bob]

That statement is false. Hillary's Sherpa guide, Tinsang Norgay(?) was the fist to summit. Hillary always acknowledged this.

I recall reading somewhere that an earlier expedition was supposed to have made it to the summit but died on the return trip.

[outofstyle]

I recall reading somewhere that an earlier expedition was supposed to have made it to the summit but died on the return trip.

George Leigh Mallory is thought by some to have reached the summit. His body was recently discovered but his journal either was not found, or did not confirm that he had succeeded. If you google him, you discover some interesting things.