Just before 11:00am, the two men reach the crest of the Southeast Ridge.

Now they have to walk across a “knife edge” of snow and the wind is getting stronger. Bishop takes the lead. On his right side is a 10,000- foot drop into Tibet. On his left is a steep half-mile drop-off. After a while they can see the South Summit of the mountain. This is an important milestone since it means the main peak is coming next.

The South Summit itself is 500 feet higher than any mountain on Earth.