First winter ascent of Everest

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.4 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 17 February 2023

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On 17 February 1980, the first people climbed Everest in winter. John Beauchamp hears from Leszek Cichy and Krzysztof Wielicki from Poland who were the men who did it. It was at the height of the Cold War, when Poland was behind the Iron Curtain. The two climbers decided that they had to show the world that their country was still capable of doing extraordinary things. Despite a lack of money and equipment and using whatever they could lay their hands on – including welding goggles – they made it to the top of the world’s tallest mountain. A Free Range and Overcoat Media co-production for BBC World Service. (Photo: Leszek Cichy (left) Krzysztof Wielicki (right). Credit: Krzysztof Wielicki)

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is the witness history podcast from the BBC World Service.
0:08.0	So repeat, where are you?
0:12.0	We are on the summit of Mount Everest.
0:16.0	It's hours, all hours.
0:20.0	We are hugging you, kissing you.
0:24.0	Your success belongs to everyone, guys.
0:29.0	Yeah, this is our baby.
0:32.0	Our little baby.
0:35.0	It's 2.25pm on the 17th of February, 1980.
0:40.0	Two Polish climbers, Leszek Cziko and Krzysztof Wielitski,
0:44.0	stand upon the summit of Mount Everest.
0:47.0	They are the first human beings to conquer the highest peak on Earth
0:51.0	during the brutal Himalayan winter.
0:55.0	I'm John Beacham, and in this episode of witness history,
0:58.0	they'll be telling you their story in their own words,
1:01.0	alongside dramatic tape recorded as they made that remarkable ascent
1:06.0	in temperatures of minus 40 degrees Celsius.
1:10.0	Since 1980, climbers from around 100 different nations have
1:15.0	summited Mount Everest.
1:16.0	And from the moment the New Zealanders Sir Edmund Hilary first stood
1:20.0	on the roof of the world in May 1953,
1:22.0	it's been a point of honor and a dream of almost every country
	...

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