Stephen Venables

Stephen Venables is one of the world's greatest mountaineers who has done innumerable climbs from the Eiger to Everest. He is perhaps most famous for achieving the first ascent of Everest by the huge Kangshung Face from the Chinese side, which he made without oxygen, reaching the summit alone. Because it was by then afternoon, he had to spend the night alone, just below the summit without a tent, then the highest ever bivouac, followed by an epic 3-day descent without food. Tonight's talk coincides with the 60th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest.