<p>A look at the gear of yore might be one of the best ways to understand the challenges and triumphs of the pioneers who led the charge to the earth’s highest points. Technical mountaineering goes back to 1492 when climbers summited France’s Mont Aiguille. Since then, gear has been invented, adapted, and modified. By the time Ed Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summited Everest, there had been major updates, and those updates have continued over the last sixty years. For perspective, here’s what Hillary and Norgay used during their historic 1953 ascent—and how modern climbers are preparing for Everest expeditions today.</p>