A revolutionary team of climbers makes history on Everest
By successfully summiting the world’s tallest mountain, a group of Black and Nepali climbers makes mountaineering more inclusive.
History was made on the world’s highest peak when seven members of the Full Circle Everest expedition—along with eight Nepali guides—reached the summit of Mount Everest. On the morning of May 12, 2022, the team made it to Chomolungma, the Tibetan name for Mount Everest, which means “Goddess Mother of the World.”
Since the first documented ascent of the peak in 1953, only 10 Black climbers had reached the summit. The Full Circle team, comprised entirely of Black climbers, hopes that its success will inspire a new generation of explorers from all backgrounds.
“I am deeply honored to report that seven members of the Full Circle Everest team reached the summit on May 12,” tweeted Philip Henderson, leader of the team and one of the only Black instructors at Nepal’s Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC), which trains some of the world’s premier mountaineers. “While a few members, including myself, did not summit, all members of the climb and Sherpa teams have safely returned to Base Camp where we will celebrate this historic moment!”
