North Col
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| North Col | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 7,020 metres (23,031 feet) |
| Location | Tibet |
| Range | Mahalangur Himal |
| Coordinates | |
| Traversed by | George Mallory, 1921 |
The North Col refers to the pass or col connecting Mount Everest and Changtse in Tibet. Also known as Chang La (Tibetan for "north pass") or Beiao La (Chinese).
When climbers attempt to climb Everest via the North ridge (Tibet), the first camp on the mountain itself (traditional Camp IV, modern Camp I) is established on the North Col.
The North Col was first climbed by George Mallory in September 1921. This was the first time a Westerner had set foot on Mount Everest itself. The North Col was discovered by Mallory while searching for possible routes to the summit of Mount Everest during the British's first reconnaissance of the Everest region in 1921. He felt it offered the safest and most reasonable route to the summit of Everest. All subsequent expeditions in the 1920s and 1930s attempted to reach the summit of Everest by using the North Col.
