Only Two for Everest - Lynn McKinnon & Bill Beaven | A Gallery from Nine To Noon | RNZ National

Ed Hillary's legendary conquering of Mt Everest in 1953 is forever remembered as a great triumph, but a new book explores the dream team of climbers from that era that paved the way for that success.

Earle Riddiford and Ed Hillary, members of 1951 Reconnaisance

Ed Cotter

George Lowe

Ed Hillary

Earle Riddiford

A Mana porter crosses the Saraswati River using the climber's makeshift bridge at Gahstoli (13,500ft) Cotter Collection

George Lowe, Earle Riddiford, Ed Hillary, Ed Cotter (seated), Cotter archives

Riddiford ( centre) above the crevasse that split the glacier from side to side, preventing access into the Western Cwm, Riddiford Collection

Cotter, Pasang, Lowe and Hillary, Chamrao Glacier, Riddiford Collection

Ed Cotter handwalks a makeshift bridge during the Garwal expedition, CMC Kennedy Collection

Jim McFarlane and Bill Beaven on the Mt Cook road, Riddiford Collection

Ed Cotter at Camp 1, Cotter Collection

Anton, Ed and Guy Cotter, Mt Rolleston, 1975, Cotter Collection

En route to Everest Base Camp, 2008,Cotter Collection

The images in this gallery are used with permission and are subject to copyright conditions.