From a solitary summit experience to a mass destination and a site of open violence: On May 29, 2013, the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest was celebrated - a magnet for climbers, a playground for adventurers, a place of intense moments of happiness and terrible tragedies. Journalist, author, and mountaineer Walther Lücker unravels the history, criticizes the littering and the influx of tourists, and highlights the significance of the summit with its 16 different routes for the most experienced alpinists. Featuring original contributions from prominent Everest climbers, this volume documents the fascination of the highest and most frequently climbed eight-thousander.