While the world awaited news of the Hillary-Norgay attempt to scale Mount Everest, a band of “Yogi enthusiasts” announced plans to conquer the world’s tallest peak without warm clothing, oxygen tanks, tents or food. Their plan called for “a few days of praying” at the summit. Seasoned mountaineers would have advised the group to begin praying much sooner.

This AP account appeared on Page One of the Tribune:

Yogis Will Try
To Climb Everest
Without Oxygen

NEW DELHI, INDIA – (AP) – A group of Indian Yogi enthusiasts plans an assault on Mount Everest soon without clothes, oxygen cylinders, sleeping tents or food. If they reach the top they plan to sit there praying for a few days before returning.

The mystics propose to travel by way of Namche Bazar, 160 miles east of Katmandu.

A Yogi spokesman claimed Everest’s real name is Chomolungma, meaning Goddess Mother of the World.

“The way to approach it,” he declared, “is not the irreligious, materialistic approach, using warm clothing, oxygen cylinders, tinned foodstuffs and liquors, but the usual, well-known, pious, loving approach of a naked baby to the arms of its fondling mother.

“Conquer yourself first and the conquest of the Mother Goddess becomes easy and natural,” he said.

The India radio, meanwhile, beamed a forecast of thickening clouds, winds and blinding snow to the British Everest expedition.

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