Mount Everest Foundation
The Mount Everest Foundation (MEF) is jointly administered by the Alpine Club and the Society. It funds exploratory scientific and mountaineering objectives in the world's mountain regions.
In May 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of the highest peak in the world during a British-led expedition. An increasing interest from the public led to the publication of John Hunt’s The Ascent of Everest (1953), a national lecture series, and the acclaimed film The Conquest of Everest, collectively raising £100,000 in capital.
In February 1955, John Hunt announced the creation of the Mount Everest Foundation, which would use those funds to promote the exploration of the world’s mountain regions.
The MEF has since provided support to mountaineering and scientific expeditions that endeavour to reach previously unclimbed peaks or unexplored regions and which gather new geographic or scientific knowledge.
Notable first ascents and climbs
Since it was established, the MEF has provided financial backing for numerous first ascents and new routes on some of the world's highest peaks, including Everest, Kangchenjunga, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Nanga Parbat, Nuptse, and Kongur.
Additionally, it has supported climbs on lower, technical peaks such as Baintha Brakk (the Ogre), Changabang, Spantik, Taweche, Siguniang and Nyainqentangla South East.
Scientific discovery
Over its more than 70 years of operation, the MEF has supported scientific expeditions to remote regions. These have brought back vital knowledge in the fields of geology, glaciology, meteorology, biology and high-altitude medicine.
MEF-backed scientists continue to push at the frontiers of human understanding, often with a focus on preserving and protecting the very mountain environments that they explore.
- Exhibition
Earth Photo: Wray Castle
Visit National Trust Wray Castle to see a stunning selection of the selected and winning images from this years competition.
CumbriaOpen to all12 Sep 2025 - 30 Apr 2026 - Exhibition
Earth Photo: Wallington
Visit National Trust Wallington to see a stunning selection of the selected and winning images from this years competition.
NorthumberlandOpen to all14 Sep 2025 - 3 Nov 2025 - Exhibition
Earth Photo: Wendover
Visit Wendover Woods to see a stunning selection of the selected and winning images from this years competition.
AylesburyOpen to all15 Sep 2025 - 8 Dec 2025
View our Everest exhibitions online
If you'd like to learn more about Everest, our Collections team has prepared some exciting online exhibitions for you to explore.
Reimagining the Himalaya through the lens of diasporic indigeneity
This online exhibition aims to reimagine the Himalaya region from the perspective of its Indigenous communities within the UK diaspora.
Everest - a reconnaissance
This exhibition showcases a selection of platinum prints made from the newly digitised negatives of the 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition.
Everest 24
This exhibition showcases the full breadth of the our Collection material relating to the Everest expeditions of the 1920s and draws attention to the stories and invaluable contributions of the indigenous intermediaries.
