Barry Bishop (mountaineer) facts for kids

Barry Chapman Bishop (born January 13, 1932 – died September 24, 1994) was an American adventurer. He was a mountaineer, scientist, and photographer. Barry Bishop was part of the first American team to reach the top of Mount Everest. This amazing climb happened on May 22, 1963. He reached the summit with his friend Lute Jerstad. They were the second and third Americans to stand on Everest's peak.

Before Everest, Barry Bishop made other important climbs. In 1951, he climbed Denali (also known as Mount McKinley) using a new route. In 1961, he made the first winter climb of Ama Dablam in the Himalayas. Barry worked for the National Geographic Society for most of his life. He started there in 1959 and worked as a photographer, writer, and scientist. He retired in 1994 and sadly passed away later that year in a car accident.

Barry Bishop's Early Life and Adventures

Barry Chapman Bishop was born on January 13, 1932. His father, Robert Wilson Bishop, was a sociologist. Barry loved climbing from a young age. He spent his summers in Colorado with the YMCA. When he was just nine or ten, he joined the Colorado Mountain Club. Experienced climbers taught him many skills. By age 12, he was already leading trips in the Rocky Mountains.

He went to school in Cincinnati, Ohio. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School. Later, he studied at the University of Cincinnati. He earned a science degree in Geology in 1954. During his studies, he did field work near Mount McKinley. In 1951, he climbed to the top of Mount McKinley. This was the fourth time anyone had reached the summit. It was also the first time using the West Buttress route. While at the university, he met Lila Mueller. They got married in 1955.

In 1952, Barry and his friend Rodger Ewy climbed many famous routes in Europe. They climbed the Zugspitze Ridge and Cime Grande. They also climbed the Z'mutt Ridge on the Matterhorn. Barry even climbed the Italian Ridge on the Matterhorn by himself.

He continued his studies at Northwestern University. He earned a master's degree in geography. He studied ice formations on the Greenland Icecap. In Greenland, he met Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Barry later joined the Air Force. He became a science advisor for Admiral Byrd's team. By 1958, Barry was a skilled mountaineer, scientist, and photographer.

Working with National Geographic

In May 1959, Barry Bishop joined the National Geographic Society. He was hired because of his amazing photos from Antarctica and the Bugaboos. He started as a picture editor for National Geographic. He quickly became a photographer for the magazine in 1960. His first published photos appeared in 1962.

His photos from the 1963 American Everest Expedition won him a special award. He eventually became a vice president at National Geographic. He also led the Committee for Research and Exploration. Barry was also a member of The Explorers Club in New York.

Himalayan Climbing Expeditions

Barry's work on ice formations caught the eye of Sir Edmund Hillary. Hillary invited him to join the 1960–1961 Himalayan expedition. This trip was called the Silver Hut expedition. Barry was the official expert on glaciers and climate. Even though National Geographic didn't sponsor him for this trip, his climbing, science, and photography skills helped his career there.

With other climbers, Barry made the first successful climb of Ama Dablam. This was also the first winter climb in the Himalayas.

Barry's success led to an invitation to the 1963 American Everest Expedition. The goal was to be the first Americans to climb Mount Everest. Barry joined the National Geographic team. He wrote about the expedition and took photos for the magazine.

On May 22, 1963, Barry and Lute Jerstad began their climb to the summit. They reached the South Summit at 2:00 p.m. and the main summit at 3:30 p.m. They waited for other climbers, Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld. Hornbein and Unsoeld were trying a different route. Barry and Lute started their descent around 4:15 p.m.

As it got dark, they heard voices. It was Hornbein and Unsoeld! They had also reached the summit. The four climbers met up. But it was too dangerous to climb down in the dark. They decided to spend the night on the mountain. They had no tents, so they huddled together. The temperature dropped to very cold levels. Barry got frostbite during the night. He lost all his toes and the tip of his little finger.

On July 8, 1963, President John F. Kennedy honored the team. They received the Hubbard Medal for their amazing achievement.

Later Career and Legacy

Because of his frostbite, Barry could no longer do difficult technical climbing. In the late 1960s, he focused on his studies. He joined a Ph.D. program in geography in 1966. He studied the culture and environment of the Karnali Zone in western Nepal. His research was published as a book called Karnali Under Stress.

Through the 1980s and early 90s, Barry continued his work at National Geographic. He was a Vice Chairman and then Chairman of the Committee for Research and Exploration. He also led research trips to the Himalayas in 1983 and 1985. He kept writing for National Geographic.

Barry retired in 1994 and moved to Montana. On September 24, 1994, he was in a car accident and passed away. He was survived by his wife, Lila, and his children, Brent and Tara. The National Geographic Society honored him after his death. They gave him the Distinguished Geography Educator award. This award recognized his life's work in sharing geographic knowledge. His daughter Tara is married to mountaineer Greg Mortenson.

See also

• List of 20th-century summiters of Mount Everest