Strange how the Guardian published this story about Everest on the annual anniversary of the event which made Everest obsolete as a destination for ultimate challenges: 8 years after the first ascent of Everest, the first manned spacecraft went into space. And because Gagarin "did it alone" (ignoring support work such as base camp and mission control) instead of with a partner, his achievement wasn't superceded in any way by the moon landing another 8 years later. His solitary orbit around the earth stands as the beckoning event right in the middle of the span of time from 1953 to 1969 when humankind went "higher and further" far faster than at any time before. Whereas ascending Everest is too easy and landing on the moon too difficult, to ride into space and return to Earth all alone will define the pinnacle of achievement for explorers well into the forseeable future, regardless of any effort by the Guardian or Western media to suggest otherwise.