Andrew Henderson OAM

Mountaineering

Andrew Henderson was a member of the first Australian team to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The expedition led by Geoffrey Bartram in 1984 climbed without oxygen and pioneered a new ascent - now known as the Australian route - along the North Face/Norton Couloir. It stands as one of the very few 'new route / no oxygen' ascents of the hill.

Also notable was the small size of the party which had no high altitude sherpa support.

Climbers Tim Macartney-Snape and Greg Mortimer reached the summit on October 4. 'Andi' Henderson broke a crampon on the ascent and had to remove his gloves to fix it. The cold froze his fingers and put him about half an hour behind Tim and Greg. He reached about 50 metres below the summit before turning back as it got dark. In early 1985, he had all fingers and one thumb amputated at the joint closest to the hand.

Andi lives in New Zealand and still climbs. Why else would you live there, he asks!