Mount Everest Foundation
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MEF Produces New Film on the First Ascent of Kangchenjunga

In partnership with the Alpine Club, the Mount Everest Foundation has contributed towards the production of a new documentary film which re-examines the 1955 first ascent of Kangchenjunga.

TFTOTS Poster

The 1955 British Kangchenjunga Expedition was the first expedition to officially receive funding from the newly-formed Mount Everest Foundation. As a result, the story of its success, making the first ascent of the world's third highest mountain, has always been close to our hearts. What's more, the expedition embodied values that the MEF continues to champion in the present day, exemplifying our ethics on the largest possible stage and setting a template for future generations.

The new film, The Five Treasures of the Snows, which has been directed by John Porter and Dom Bush, looks at these issues with fresh eyes, reflecting on the expedition's fully-integrated Sherpa team and their respect for local customs, as demonstrated by the climbers' decision to leave the summit untrodden out of respect for the religious beliefs of the Indigenous community.

Tony Streather on the second summit day with the summit just a few metres behind
Tony Streather, a few metres below the summit of Kangchenjunga 📷 Norman Hardie

The Five Treasures of the Snows is currently touring film festivals throughout the globe and will be available to watch on the big screen at:

Continuing the success of Porter and Bush's previous mountaineering documentary, Everest Revisited, now available to view for free online, The Five Treasures of the Snows received a Special Jury Award at the 2026 New Zealand Mountain Film and Book Festival.