Shipton, Eric Earle (1907-1977), a Sri Lankan-born mountaineer and author, took part in several expeditions to Mount Everest. In 1935, he led a small reconnaissance climb to look for new routes to the summit. He joined Edmund Hillary in 1951 to study new areas round the mountain. In 1952, he led the final preparatory expedition before Sir John Hunt's successful expedition in 1953. He tested foods and oxygen equipment, examined the south approach, and helped blaze the final trail.