the british had been sending expeditions to mount everest since the 1921 reconnaissance but none had managed to reach the summit. these had been planned and financed by the mount everest committee, a joint committee of the royal geographical society and the alpine club. the 1935 reconnaissance was a preliminary to an attempt on the summit of mount everest in 1936. led by eric shipton, it was a small, low-cost effort which confirmed that the best route from tibet was up the east rongbuk glacier to the north col. in monsoon conditions in 1935 the party had not got much higher than the col.