Sir Edmund Hillary, first man to scale Everest

[highthief]

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Everest, has died.

To me, he is the last of the great terrestrial explorers, part of a line that includes Columbus, Magellan, Drake, Scott, Amundsen and which culminated in Hillary and Cousteau.

Soon, men like Neil Armstrong will pass away, and until the next great breakthrough is achieved (Mars, perhaps) we will be bereft of these great adventurers:


http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/as.../edmund.clark/

Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary is a profound loss to New Zealand.


Clark: His lifetime's humanitarian work is of huge significance and lasting benefit.

"My thoughts are with Lady Hillary, Sir Edmund's children, wider family, and close friends at this sad time," Helen Clark said.

"Sir Ed described himself as an average New Zealander with modest abilities. In reality, he was a colossus. He was an heroic figure who not only 'knocked off' Everest but lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity.

"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived. But most of all he was a quintessential Kiwi. He was ours - from his craggy appearance and laconic style to his directness and honesty. All New Zealanders will deeply mourn his passing.

"Sir Ed's 1953 ascent of Mt Everest brought him world-wide fame. Thereafter he set out to support development for the Sherpa people of the Himalayas. His lifetime's humanitarian work there is of huge significance and lasting benefit.

"Sir Ed was not one to bask idly in celebrity. He drew on his international prestige to highlight issues and values which he held dear. His enduring commitment to and respect for the Sherpa people reflects the best of what we as New Zealanders can contribute, from our small developed nation helping another less privileged one.

"Sir Edmund established the Himalayan Trust in the early 1960s and worked tirelessly until his death to raise funds and build schools and hospitals in the mountains.

"The legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary will live on. His exploits continue to inspire new generations of New Zealanders, as they have for more than half a century already," Helen Clark said.

[dlish]

His legacy will live on.

he is idolised by trekkers and non-trekkers alike, and is well known the world over.

I have a friend who met him, and she recalled it being an amazing experience to be in his auro.

i plan on doing the trek to Everest in the next two years, and i cannot fathom his feat. An amazing charitable man who a modest look on himself and life.

He will be missed, but will be never forgotten.

Sir Edmund Hilary, i salute you

[jorgelito]

Yes, yes, a "feat" he could not have done with out a pack of sherpas and the indominatble Tenzing Norgay, the underrated, unheralded, unsung hero who was the first man to climb Mount Everest.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by jorgelito

Yes, yes, a "feat" he could not have done with out a pack of sherpas and the indominatble Tenzing Norgay, the underrated, unheralded, unsung hero who was the first man to climb Mount Everest.

Um, they scaled it together ...

[Bill O'Rights]

Sir Ed's 1953 ascent of Mt Everest brought him world-wide fame.

Actually, it was not so much the ascent that brought him notoriety, but his subsequent descent. There is too much evidence that George Mallory beat him to the top in 1924. Only he never made it back down. Hillary was the first to succesfully complete the summit of Everest. But he wasn't the first to see it.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights

Actually, it was not so much the ascent that brought him notoriety, but his subsequent descent. There is too much evidence that George Mallory beat him to the top in 1924. Only he never made it back down. Hillary was the first to succesfully complete the summit of Everest. But he wasn't the first to see it.

Disagree with that - there's a lot of romance surrounding Mallory, but I doubt he ever made the summit, although I understand what you're saying about living to tell the story. A lot of folks die on the way down.

[Strange Famous]

RIP.

I would certainly name him as the equal of Amundsen in terms of their legacy.. both tough men.