Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Mt. Everest when no one had ever done it before, and 13 had died in the attempt. He did it without technical clothing or modern climbing equipment, radio communications and weather reporting, nylon tents, small portable stoves and freeze-dried food, or lightweight oxygen tanks. He climbed Everest wearing heavy wool and leather boots, and slept under canvas. He did it with a single companion. There was no battalion of Sherpas doing the heavy lifting, stringing ropes, installing ladders, cooking and tent-pitching, nor experienced guides making all the decisions.
He was a man among men and represented the true spirit of adventure. And like fighter pilots, but higher, he stood at the top of the world, put out his hand and touched the face of God.
Sir Edmund is a particular hero to me. He was 88 when he died today.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jack White,
'Question authority. Think for yourself. Filter out the spin. Engage elected officials critically. Make them defend what they're doing in your name. Derive the truth. Speak truth to power.'
Posts: 4544 | Location: Boston | Registered: April 16, 2005
He was an amazing person. I had the pleasure to meet him while I was stationed in Antarctica in '97.
He spoke about climbing Everest and had a way of making it sound completely doable. He also had some funny stories of his consulting work with Sears(you might notice his Hillary product on tents and such).
I hadn't heard much about him prior to him speaking. I have an ice axe that I would have loved to have hime sign. Unfortunately, all I had at the moment was a baseball cap. Still have it though.
BTW, this is my first post. Hello from Texas everyone. Happy to be here and will smoke a cigar and remember the late Sir Edmund Hillary tonight.
Posts: 69 | Location: Texas | Registered: January 10, 2008
One interesting thing is that as far as I know (and please correct me if I'm wrong), neither he nor Tenzing Norgay ever directly said which one of them actually was first to the top. I saw an interview with Hillary, and when asked he laughed and said "we were first."
Not that it really matters; both were incredibly tough.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
Really good article on Sir Ed on Yahoo. From his book in 1999:
"We drew closer together as Tenzing brought in the slack on the rope. I continued cutting a line of steps upwards. Next moment I had moved onto a flattish exposed area of snow with nothing by space in every direction," Hillary wrote.
"Tenzing quickly joined me and we looked round in wonder. To our immense satisfaction we realized with had reached the top of the world."
"Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do." - Bruce Lee
Posts: 1872 | Location: Signal Hill, CA | Registered: April 26, 2007
Originally posted by digger771: I hope to one day soon survive the beast myself although today it is not the same.
My wife and myself are planning to trek in the Himilayas in two years. The route up the mountain looks like a conga line, though.
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"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins." (H.L. Mencken)
