Author Topic: The great adventurer is still kicking (Read 380 times)

AKcurly · « **on:** April 26, 2003, 07:30:22 PM »

Check out the National Geographic article on Sir Edmund Hillary - man, what a guy! It's true, he's a kiwi and therefore a countryman of Vulcan, but we'll let that one slide.

For you extremely young folks, Hillary is the gentleman who made the first ascent of Mt. Everest.

curly

rpm · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2003, 08:13:20 PM »

Well technically he's one of them. His sherpa (sp?) got hosed out of the credit. He later wrote a book disputing Sir Hillary was first, saying he had to pull him onto the summit. Either way it's still a great feat.

Makofan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2003, 12:00:32 PM »

Well, come on now guys... There is a lot of reading on this subject to be had (I've read over 50 on Everest alone)

Hillary was the lead climber of the pair, and when he said that "Tenzing belayed me up the last slope" it sounded pretty authentic, and consistent with how things went on that last day.

Hillary's official position was that they both made it together, because, being a pair, who made it first should be irrelevant. Unfortunately, the local press were so ecstatic about one of their own climbing the mountain, they ignored Hillary, and were convinced that Tenzing had done all the work and made the climb first. Tenzing even signed a document to that effect, which he later retracted.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2003, 12:07:45 PM »

The story of Hillary is an amazing one!

Have you heard that Jim Wittaker is going to take another run at Everest soon? He was not only the first American to accent Everest, but will soon (hopefully) be the oldest person to do so.

Boroda · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2003, 02:00:38 PM »

Is Sir Edmund Hillary still alive?

Salute to that brave person!

I have heard some accounts on his "strange" behaviour in Antarctic, but he still is one of the greatest Men of the XX century.

Sir John Hunt's book about Everest is one of my favourites.

AKcurly · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2003, 03:32:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Boroda
Is Sir Edmund Hillary still alive?

Salute to that brave person!

Alive indeed. He wrote one of the articles I mentioned in National Geographic.

curly