"In some ways I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed."
"I never climbed up anything one step at a time." Sir Edmund Hillary
I had the opportunity to watch television for the first time in over a week at my friend´s flat in Guatemala City. As I watched the world coverage of CNN, I heard the report of the death of Sir Edmund Hillary. Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with individuals that make huge personal sacrifices to explore the world or to conquer natural obstacles. The native New Zealander will go down in history as the first man to scale Mt. Everest along with Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay.
I have read a number of books about Everest and watched the Discovery Channel documentaries on Everest and those that try to conquer it. Though many have followed in Hillary’s footsteps, Everest is still one of the most dangerous and significant challenges in the world of mountain climbing. Even though there have been considerable advances in technology and equipment, Mt. Everest still takes a number of lives of those that dare to conquer her every year. Many will spend a considerable amount of money and personal sacrifice and never make the final ascent.
Over the past three years, I read a number of books to keep up my level of excitement about my adventure. During that period, I read Sir Edmund Hillary’s autobiography, View from the Summit: The Remarkable Memoir by the First Person to Conquer Everest. It was a fascinating account of a man with a zest for life and the heart for adventure. Though his ascent of Everest is what catapulted him to fame, his desire was to be remembered for his philanthropic activities to support Nepal, especially Nepal’s Sherpa community. His fundraising and awareness building over the years have resulted in a number of new schools, hospitals and infrastructure that has increased the quality of life of those who helped him achieve worldwide acclaim.
A few sites of interest: http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/famousperson/hillary/2710764 http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/hillary.html
If you haven’t yet, you should read “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson when you return home. It’s about how one man’s adventure of climbing mountains in Pakistan led him to develop a foundation and build schools all over the region. One of his key financial supporters was in fact Sir Edmund Hillary.
When I heard about his passing, you were the first person I thought of.