RIP Sir Edmund Hilary

[fleetfootmike]

One of my childhood heroes has died.

When I was about ten, my father let me read his copy of (leader of the successful expedition) Sir John Hunt's book "The Ascent Of Everest". It's a fantastic story, and... even though I'm very aware that Hilary's eventual success was as much due to such factors as the order in which Hunt sent his summit parties up, the weather and blind fate, it's still a tale of great courage and perseverance. It's also an echo of a time when Everest was still unclimbed, and wasn't, like it is now, a Last Great Adventure (in some cases literally) for anyone with enough money to persuade a professional team of guides to drag them to the summit.

Comments

[madfilkentist]

I hadn't realized he was still alive.

Once I named a hamster "Sir Edmund" after him.

[rinioth.livejournal.com]

I actually met him once, I was only about 9 and he was touring the UK talking about some of his Antarctic work. My father was involved in helping raise money for a "snow-cat" through sponsorship from his employer.

[flabosib.livejournal.com]

A friend had Himalayan cats she named Hillary and Tenzing. They spent many years in our home when the friend developed a life-threatening allergy to them.

From what I've read about Sir Edmund, he did a lot to help bring hospitals and schools to Nepal.