Sir Edmund Hillary first to summit Everest dies

[trackrunner]

link to story
Yahoo News Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_on_re_au_an/obit_edmund_hillary;_ylt=AptfeYJhxi4JKYijVO8xG9qs0 NUE)

[Iceaxe]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Sir Edmund Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, has died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday. He was 88.

The gangling New Zealander devoted much of his life to aiding the mountain people of Nepal and took his fame in stride, preferring to be called "Ed" and considering himself just an ordinary beekeeper.

"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," Clark said in a statement.

"The legendary mountaineer, adventurer, and philanthropist is the best-known New Zealander ever to have lived," she said.

Hillary's life was marked by grand achievements, high adventure, discovery, excitement

[trackrunner]

Sports Illustrated jointly called his summit of Everest (along with Banister's sub 4 mile) as the greatest sporting achievement of the last century/millennium. Both of them are possibly the greatest ever in mankind

[Iceaxe]

I'd put Frederick Cook's reaching the North Pole and Roald Amundsen's reaching the south pole on equal footing with summiting Everest.

[James_B_Wads2000]

Sad to see him go. Sir Edmund was a from the old school classy gentlemen climbers. For climbers theses days its all about personal glory and a total disreguard to anyone or anything in their way.


James

[sparker1]

I was a youngster when Hillary climbed Everest and saw a newsreel in the movie theater covering the feat. I also saw Queen Elizabeth's coronation, and Roger Bannister's record-breaking mile, both on TV. Even then, I knew those kinds of events didn't happen all the time, that this was a special year.

[accadacca]

Rest in peace.

[CarpeyBiggs]

I'd put Frederick Cook's reaching the North Pole and Roald Amundsen's reaching the south pole on equal footing with summiting Everest.
More info on Cook, if interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Albert_Cook

[DiscGo]

That really is awesome to do something that will leave the world remembering you. The man truly achieved greatness. What more could you want said about you?

[Iceaxe]

More info on Cook, if interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Albert_Cook

Wiki's is full of errors on the subject.... this is old school... Read "True North" to learn the latest developments on the race for the pole, really interesting and a good read. Crappey you would love this story as you are always looking for a good controvesy.

Old school is Perry was first.... new school is Cook was first...

[CarpeyBiggs]

Wiki's is full of errors on the subject.... this is old school... Read "True North" to learn the latest developments on the race for the pole, really interesting and a good read. Crappey you would love this story as you are always looking for a good controvesy.

Old school is Perry was first.... new school is Cook was first...

Haven't read the book, sounds interesting. You could very well be right.

[trackrunner]

Apparently he was the only or one of the few only non-political member (or royal) of "The Order of the Garter" (the pinnacle of the British Honor System).

[donny h]

Returning to base camp as the man who took the first step onto the top of the world's highest peak, he declared: "We knocked the bastard off."

Without bottled oxygen, without Goretex, Thinsulate, Northface.

Old school Bad Ass. The very definition of.

RIP.