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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 10, 2008 - 06:02pm PT
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Just saw a breaking news headline (no details yet) that Ed Hillary has died.
I guess most people think of him just as the first on Everest (with Tenzing), but he also made the first crossing of the Antarctic, which was pretty badass.
D
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survival
Big Wall climber
arlington, va
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:05pm PT
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That's a drag.
The photo of Tenzing on top was such an inspiration
as a youngster.
Bless Ed Hillary and hope he enjoys the big peak
in the spirit world.
I'm sure NZ is in a national mourning moment.
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the Fet
Knackered climber
A bivy sack in the secret campground
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:10pm PT
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Bummer, such a cool dude.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:11pm PT
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The man led a great life.
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Fluoride
Trad climber
Hollywood, CA
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:13pm PT
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RIP Ed.
He was such a down to Earth guy for someone who had such a remarkable achievement. Hell, when I was in New Zealand in '06 I looked him up in the Auckland phone directory. Sure enough, his number was listed.
Wish I'd had the balls to call him up and take him out for tea.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:19pm PT
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What one of us hasn't been inspired by the man? His spirit will continue to guide, eve as he disappears into the spindrift that envelopes the trail ahead.
Wonder if Tensig extended his hand out to great Hillary as he topped out on this life? If one believes in an afterlife, the answer is, no doubt, yes.
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stevep
Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:27pm PT
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RIP.
In addition to his climbing and exploration accomplishments, he did alot for the people of Nepal.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:30pm PT
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Could someone post the Sheridan Anderson rendition?
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TwistedCrank
climber
Ideeho
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:32pm PT
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He was so the man. He and Tenzeng - can you imagine what it must have been like going *way* out there like that, pushing the limits of human endurance, not knowing what it was going to do to them, sticking their necks way out there in the name of getting it done.
The stories of the great ones like Hillary are ones I like to pass on to my kid.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:34pm PT
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Childhood dreams of being like Tenzing and Hillary on top of the world.
End of an era.
RIP
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Standing Strong
Trad climber
ghost ride the cop car
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:37pm PT
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it sounds like he lived a beautiful life. i can only hope to lead such a long, adventurous life. death is a part of the circle of life. it's not separate.
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Beatrix Kiddo
Mountain climber
Denver
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:39pm PT
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"Childhood dreams of being like Tenzing and Hillary on top of the world.
End of an era.
RIP "
Yes! That is exactly what I'm feeling right now. Very sad.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada
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Jan 10, 2008 - 06:59pm PT
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He was a good person. RIP
Erik
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Klimmer
Mountain climber
San Diego
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Jan 10, 2008 - 07:39pm PT
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I just hate it when our heros pass away.
Sometimes I would just like for time to stand still so we can all continue to live and do what we all love to do and enjoy each others company and adventure together, but no one grows old.
I sure miss my heros. Sir Edmund was one of them.
RIP Hillary.
Klimmer
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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Jan 10, 2008 - 07:40pm PT
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He was such a humble and normal bloke who couldn't understand what all the fuss was about!
Rest in peace Sir Ed...
The words of a humble New Zealander who ascended the world's greatest peak.
* "We knocked the bastard off" – announcing he and Tensing had reached Everest’s summit.
* "I like to think that I am a very ordinary New Zealander, not terribly bright perhaps but determined and practical in what I do" – at the 50th anniversary
* Nepalese, he said, did not ask for poverty while New Zealanders lived in affluence: "The fact that we do is a blessing, and with it comes responsibilities."
* On becoming a knight: "It was a tremendous honour, of course, but I had never really approved of titles and couldn’t really imagine myself possessing one"
* "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."
* To an Indian reporter who asked him if he knew he was seen by many as a god:
"Well I know I’m not, so it doesn’t bother me."
* From Hillary’s diary, published in his ‘Nothing Venture, Nothing Win’:
"I continued on, cutting steadily and surmounting bump after bump and cornice after cornice looking eagerly for the summit. It seemed impossible to pick it and time was running out. Finally I cut around the back of an extra large hump and then on a tight rope from Tensing I climbed up a gentle snow ridge to its top. Immediately it was obvious that we had reached our objective. It was 11.30a.m. and we were on top of Everest!"
He describes the landscape below them and continues: "Tensing and I shook hands and then Tensing threw his arms around my shoulders. It was a great moment! I took off my oxygen and for ten minutes I photographed Tensing holding flags, the various ridges of Everest and the general view. I left a crucifix on top for John Hunt and Tensing made a little hole in the snow and put in it some food offerings - lollies, biscuits and chocolate. We ate Mint Cake and then put our oxygen back on. I was a little worried by the time factor so after 15 minutes on top we turned back at 11.45."
For news from NZ, check out:
http://www.stuff.co.nz
Lot of articles building by the hour.
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bachar
Trad climber
Mammoth Lakes, CA
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Jan 10, 2008 - 07:50pm PT
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Sad news about a great man. Condolences to his family and friends.
Rest In Peace Edmund, we all will miss you.
John Bachar
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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Jan 10, 2008 - 07:55pm PT
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Where do climbers go when they die?
The great camp fire in the sky.
Tenzing, Mallory and Hillary are having quite a time tonight. He inspired many an adventurer. RIP and a fine after life to Ed.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Jan 10, 2008 - 08:01pm PT
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Great!
Anders, nice job.
Interesting that he went to the north pole with Neal Armstrong who had stood on the moon on Hillary's 50th birthday.
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O.D.
Trad climber
LA LA Land
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Jan 10, 2008 - 08:07pm PT
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No doubt he is soaring right now, in the thin air, and beyond.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jan 10, 2008 - 08:26pm PT
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The NYT reports that "Their route was the treacherous South Tor, facing toward Nepal." Not to mention that Hillary was a "conqueror" of Everest, and a reference to a "Mr. Torgay".
Things like that really annoy me - they've have 50 years to write an obituary, and they make mistakes like that.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/world/asia/11cnd-hillary.html?hp
Edit: The NYT published corrections to its obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/world/asia/11hillary.html?ref=obituaries
Peter Hillary tells very funny stories of his trip to the North Pole with his father and Neil Armstrong.
I have a brick of mint cake, which says on its back "Romney's Kendal Mint Cake was carried to the summit MOUNT EVEREST on 29th May, 1953. 'We sat on the snow and looked at the country far below us...we nibbled Kendal Mint Cake.'" Product placement, a la 1953.
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LuckyPink
climber
the last bivy
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Jan 10, 2008 - 08:47pm PT
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All Hail to Sir Ed! true hero.
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TrundleBum
Trad climber
Las Vegas
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Jan 10, 2008 - 08:54pm PT
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Namaste' Sir Edmund...
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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Jan 10, 2008 - 09:13pm PT
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Hillary showed style, not just because he was the first to the top (with Tensing), but he REALLY showed respect for the resource, both the rock and the people. (Lost his wife and son doing so.)
A model for how we should treat our resource: if you love Yosemite, don't trash the rock and please rock on with the trash (Ken's cleanup weekend).
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paganmonkeyboy
climber
mars...it's near nevada...
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:03pm PT
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Wow - We mourn the passing of a great one - Rest in Peace, Good Sir.
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:10pm PT
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hey there all... just home from work and i saw this---am not home and am borrowing a computer--
can't say much, now--but just wanted to stop in and see that his name was being shared in rememberance and honor here, and once again you all are right-fast in here, doing a right-fine job... all for now...
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MZiebell
Social climber
Prescott, AZ
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:15pm PT
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An exemplary climber, adventurous spirit, and honorable gentlemen.
May his light continue to shine.
M
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:17pm PT
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Rest in peace Ed Hillary, the knight bee-Keeper. The cards were shuffled all around but the two best men took the day!
The team approaching high camp en route to the summit. From the History of the Great Mountaineering Adventures by Stefano Ardito, 2000.
Hillary and Tenzing resting after their successful ascent. From Shipton's Mountain Conquest, 1966.
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TYeary
Mountain climber
Calif.
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:19pm PT
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Ed Hillary is/was an icon. His photo of Tenzing on the summit of Everest launched untold climbing careers, including mine. A very gracious man, he gave back much to climbing, particularly the Sherpas. Namaste, Ed.
Tony
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10b4me
climber
1/2way between Yos and Moab
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:24pm PT
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sorry to hear this. he was an inspiration
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Radish
Trad climber
Exeter, California
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:32pm PT
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Sorry to hear about that. My fifth grade teacher was a good friend of his and would always read his letters to us. I'm curious.... who was the first American to summit Everest??
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72hw
Trad climber
Hollyweird, CA
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Jan 10, 2008 - 10:36pm PT
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Indeed an inspiration and a great life led. His and Tenzing's story was my earliest introduction to mountaineering and it captivated my imagination when I was very young. I believe it was my Father (maybe Granddad) who gave me the copy of National Geographic that told the tale and I recall a singular sense of wonder even that early in my life.
"Well George, we finally knocked the bastard off."
– Hillary's first words, to lifelong friend
George Lowe, on returning from Everest's summit
Namasté sir Ed!
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immanti
climber
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Jan 10, 2008 - 11:51pm PT
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Very sad news. He was a legend in his own time and an inspiration to us all. My condolences to his friends and family.
RIP, Sir Edmund Hillary
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nature
climber
Flagstaff, AZ
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:08am PT
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Thanks you, Sir, for the inspiration and dreams.
Peace,
Nature
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Watusi
Social climber
Newport, OR
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:10am PT
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I am greatly saddened to hear about this...
It was photos such as these that inspired me as a lad...God's speed Sir Edmund.
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Ed Hartouni
Trad climber
Livermore, CA
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:14am PT
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I will never forget...
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Jerry Dodrill
climber
Bodega, CA
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:15am PT
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Feature on the BBC right now.
Sad news.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Varied locales along the time and space continuum
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:35am PT
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What a life... he aimed big, inspired countless others, was humble and without overweening ego, gave back (a lot!) and looks like he had a hell of a lot of fun along the way. What more could one ask?
Namaste Sir Edmund.
Fletch
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bhilden
Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:38am PT
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What made Hillary and Tenzing's success so important to the British people was that in the 1920's, 1930's and early 1950's they had launched no less than six unsuccessful attempts on Everest and had lost countless lives including Mallory and Irvine in the process.
In the early 1900's the Brits had set their sights on conquering the South Pole and had lost Scott and his party and almost Shackleton and his party in their attempts. They were ultimately beaten by the Norwegians.
After the loss of their South Pole, it was a huge triumph for Britain (well, the British Empire)to succeed on a mountain on which they had paid such a price in trying to climb. Hillary gave them that, but he also went on to show such humbleness and gratitude for what had been bestowed upon him. Men like him don't come around very often. He will be missed.
Bruce
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SteveW
Trad climber
Denver, CO
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Jan 11, 2008 - 10:11am PT
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Not only a great explorer, but a great human being--
he realized the responsibility to help those less fortunate--
how many schools and clinics he helped build in Nepal
to give back to those that had assisted his efforts.
A great man, he will be missed.
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10b4me
climber
1/2way between Yos and Moab
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Jan 11, 2008 - 10:31am PT
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who was the first American to summit Everest??
Jim Whittaker
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captain chaos
climber
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Jan 11, 2008 - 11:12am PT
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Well... a big honorable and respectful goodbye to one of the worlds more celebrated and inspirational climbers, Hillary was as big as Everest itself. I especially respected what he did for Nepal after the fact, which was setting up schools, hospitals, creating national parks, and establishing a program to keep deforestation from continuing, as the people were going crazy and cutting everything in sight without knowledge of the outcome of deforestation. Its always sad to see special people like this go, but he did live a great life and I do not think he wasted a minute of it. I have nothing but greatest respect for the man... my condolences too all family and friends-
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elcap-pics
climber
Crestline CA
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Jan 11, 2008 - 11:19am PT
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When I was a kid of 13, in 1957, and spending a couple of weeks with my grandparents in northern North Carolina, I got bored one day and flipped through National Georgaphic mags for something to do. I came upon the issue with the ascent of Mt. Everest in it. I had never even thought about climbing at all... well, that story fired my imagination and started my long interest in climbing. I read everything I could get my hands on and it was like magic for me... it obviously changed my entire life!
Thank you Ed Hillary for making my life unique and interesting. I will always remember what you did to inspire me and you will be sorely missed my friend. Thanks for being one of my heroes, and for all you did for humanity.
Tom Evans
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grover
Social climber
Akanada
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Jan 11, 2008 - 11:56am PT
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From.... [url]http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/01/10/hillary-obit.html[/url]
"But Everest was just one of Hillary's adventures. He later led the New Zealand group that participated in the British Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic expedition from 1955 to 1958. In 1958, he reached the South Pole by tractor."
Tractor?!?!?!
Whoa!
RIP Sir.
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happiegrrrl
Trad climber
New York, NY
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Jan 11, 2008 - 12:28pm PT
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One of the news reports linked above said he'd had a fall back in April, while on a trip to Nepal, and his health had been failing since then.
So it often is with the aged.
I know that it is always sad when someone dies, but I can't help but feel joy as well. Hillary was 88 years old, a good age. Especially when we think of how many adventurers get cut down while still in the prime of their life. Hillary made it through many adventures and was able to show how the strengths and goodness that come from humility and charity. He led, and I don't use that word lightly, a good life. So many of us have benefited from his lead.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 11, 2008 - 01:10pm PT
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Tractor?!?!?!
Yeah, tractors. On glaciers with huge crevasses. Really scary sh#t.
He wrote a book about it: "The crossing of Antarctica; the Commonwealth Transantarctic Expedition, 1955-1958" Long out of print, but definitely worth reading if you can find a copy somewhere.
The guy he was with on that expedition had the curious name of Vivian Fuchs. And the even more curious nickname "Bunny" Later became Sir Vivian Fuchs, but how'd you like to go through life being called Bunny Fuchs.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jan 11, 2008 - 01:59pm PT
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Sir Vivian Fuch's family name was German, and properly pronounced as though spelt with a "k", not and "h". He was involved in Arctic and Antarctic exploration for many years, and the British tabloids liked to have the headline "Polar explorer Fuchs off again" when he set out.
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LB4USC
Trad climber
Long Beach
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Jan 11, 2008 - 02:07pm PT
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"... because you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone." -- Joni Mitchell
God's speed, Ed.
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screelover
Mountain climber
Canuckistan
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Jan 11, 2008 - 03:56pm PT
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A life truly well-lived.
A great gentleman and an inspiration to so many.
God-speed Sir Edmond
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divad
Trad climber
wmass
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Jan 11, 2008 - 06:05pm PT
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"We knocked the bastard off."
Gotta love that quote.
RIP Sir Edmond
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Erik
Ice climber
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Jan 11, 2008 - 06:20pm PT
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"What made Hillary and Tenzing's success so important to the British people was that in the 1920's, 1930's and early 1950's they had launched no less than six unsuccessful attempts on Everest and had lost countless lives including Mallory and Irvine in the process.
In the early 1900's the Brits had set their sights on conquering the South Pole and had lost Scott and his party and almost Shackleton and his party in their attempts. They were ultimately beaten by the Norwegians.
After the loss of their South Pole, it was a huge triumph for Britain (well, the British Empire)to succeed on a mountain on which they had paid such a price in trying to climb."
--Didn't the Brits stack the odds in their favour by limiting the amount of attempts other nationalities made on Everest (which, being in Nepal, was goverend by the British)?
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Jaybro
Social climber
The West
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Jan 11, 2008 - 08:18pm PT
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With the second of those guys going, it's the end of a chapter. Sir Ed's contribution lives on with the schools, etc.
Part of Tenzing's lives on in his Son(Jamling Tenzing Norgay)'s, book, 'Touching my father's soul'. This one, I thought, was the most interesting and moving book of those about that disaster year on Everest (Into thin Air, etc)
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roy
Social climber
New Zealand -> Santa Barbara
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Jan 11, 2008 - 08:21pm PT
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RIP Sir Ed
Growing up in NZ in the 1960s, he was a huge inspiration. Probably for every subsequent generation as well.
Erik; No, the Brits didn't necessarily stack the odds. The previous year a Swiss team came close to succeeding on Everest. And one of the high altitude sherpas on that expedition was Tenzing Norgay.
Cheers, Roy
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Polar Sun
Trad climber
Joshua Tree
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Jan 11, 2008 - 09:49pm PT
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Ed lived big, pushed the envelope, and engaged in a lot of genuine humanitarian work. For those of us who believe there is just this one lifetime he got a full banquet.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 18, 2008 - 01:20am PT
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Here is the definitive Hillary interview by Ken Wilson from Mountain 45 Sept/Oct 1975. This is the first installment. You really get a good taste of the man.
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Trusty Rusty
Social climber
Tahoe area
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Jan 18, 2008 - 03:36am PT
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Sir Edmond Percival Hillary-
From WW II navigator of Catalina Boats to summit everest with Tenzing @ 1130 May 28, 1953.
And in perfect form as Hillary once put it, "A few more whacks of the ice axe in the firm snow, and we stood on top."
One more of the great hero's leaves us with a legacy we might understand, but none of us will ever relate to. Hats off to Sir Edmond Hillary.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jan 18, 2008 - 11:31am PT
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Thanks, Steve - looking forward to the second instalment.
Of the Everest 1953 climbing team, only a few are still living.
Tenzing Norgay 1914 - 1986
Baron John Hunt K.G. 1910 - 1998
Sir Charles Evans 1918 - 1995
Sir Edmund Hillary, K.G. 1919 - 2008
Tom Bourdillon 1924 - 1956
Alf Gregory 1913 -
Wilfrid Noyce 1917 - 1962 (the fellow who wrote poetry at the South Col)
George Band 1929 - (first ascent of Kanchenjunga, 1955)
Charles Wylie 1919 - 2007
George Lowe 1924 -
Michael Westmacott 1925 -
Griffith Pugh 1909 - 1994
Tom Stobart 1914 - 1980
James (Jan) Morris 1926 -
Michael Ward 1925 - 2005
It appears that Alf Gregory is still alive, at 94 - he was interviewed by BBC radio on Hillary's death. He was one of those who made the carry to Camp IX, at 8,400 m on the Southeast Ridge.
Noyce and Bourdillon died in climbing accidents.
The Royal Geographic Society has a very good website all about Everest - http://imagingeverest.rgs.org/Concepts/Imaging_Everest/-1.html
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 18, 2008 - 10:03pm PT
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"A lot of very competant climbers arrive in the Himalaya knowing sweet Fanny Adams about avalanches." Gotta love it!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Jan 22, 2008 - 11:27pm PT
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The second installment of the Ken Wilson interview, Mt. 46.
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L
climber
A Big Puddle on the Coast of CA
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I didn't know that much about Sir Edmund Hillary until his passing, and then I did a little research. What an amazing human being. Here's a very touching and inspiring article about him...just reading it makes me want to be a better person.
Sweetness and Light
by Frank Deford
At the end of the century, I wanted to do a story on Sir Edmund Hillary. All the experts in the United States were carrying on about, essentially, the same characters — Ruth, Jordan, Ali, maybe Jim Thorpe. But I thought that what Hillary had accomplished with the late Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, was perhaps the single greatest sporting achievement of the 20th century.
In my quest to find Sir Edmund in New Zealand, I called a journalist there. Might he tell me where I could find someone who had Hillary's telephone number? Just a minute, he said. Oh, have you got it, I asked? No, he replied, it's just right here in the phone book. That's right. Anybody could ring up the greatest citizen of the country, the guy on the five-dollar bill, the hero who stood first on the top of the world.
That probably says as much about what Sir Edmund was like as anything does. Well, really, not Sir Edmund. When he found he had to change our appointment, he politely called my house. I was away, so he told my wife it was Ed Hillary calling. "Who?" she asked, struggling with his Kiwi accent. Finally, reluctantly, he acknowledged that he was indeed "Sir Edmund Hillary." He apologized that he had to change our date, but it seemed that President Clinton was going to be in New Zealand and, being a wise politician, wanted Sir Edmund with him. Sorry about that.
My wife said she was sure I'd understand.
In a suburb of Auckland, Hillary lived on a high hill with a vista of the harbor, but significantly, a large Himalayan tree he'd been given, rises higher still over the house on the hill. It's good maybe that you're reminded that no matter how high you go, except maybe on Everest, there is really something always higher.
These latter years, he lived with his second wife, June, and a large tabby cat, Big Red. Both the Hillarys had been widowed. Ed's first wife, Louise, died in a plane crash, along with their daughter, Belinda, when the plane went down leaving Katmandu. He had just put them on it.
The reason the Hillarys were in Katmandu is because after Sir Edmund became famous for conquering the sacred peak that the people there call Chomolungma, he kept coming back to Nepal all his life to help the people and the land. It became his second quest in Nepal.
At first, when he came down from the summit in May of 1953, many Nepalese didn't embrace Hillary, the outsider who had breached their peak. Hillary made sure to say that Norgay had reached the top a few steps before him. Just before he died in 1986, Norgay finally wrote the truth, that Hillary had in fact been first, and Hillary substantiated that.
But, he was quick to tell me, "Believe me, to mountaineers, who's first is not important. We're a team."
In fact, he admitted that he'd felt a little guilty days before when he wasn't sure whether he really wanted his friends, Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans, to make it to the top first. They had to turn back barely 300 feet short.
"I wasn't very proud of my feelings," Hillary admitted to me, ruefully patting the old cat in his lap.
Two days later, Hillary and his teammate made it, and all things considered, I'd have to say that I think God picked the right guy to first stand so close to heaven on earth.
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Here is a little sweetness and a smirk for the ages from Ed's autobiography, Nothing Venture , Nothing Win, 1975.
And this one is for Anders.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 29, 2008 - 04:56pm PT
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A bump - today is the 55th anniversary of Tenzing & Hillary's climb. Although I guess it's now May 30th in Nepal. :-)
Climbing-related, anyway. And it sort of fits with the "Three Cups" discussion.
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Raydog
Trad climber
Boulder Colorado
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May 29, 2008 - 05:19pm PT
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awesome, thanks 4 the bump
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 29, 2012 - 12:37pm PT
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Today is the 59th anniversary of the FA, so I thought I'd nudge this thread. Would that Sir Ed was still alive, and able to comment in his forthright way on the circus on 'his' mountain.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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May 29, 2012 - 01:07pm PT
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Can you imagine how pristine it was just 59 years ago. No trash no corpses, and no money to be made selling her flanks.
Silver, I'm not sure that that is entirely true, but it sure wasn't the zoo/dump it has become.
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TYeary
Social climber
State of decay
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May 29, 2012 - 01:17pm PT
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Hillary had spoken eloquently about the (then) current state of affairs on Everest. I would have to believe he is frowning at what has become of his and Tenzing's great adventure. I had the privilege of short and chance meeting with him once many years ago. He was humble yet fiercely passionate about his Everest climb and even more importantly, the Sherpa people whom he was a father figure to. His kind is rare and sorely missed from the "Everest scene" today.
TY
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 29, 2012 - 01:17pm PT
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According to Unsworth's Everest, up until 1953, 13 had died on the slopes of Everest. It looks like few if any of the bodies were removed. Likewise little if any of the detritus from the 1921, 1922, 1924, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1951, 1952 and 1953 expeditions was removed afterward.
Still, a drop in the bucket compared with what is now left. Behaviours were very different in 1953 and before, and given the relatively sparse usage, probably no one considered it a concern.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 29, 2012 - 02:44pm PT
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Wow...this thread only got 77 posts back in 2008. Now I know that religion, politics and gossip always trump climbing on this "climbing forum," but............
Edit: Right after I posted this the Repubs are Wrong thread came up with 20,941 posts.
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Topic Author's Reply - May 29, 2012 - 02:52pm PT
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Wow...this thread only got 77 posts back in 2008.
Well Jim, Supertopo is pretty focused on rockclimbing in the US Southwest. Other things might get passing mention, but if it isn't about rock climbing (or politics/religion) it disappears pretty fast here.
Ed Hillary? He didn't climb in Yosemite, so how important can he actually be?
In fact, the Everest climb was just one thing out of a whole lot of wild sh#t that he did. Read his account of the first crossing of Antarctica. Now that was really out there.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 29, 2012 - 02:57pm PT
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I hear what you're saying Ghost, but still.........?
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 29, 2012 - 03:02pm PT
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I think that Sir Edmund Hillary deserves the admiration of every one of us who care about the mountains, any mountains. He not only climbed the SOB, with Tenzing; he then proceeded to show us how to treat the people who support this vanity called mountaineering. His heart was in exactly the right place. I hope that all of us, at least, will bear in mind the great things he did for the Nepalese. It was possibly the greater legacy?
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=1827215&tn=520
He was a great man for many reasons.
In the running with Roger Bannister.
Two accomplishments from the same era which opened so many possibilities.
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John Mac
Trad climber
Littleton, CO
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May 29, 2012 - 03:03pm PT
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Ed would turn in his grave if he knew what a circus the big E had developed into.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 29, 2012 - 03:20pm PT
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There's a certain tabloidal aspect to most internet forums, including ST. Unfortunate, but there you are.
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chez
Social climber
chicago ill
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May 29, 2012 - 03:43pm PT
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Mallory certainly is!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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May 29, 2013 - 11:44am PT
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And as much as I admire Sir Edmund, not the least because of his school-building,
I have to laugh at the thought that Everest was summited only 16 years before
Neil Armstrong strode onto the Moon.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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May 29, 2013 - 12:12pm PT
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I have to laugh at the thought that Everest was summited only 16 years before Neil Armstrong strode onto the Moon.
And only 8 years before the first descent of the Marianas Trench. Talk about a tough place to get to; It's only been done four times.
Four descents have been achieved. The first was the manned descent by Swiss-designed, Italian-built, United States Navy-owned bathyscaphe Trieste which reached the bottom at 1:06 pm on 23 January 1960, with U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard on board.[12][21] Iron shot was used for ballast, with gasoline for buoyancy.[12] The onboard systems indicated a depth of 11,521 m (37,799 ft), but this was later revised to 10,916 m (35,814 ft).[22] The depth was estimated from a conversion of pressure measured and calculations based on the water density from sea surface to seabed.[21]
This was followed by the unmanned ROVs Kaikō in 1996 and Nereus in 2009. The first three expeditions directly measured very similar depths of 10,902 to 10,916 m.
The fourth was made by Canadian film director James Cameron in 2012. On 26 March, he reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the submersible vessel Deepsea Challenger.
Just my way of bumping Sir Ed.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Outside the Asylum
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Mar 25, 2019 - 01:28pm PT
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A biography of Hillary just released. Written by Michael Gill, published by Vertebrate Publishing.
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
Any island that has waves
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Mar 25, 2019 - 03:08pm PT
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Amazing how much he looks like a present day Portland hipster...
They certainly sent it.
Aloha
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aspendougy
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Mar 25, 2019 - 03:09pm PT
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"At first, when he came down from the summit in May of 1953, many Nepalese didn't embrace Hillary, the outsider who had breached their peak. Hillary made sure to say that Norgay had reached the top a few steps before him. Just before he died in 1986, Norgay finally wrote the truth, that Hillary had in fact been first, and Hillary substantiated that. But, he was quick to tell me, "Believe me, to mountaineers, who's first is not important. We're a team."
This speaks volumes about what sort of men Hillary and Norgay were. Both wanted to give credit and extol their climbing partner.
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 25, 2019 - 03:38pm PT
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How right, aspendougy. But Hilary was always a class act--and how about how much time he spent in Nepal building hospitals for the
folks there.
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Q- Ball
Mountain climber
but to scared to climb them anymore
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Mar 25, 2019 - 04:29pm PT
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Gotta try and see if anyone can solve this mystery again. Sir Ed mailed me this picture years ago after a wrote him a letter.
As a kid ~10 years old I would write to a bunch of famous climbers. Ed responded with this photo. Question I have is does anybody know the three other guys with him? Thanks for info!
Awesome dude in my book!
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Nutty
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Mar 25, 2019 - 05:46pm PT
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They look like sherpas, note the headband on the pack?
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zBrown
Ice climber
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Mar 25, 2019 - 09:59pm PT
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Q - There is a book Alfred Gregory's Everest (1993) which may have your answer
Hillary
Evans
Bourdillon
Tenzing Norgay
Ward
Band
Who knows?
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