He was a grand old man. I got to shake his hand once at the Explorer's Club, of which he was honorary president or something. In his era, of course, it was the white man who climbed Everest (not to mention named it—no matter that the Sherpas called it Chomolungma or Sagamartha) and got the knighthood; Tenzing Norgay's name did not echo from the mountaintops. It is amusing to see writers scrambling to give equal credit these days without lessening Edmund Hillary's accomplishment. The Jersey Girl sends the following quote from the New York Times: "I’ve always hated the danger part of climbing, and it’s great to come down again because it’s safe,” Hillary said in 1977. "But there is something about building up a comradeship — that I still believe is the greatest of all feats — and sharing in the dangers with your company of peers. It’s the intense effort, the giving of everything you’ve got. It’s really a very pleasant sensation.”For the record, we will assume the Kiwi beekeeper considered Tenzing Norgay his peer.
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I just wanted to share this, which was emailed to me this morning by a certain world-traveling woman, known and loved by many! She has trekked her share of Himalayas and is still at it.
"I met Hillary in 1980 when I was on the Everest trek. I took pictures of him with a monk. I'm sure I told you (and all the world) about this a long time ago. I realize now that he is only 11 years older than I am. I was in London for the coronation in '53, and I remember well the headlines that his successful ascent was an auspicious gift to the queen."
Wow!
It is sad to hear of Ed’s death, but I was with Peter his son a few weeks ago and he was telling me that Ed was not in a good condition, so we were in fact expecting this quite soon. Ed was the same age as my dad (who died 4 years ago) so it made me think about that as well. I first met Ed when I was working for him on the Phaphlu Hospital in Nepal in 1974. He was a good friend and my mentor. He will be missed by the NZ public, but also by many who he touched.
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