Today is the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hilary and Tensing Norgay conquering Everest. This appears to be a very big deal here in New Zealand (Ed being a kiwi and all). T.V is full of interviews, doco’s etc. It is also a big deal in Nepal…with a virtual tent city set up at base camp on Everest.
I’m just curious if the big deal is only being made in NZ and Nepal because of our involvement or if the other places in the world are interested.
Were you aware…have you seen anything about this in your press or t.v?
Cool, thanks for answering guys. It is really really being hyped here but I was hoping it was being acknowledged elsewhere. It is sad Tensing didn’t live to see these celebrations
A number of years ago (pre-Internet, no cite) I read an article quoting Hillary or Tenzing, that upon reaching the summit, they kicked “something” over the edge so that the other would not see it.
My bet is it was a flag or cairn left by Mallor and/or Irvine in 1924.
Yeah, this is good stuff. Although it might seem frivolous, such achievements are worth respecting.
While circling the globe three different times on tramp steamers, my grandfather once met Norgay Tenzing. He mentioned how remarkable it was to meet this sherpa who could speak several different languages and yet couldn’t even write his own name.
Though seriously when you read a quote from Hilary claiming he had “kicked” something you may be remembering incorrectly and be refering to Ed’s famous quote “We’ve knocked the bastard off George”
"He looked around for signs of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, who had gone to the mountain 30 years before and who, some people believe, had reached the summit. Hillary found no signs. Tenzing dug holes for food, small gifts to the gods. Having paid their respects to the highest mountain in the world, they then urinated on it.
Hillary heralded the event with the laconic style that made him a New Zealand archetype. Returning from the summit, he greeted a fellow New Zealand member of the expedition George Lowe, with the iconic words: “Well George, we’ve knocked the bastard off.”"
Well, the only reason I care is that one of my many cousins is one of the Global Extremes finalists who are attempting to climb Everest. Unfortunately, weather and other factors have delayed their summit attempt – latest word is that they might make a summit attempt on the 30th or 31st. The season for Everest appears to be closing, though, so if they don’t do it soon, they’ll have to pack it in.
Anyone who has been thrilled by reading or watching the exploits of adventurers or explorers like I have certainly thinks this milestone is worth celebrating. I’ve attended talks by the likes of Ed Viesturs and David Breashers…their passion when speaking of places such as Everest is always something that lies right on the surface…they have a love affair with the wilderness. Going to the ends of the earth is something that many of us want to do, even if it is vicariously thru people like Hillary and Norgay.
As it happens, a couple of weeks ago I read Jan Krakauer’s Into Thin Air, about the Everest expeditions in 1996 where several people died, including two well-respected guides. As a result, I’ve been fascinated by Everest the past two weeks, even though I’ve now lost pretty much the last shreds of any desire I had to climb it. It is an amazing accomplishment to me, especially now I know more about what it takes to do it. The folly, the vanity, the determination, the will, and the sense of accomplishment those who do it must have has caught my imagination.
