 sj |
||
|
||
Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008)
|
|
|
Subject: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: Rapparee Date: 10 Jan 08 - 06:58 PM From Al-Jazeera: Edmund Hillary, the beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, has died. He was 88. Hillary, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was the first to reach the 8,848-metre summit of Everest in 1953, had been in increasingly frail health in recent years. The 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. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz Date: 10 Jan 08 - 07:02 PM Ed: Thanks for conquering Mount Everest for us... Bless & Rest in Peace... bob |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: Leadfingers Date: 10 Jan 08 - 07:04 PM And they kept the news back til AFTER the Coronation !! |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: BanjoRay Date: 10 Jan 08 - 08:51 PM Nobody conquers mount Everest or any other mountain. If you get up it and down again alive, you've a achieved a personal landmark, but you've not conquered the mountain - it's still as much of a hard bastard as it ever was. I'm certain Ed would have agreed with me about that.... ask any climber. Ed was great though! Ray |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: katlaughing Date: 10 Jan 08 - 09:17 PM He was great. Sorry to hear of his passing, but what a wonderful life he seems to have had. Thank you, "Ed." kat |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: Rowan Date: 11 Jan 08 - 12:28 AM He was also unfailingly polite and unassuming. Ice climbers in his day (and mine, later) used ice axes with long shafts and were trained to hold the 'pick' facing backwards when using it one handed. In his later years SIr Edmund was having a bit of a wander around the icefields on NZ and was carrying his axe with the pick forward. This was observe by a guide for a different party, who thought he ought give the old bloke a bit of helpful advice about proper procedure. Sir Edmund made no demur but accepted the young guide's helpfully-meant instructions. It was only later that the young guide was told that he'd just been instructing Sir Edmund Hillary on "correct" iceaxe technique. Cheers, Rowan |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: Captain Ginger Date: 11 Jan 08 - 04:27 AM A supremely modest and decent bloke, I always thought. In a way it seemed appropriate that he and Tenzing should be the first to stand on the top of Everest rather than the (heretical to say, but I will) driven egomaniac Mallory. Nice, too, that he spent his later years doing so much for Nepal without ever banging the drum about it or doing the big celebrity "I am" thing. In that, he really did seem like someone from a different, rather better age, and climbing is the poorer for his passing. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer From: autolycus Date: 11 Jan 08 - 04:32 AM As Jackie Mason said, "Whar can you do with a conquered mountain?" RIP Sir Edmund (without forgetting Tenzing, who did it too, almost simultaneously) Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: catspaw49 Date: 11 Jan 08 - 07:37 AM I had great respect for him. His love for that part of the world and his contributions to it in later life were greater than any single achievement no matter how great. It was the true commitment that singled him out when he could well have lived off his fame. One of the educational channels aired several excellent programs a few years ago documenting some of his exploits in the years after Everest. That said, in this time when Everest has become such a travesty.......I don't know what else to call it........it is hard to convey for anyone today how huge the news of their summit was. As a young child I knew this name perhaps before any others of fame. I certainly didn't know diddly about mountaineering but the respect with which others gave the name assured me this was a great man and a marvelous feat.......and this in a small east Ohio town! I think it was for Christmas in'54 that I got a game about Everest. It had a folding pyramid shaped Everest with photos of each face on the appropriate sides, a magnetic backing, 4 magnetic climbers of different colors, and dice cube. Each side had a path up to the top. Obviously not too tough a game but for quite awhile it was my favorite. His was a life well lived and I'm sure he will rest in peace. Spaw |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Mrrzy Date: 11 Jan 08 - 09:02 AM Sigh. Another great I thought already dead... |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: GUEST,Pollard Date: 11 Jan 08 - 11:55 AM There was never conformation of him reaching the peak of Everest other than the word of Sherpa Tenzing. No factual evidence exists. Sad to see his passing. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: Captain Ginger Date: 11 Jan 08 - 12:25 PM I wonder if, on the way down, he didn't say, "Hang on Tenzing, mate, can we just go back up. I forgot to ask you to take a picture of me!" |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: Rapparee Date: 11 Jan 08 - 12:33 PM Why would Tenzing lie? |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: SINSULL Date: 11 Jan 08 - 12:55 PM I always found it ironic that Hillary got the credit when he could not have done it without Tenzing Norgay. Ever wonder if Tenzing scouted out the whole trip a month earlier? Ever wonder how many quietly went up, looked around and descended? That said - Hillary was a modest and generous man who seemed not to take his fame too seriously. He did bitterly criticize the tour groups that annually climb Everest while killing off a few along the way mostly for the garbage dump they have created on the mountain. He rightly considered it an obscenity. With all the millions they pay for these trips, you would think they could clean up after themselves. RIP |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: autolycus Date: 11 Jan 08 - 01:27 PM Captain, there's no pic of Hillary at the top cos Tenzing didn't know how to work a camera, and Hillary wasn't ready to teach him then. Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: BanjoRay Date: 11 Jan 08 - 02:51 PM Of course he reached the top - when they got back to base camp his first words were "We knocked the bastard off!". What more evidence does anyone need? Ray |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: autolycus Date: 11 Jan 08 - 03:21 PM I've sometimes idly wondered what would the verdict of a jury be if all the jurors were professional philosophers. (Or even amateurs like me) Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: GUEST,Little Robyn Date: 11 Jan 08 - 03:22 PM If he wasn't there, then who took the picture of Tenzing? Hillary was a straight-up, honest, Kiwi bloke. If he said he knocked the bastard off, then he did! We've had our TV programmes changed around so we had several hours of docos about him and nothing else in the news all last night. But I couldn't get on Mudcat because Telecom's internet links have been down for almost 24 hours. I seem to have lost my cookie in the process. So long Sir Ed. I'm sure your wife and daughter are pleased to see you again after more than 32 years. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Donuel Date: 11 Jan 08 - 04:08 PM cause of death? tripping on a molehill? |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: GUEST,Pollard Date: 11 Jan 08 - 06:17 PM "cause of death? tripping on a molehill?" Wasn't that King William of Orange ? He trusted Sherpa Tenzing with his life and described him in his book as an intelligent calculated thinker. Would you trust a guy who couldn't go "click" with a Brownie ? Hillary seemed a brash kind of a guy who never hid from media attention, I doubt he would have went to the top and not wanted his picture taken there, how many Australians or New Zealanders do you know would say "hey mate, you pose I'll take one of you". Mountaineers and brave adventurers is all well and good, but spare a thought for the two dozen or so poor sods that have to risk their lives going to rescue the failed wannabes. Those that go climbing mountains or pot holing should be made to take out a comprehensive insurance policy to cover the expenditure of a rescue mission. Those that don't should be forced to sell their assets to recoup the emergency services. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: gnomad Date: 11 Jan 08 - 07:25 PM OK, Pollard, I'll bite. "No factual evidence" True, but if not EH, then who got to the top, held EH's camera in space to take Tenzing's picture, and got EH and NT to co-operate to spare the blushes of the world's most bashful climber? I hold no brief for the incompetent or foolhardy adventurer, but rescue services in extreme conditions around here are generally manned by unpaid volunteers. I wouldn't describe any of them as "poor sods who have to". On the whole they are paying their insurance with their own services rather than cash, doing for others what they hope never to need done for themselves. Sometimes they pay very heavily. I believe that similar conditions prevail in most of the world's remote regions, but I'm open to other info on this. EH was probably my first hero, I admire both his original achievement, and what he did with the renown it brought him. BTW, Pollard, I suspect you are just stirring it a bit for the fun of it, or did you read the book out of masochism? |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: GUEST,Pollard Date: 11 Jan 08 - 07:37 PM Sorry not stirring. I found the guy to be solid any time I saw him on television. Sorry for making an observation. Just thought the guy would have been capable of clicking a camera. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Gurney Date: 11 Jan 08 - 07:43 PM Pollard, the rescuers, in pot-holes and on mountains, big ones anyway, are pot-holers and mountaineers too! Who else has the expertise? Just as barmy as the guys in trouble. On Everest and such mountain tops, there are no rescuers, really. If you can't walk down, you will stay up. I've lived in NZ for more than 30 years, and in that time I've never heard a single bad word spoken of Sir Ed. In a country that habitually knocks the heads off 'tall poppies,' that is unique. He and Tensing never would say if one of them was 'first.' |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: Rapparee Date: 11 Jan 08 - 08:58 PM Every summer around here they bring in a few dead wannabees. Folks, for example, who go into the Grand Teton backcountry (read "wilderness area") wearing a tee shirt, shorts, and flip-flops; who don't bother to let people know where they're going or when they plan to return; damnfools who think that because it looks easy on TV it is easy; flatlanders who don't realize the effects of altitude; dumbshits who who think the griz cubs look cute...the list is endless. My own feeling is that nobody should bother going to look for them. If you're stupid enough to fall a hundred feet because of your own lack of forethought and break both legs landing on a ledge (and you're damned lucky!) I don't see why anyone owes you a rescue. Walk between a sow bear and her cubs and I don't see why the bear should suffer. But then I also think that your friends and family should be able to contract with a rescue squad, at least to keep your remains from littering the landscape. I'm probably a little bit radical.... |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: Rowan Date: 11 Jan 08 - 09:34 PM The leader of the successful expedition, in which Tensing Norgay and Edmund Hillary got to the top, was John (later knighted with Hillary) Hunt. If you want to read a marvellous spoof of mountaineering expeditions, read The ascent of Rum Doodle, which was based on this expedition of Hunt's. The real author has never (to my knowledge) been revealed and you'll understand why when you read it. It was required reading at Melbourne Uni Mountaineering Club until the 70s and there was at least one MUMC member in ANARE every year from 1947 until the late 70s, which might explain why the nunatak immediately south of Mawson is named "Rum Doodle" and why at least one of the tractor-team cabins had "Binder's Butter Beans" painted, in excellent signwriting, on its side; it was still there as late as 1970. Sir Edmund also drove Ferguson tractors across the Antarctic during Vivian Fuchs' traverse of the continent in '58. As an aside, I noticed from the news item on Oz ABC telly that Sir Ed's second wife was the widow of Peter Mulgrew. I recall reading Peter Mulgrew's autobiography in which he recounted his own survival of a different Himalayan expedition; he was also a NZ climber on leave from the Navy and, somewhere above 20k', got a serious clot in his leg. It took three weeks to get him out to an airport (and thus swift repatriation to hospital in NZ) and was kept at serious doses of morphine to moderate pain the whole time. Byt the time he'd recovered medically from the amputation he realised he was addicted and dealt with it by going cold turkey. Successfully. It was with some sadness I discovered he was the tour guide on the aircraft that slammed into the side of Mt Erebus a few years ago. Sic transit Cheers, Rowan |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Little Robyn Date: 11 Jan 08 - 11:16 PM Sir Ed was one of the rescuers in the 40s. Anyway, he's to have a State Funeral and it looks like being on Tuesday week - 22nd Jan, according to latest radio news. All the newspapers seem to have a whole section dedicated to him today. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Little Robyn Date: 12 Jan 08 - 12:32 AM Look here to read Sir Ed's biography Tonight's TV news seems to be all about him. Even smaller items like the Girl Guide Camp or the Auzzie kayakers include comments about how they feel about Ed's life and death. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: autolycus Date: 12 Jan 08 - 05:06 AM Can I take it we all know the original called himself Eve rest, not Ever rest? Ivor |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: GUEST,Pollard Date: 12 Jan 08 - 11:52 AM Great post Rapaire. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: vectis Date: 12 Jan 08 - 08:42 PM Just came back from NZ and he was obviously still a huge hero to the Kiwis. He died while I was flying home to UK. Good bloke. He'll be greatly missed by many from all over the world. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: alanabit Date: 13 Jan 08 - 04:07 AM He struck me as the genuine article. He was outstandingly brave and came across as being unfailingly polite and modest. I saw him interviewed on TV some thirty five years ago, when he came over as a self-effacing gentleman. Maybe he did have faults, although I would not like to hazard a guess at what they were. I don't think many of us would like our failings to be read out in public. I think that when people snipe at him now, I learn more about them than I do about Hillary. For me he was a giant. RIP. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: Rapparee Date: 13 Jan 08 - 09:07 AM Those who poke holes in the reputation of the truly great after they die would never consider doing so when they were alive. |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Little Robyn Date: 21 Jan 08 - 04:00 AM The mourning process is under way. Sir Ed is lying in state all night tonight and in about 12 hours time the TV circus will start broadcasting the funeral, at 10am NZ summer time or 9pm GMT. Several radio stations will be running a 'simulcast'. I don't know if the broadcast will be live overseas but it's possible. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Little Robyn Date: 21 Jan 08 - 04:03 AM It's 10pm here now and 4am Mudcat time so I guess the funeral will start on telly at 4pm Monday, Mudcat time, 9pm Monday GMT. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: DougR Date: 21 Jan 08 - 03:50 PM According to a report I heard recently, Hillary Clinton claims to have been named after Sir Edmund. Anybody know if what she claims is true? DougR |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Little Robyn Date: 21 Jan 08 - 11:00 PM I have heard that too but I believe she's a bit too old for that to be true. Was she born before 1953? But I understand her daughter was named for Joni Mitchell's Chelsea Morning which is in the DT. We watched the funeral live on telly - someone at work found a set and anyone interested was allowed to watch. Lovely music. Robyn |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 200 From: DougR Date: 22 Jan 08 - 05:59 PM Yes, Little Robyn, I'm pretty sure Hillary was not named for Sir Edmund, though she said that she was at one time. DougR |
|
Subject: RE: Obit: Edmund Hillary, Mountaineer (January 2008) From: Big Al Whittle Date: 23 Jan 08 - 02:34 AM Probably it was her deferencce to Sir Edmund that led her to marry a bloke who was mountin' 'ere, there and everywhere. |
| Share Thread: |
