Like many armchair adventurers, I enjoy reading about mountain climbing, particularly climbs of Mount Everest. The tallest mountain in the world, Everest reaches more than five miles into the sky, topping out at 29,028 feet. Whether it's the blizzard-wracked disaster of Into Thin Air or the mystery of George Mallory in Ghosts of Everest, the mountain has always fascinated me.
Not enough to climb, of course. I leave that for those fitter and wealthier than myself.
But I could not resist a pang of sadness upon learning that Sir Edmund Hillary died this afternoon. Along with his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, Hillary became the first person to ascend the summit of Everest, literally standing atop the world. When he did so half a century ago, he became a hero not only to his native New Zealand, but around the world.
In his later years, Hillary was a tireless advocate of the Sherpa people of the Himalayas, campaigning to build schools and hospitals to improve their standard of living. Controversially, he also decried the increasing commercialization of Everest, disdaining the many for-profit expeditions that promised summiting the mountain for a price. It ain't cheap - various commercial groups charge about $60,000.
On behalf of everyone who has ever looked up a steep hill and wondered what was at the top, farewell, Sir Edmund. You will be missed.
Not enough to climb, of course. I leave that for those fitter and wealthier than myself.
But I could not resist a pang of sadness upon learning that Sir Edmund Hillary died this afternoon. Along with his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, Hillary became the first person to ascend the summit of Everest, literally standing atop the world. When he did so half a century ago, he became a hero not only to his native New Zealand, but around the world.
In his later years, Hillary was a tireless advocate of the Sherpa people of the Himalayas, campaigning to build schools and hospitals to improve their standard of living. Controversially, he also decried the increasing commercialization of Everest, disdaining the many for-profit expeditions that promised summiting the mountain for a price. It ain't cheap - various commercial groups charge about $60,000.
On behalf of everyone who has ever looked up a steep hill and wondered what was at the top, farewell, Sir Edmund. You will be missed.
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