| Sir Edmund Hillary is an inspirational figure whose | | | | bridges in Nepal, re-roofing a monastery, and |
| achievements have made him a record breaker and a | | | | organising the construction of the airport at Lukla, |
| modern hero in the eyes of New Zealanders, | | | | which is used to this day to bring hundreds of |
| mountaineers and Everest trekkers alike. More | | | | trekkers to the main starting point of their Everest |
| importantly, he left has his mark along the Everest | | | | Base Camp Trek. More vital for the Sherpa people |
| Base Camp Trek trails, where you can find evidence | | | | was the infrastructure that he raised money for, |
| of his extensive philanthropic legacy. | | | | pioneering the construction of 27 schools, 12 clinics |
| Edmund Hillary's Early Life | | | | and 2 hospitals in the Khumbu, starting with the |
| Edmund Hillary was born in July 1919 in Auckland, New | | | | Khumjung School in 1961. Over a 20 year period the |
| Zealand. His love of adventure was established at | | | | Himalayan Trust has supported numerous education, |
| early age in the adventure stories he would read on | | | | healthcare and environmental projects that have |
| long train journeys. This sense of adventure was first | | | | significantly enhanced the lives of the Sherpa people. |
| realised in a mountain setting on a high school trip, | | | | In later years, Hillary became a special ambassador to |
| after which he was hooked: the beginning of an | | | | Nepal for UNICEF. |
| eighteen year journey to Everest Base Camp began | | | | As well benefitting the local Sherpa people, the |
| with Mount Ruapehu (2,797 m), a mountain on the | | | | medical facilities he established are valuable for |
| North Island of New Zealand. His first major climb | | | | treating ailing trekkers on Everest Base Camp trek |
| followed three years later, after college, with Mount | | | | expeditions, and featured in the recent BBC 'Everest |
| Ollivier (1,933 m). Hillary later commented about that | | | | ER' series. |
| climb: "It was the happiest day I had ever spent." | | | | Hillary was also keen that there may be people to |
| Hillary's Expeditions | | | | follow in his footsteps, and share his passion for life |
| Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to ever reach | | | | outdoors. He put his name to the Sir Edmund Hillary |
| the highest peak in the world. His famous partnership | | | | Outdoor Pursuits Centre in New Zealand that |
| with Tenzing Norgay in 1953, when their Everest | | | | provides youth courses for secondary schools and |
| Trek made the summit, made them instantly | | | | vocational training schemes for the outdoor industry. |
| renowned and revered worldwide. Hillary was humble | | | | Courses include training in white-water kayaking, rock |
| about the achievement, pointing out that the success | | | | climbing, and of course, mountaineering. |
| of the expedition was owing to his climbing | | | | Commemorations |
| companion Tenzing, and the considerable efforts of | | | | During his lifetime, New Zealand's most famous |
| the support team of almost four hundred men who | | | | person had tributes heaped upon him. He was |
| had waited expectantly at Everest Base Camp to | | | | knighted by the Queen and made a member of the |
| hear if they made it to the top. | | | | Order of the Garter. Hillary was honoured by the |
| Four years after trekking to Everest's summit, Hillary | | | | United Nations for his conservational work, and had a |
| was aboard the first small plane to fly to Marble | | | | statue of him erected in Mount Cook National Park. |
| Point, a remote science research centre in Antarctica. | | | | He was also New Zealand's high commissioner to |
| This small accolade took on more significance in 1985 | | | | India. |
| when he teamed-up with another icon of exploration, | | | | After his death in 2008, there were proposals to |
| Neil Armstrong, to fly to the North Pole. In doing so | | | | memorialize Hillary by renaming Mount Ollivier after |
| he became the first man to have stood on the | | | | him, since the mountain was his first major climb as a |
| world's tallest peak and on both poles. | | | | young man. His most enduring legacy though will be in |
| Charitable Missions | | | | the form of his charitable foundation, the Himalayan |
| But Hillary did not turn his back on the country where | | | | Trust, which will continue to improve the lives of the |
| he had made his fame. Through the Himalayan Trust | | | | Nepalese people that work and live along the Everest |
| that he founded, he was instrumental in building | | | | Base Camp Trek routes for generations to come. |
