29 May 2008
55th Anniversary of the 1st ascent of Mount Everest
One of the finest sons of climbing and mountaineering is again recognised this year after his death earlier in January 2008.
Today marks the 55th anniversary of the first recorded summit of Everest by Hillary and Tensing.
Hillary, an outspoken and staunch ambassador of all things Everest is remembered fondly for his spirit and camaraderie in the face of often daunting prospects. His disgust and outburst at the David Sharp controversy in 2006 added the gravitas of a human being who put his concern and care of others around him over personal achievements. Highly critical of the decision not to try to rescue Sharp, saying that leaving other climbers to die is unacceptable, and the desire to get to the summit has become all-important. He also said, "I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top. It was wrong if there was a man suffering altitude problems and was huddled under a rock, just to lift your hat, say good morning and pass on by". He also told the New Zealand Herald that he was horrified by the callous attitude of today’s climbers. "They don’t give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn’t impress me at all that they leave someone lying under a rock to die" and that, "I think that their priority was to get to the top and the welfare of one of the... of a member of an expedition was very secondary." An example of selflessness that we could all learn from.
For more details and statistics of Everest click here
For more details of Sir Edmund Hillary click here
For more details of David Sharp click here
Today marks the 55th anniversary of the first recorded summit of Everest by Hillary and Tensing.
Hillary, an outspoken and staunch ambassador of all things Everest is remembered fondly for his spirit and camaraderie in the face of often daunting prospects. His disgust and outburst at the David Sharp controversy in 2006 added the gravitas of a human being who put his concern and care of others around him over personal achievements. Highly critical of the decision not to try to rescue Sharp, saying that leaving other climbers to die is unacceptable, and the desire to get to the summit has become all-important. He also said, "I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top. It was wrong if there was a man suffering altitude problems and was huddled under a rock, just to lift your hat, say good morning and pass on by". He also told the New Zealand Herald that he was horrified by the callous attitude of today’s climbers. "They don’t give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn’t impress me at all that they leave someone lying under a rock to die" and that, "I think that their priority was to get to the top and the welfare of one of the... of a member of an expedition was very secondary." An example of selflessness that we could all learn from.
For more details and statistics of Everest click here
For more details of Sir Edmund Hillary click here
For more details of David Sharp click here
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