Mountain of a Man: Sir Edmond Hillary Dies at 88

Sir Edmond Hillary was a hero to me. In 1953, Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest and safely return. It’s not enough to get to the top to conquer the 29,035 foot mountain. You have to get back down, and Hillary and Norgay did just that.

So many people had attempted to climb Everest before Hillary and Norgay, and were either turned back by howling gales, bitter cold and lack of oxygen; or, like George Mallory, lost their lives. Since their 1953 climb, 3000 people have summitted and 200 people have lost their lives.

Today, Everest expeditions are almost commonplace. On a single day in 2003, 118 people were reported to have made it. Some veteran climbers have criticized the “commercialism” and “circus atmosphere” surrounding Everest climbing. Sir Edmund added his voice to the lament in 2003 as crowds gathered for the 50th anniversary celebrations in Katmandu, Nepal.

In January, 1996, I met Scott Fischer, owner of Mountain Madness and a world famous mountaineer. Scott was seeking Travel Agents who specialized in Adventure Travel to promote his various guided climbs including Everest and Kilimanjaro. Five months later, Scott died on Everest in one of the most publicized climbing disasters the mountain has seen.

I question the commercialization of climbing this mountain. It is magnificent, and it is, as Mallory said, most definately there. Today it is littered with dead bodies, used oxygen canisters, climbing detrius. But it is a sacred place. Perhaps some things should be left limited access. Perhaps some things should be left to the true adventurers like Hillary.

Rest in peace.