Well John We Knocked the Bastard Off

Another great man has passed. Sir Edmund Hillary has passed away.

Sir Edmund and wife

Explorer and first man to climb Mount Everest was considered a hero by many.

Sir Edmund, who conquered the world’s highest mountain in 1953 alongside Nepal’s Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, had been suffering health problems since April after he suffered a fall whilst in Nepal.

The New Zealander regarded himself as an average beekeeper but was widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s greatest adventurers. He was equally admired for his humility and unaffected manner.

After returning from the summit, which he scaled just days before the coronation of Elizabeth II, the matter-of-fact climber greeted a fellow expedition member with the now-infamous phrase: “Well, George, we’ve knocked the bastard off.”

An amazing accomplishment even today; at the time it was a heroic achievement. We don’t have enough men like Hillary around anymore.

“In some ways I believe I epitomise the average New Zealander: I have modest abilities, I combine these with a good deal of determination, and I rather like to succeed.”

Hillary also went to the South Pole. He continued to travel until early in 2007, when health forced him to stop. Sadly most people today are taught to fail instead of achieve. We need to get back to the belief that people are meant to achieve great things.

The Hillary Step

NEWS ITEMS:

Time - In Hillary and Tenzings Footsteps
TVNZ - timeline for Sir Edmund Hillary
TVNZ - Mount Everest Facts
Academy of Achievement - Hillary Bio
Scholastic - My Story: I was the first to conquer Everest
MSN Encarta - Hillary Bio
NZEDGE - Hillary article
Everest News - tracking the moutain and those who challenge it
Nova (PBS) - The way to the Summit
Michelle Malkin — Hillary and her claim to fame — it’s sad that some are so desprerate for attention that they will say or do anything to achieve it.

Tags: edmund hillary, sir edmund hillary, everest, mount everest, sherpa, tenzing norgay