Sir Edmond Hillary:
To Everest and Beyond

When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay scrambled up the last bit of ice to reach the summit of Mount Everest, they became the first people to stand on top of the world's tallest mountain. The ascent of Everest propelled Hillary into public life and inspired the queen of England to knight him. In the years that followed, Sir Edmund Hillary played a critical role in an expedition to cross Antarctica, searched for evidence of the Abominable Snowman, and led a group that traveled from the mouth of India's Ganges River to its source high in the Himalayan Mountains.

Through all of his adventures, Hillary has remained closely linked to Mount Everest and the Sherpa people who live below the majestic mountain. Author Whitney Stewart describes how Hillary has helped the Sherpas realized their dreams of a better life-one with schools and medical facilities. In recent years, Hillary has been searching for ways to balance environmental protection of the Himalayan Mountains with the economic benefits tourists and climbers bring to the area.

Related Topics

Lonely Planet's Nepal Guide:   http://www.lonelyplanet.com/dest/ind/kat.htm

Lonely Planet's online site is an excellent resource for travelers. It provides great information about Nepal.  This site includes a brief history, descriptions of the major sites, maps, statistics about population and area, plus current articles about local events. 

Scholastic's Online Programming on Sir Edmund Hillary :   http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/hillary/tguide.htm

Includes a photo history of Sir Edmund Hillary, facts about Mt. Everest and other famous mountains, information about the Sherpa people of Nepal, a map of Hillary's ascent of Everest, and a teacher's guide.

Nepal News:   http://www.nepalnews.com

Daily news from Nepal.

Mt. Everest.Net :   http://www.mnteverest.net

An excellent website on Mt. Everest and the surrounding regions, includes games, lists of books on the topic, a photo gallery, lists of ongoing, and upcoming expeditions to the mountain, a history of Mt. Everest, and legends from the mountain.

FAQs for Sir Edmund Hillary
Interview With Sir Edmund Hillary

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first two men to successfully climb Mt. Everest. Sir Edmund answered questions from students on Scholastic’s Web site from October 8 through November 15, 1996. Here are his answers to their questions

Question: How did you have enough energy to climb Mount Everest?

Answer: I was very fit and had much climbing experience.

Question: I was wondering if you have any thoughts on the tragedy in the spring of 1996 on Everest in which several people were killed. For example, do you think unacceptable risks were taken? What might you have done differently?

Answer: Many people have been getting too casual about climbing Everest. I forecast a disaster many times.

Question: How do other mountains you’ve climbed compare to Everest? Can you think of another peak that’s challenged you as much as Everest?

Answer: Other mountains have more technically difficult routes than Everest. But none have that last 800 feet of extreme height.

Question: How did you sleep on Mt. Everest?

Answer: Sleeping is always difficult at high altitude, so we didn’t sleep much.

Question: What was the most difficult part of your adventure?

Answer: Strong motivation is the most important factor in getting you to the top.

Question: Did you have to carry all your own food, or was there some food available on the mountain, such as plants?

Answer: We carried all our own food.

Question: I know from reading your story that you trained for a long time and also were/are a courageous man. But was there a time up on Everest when you were scared? Can you describe what was happening?

Answer: I was scared many times on Everest, but this is all part of the challenge. When I fell down a crevasse it was pretty scary.

Question: What did it look like up that high on the mountain? How long did it take you to climb Mt. Everest?

Answer: From the summit we could see at least a hundred miles in every direction. It took seven weeks to go from base camp to the top, but only three days coming down.

Question: How many pounds of food did you take? What kind of food did you eat?

Answer: High on the mountain, food is repugnant and you have to make yourself eat. Most of our energy came from very sweet drinks mostly hot weak tea with lots of sugar.

Question: How did you feel when you reached the top of Everest? Were you able to see anything? What did the world look like from up there?

Answer: On the summit of Everest I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there. We could see a vast distance in every direction mostly mountains, glaciers, and high plateaus.

Question: How does it feel to be called "Sir"? What was it like being knighted? That must be really cool.

Answer: Becoming a "Sir" is slightly uncomfortable at first although it is a considerable honor. It is amazing how quickly you become accustomed to it. I still have the same friends and a similar way of life. The actual knighting took place in Buckingham Palace by the Queen [of England] it was a very impressive ceremony.

Questions for Whitney Stewart
FAQs for Whitney Stewart

Question: How did you get interested in the Himalayan Mountains? Have you been a mountain climber? Did you get sick or anything when you went to the highest altitude? I would like to go some day, but I am scared about getting sick.

Answer: I became a mountain climber when I was in elementary school. My best friend, Sue, and her parents took me hiking in New Hampshire over many weekends during the year. On my 14th birthday I took my first ice-climbing lesson from Sue's brother, a ski patroller and first-aid technician. Sue and I wore crampons on our boots, hooked ourselves onto ropes held tight by Sue's brother and another young instructor, and rappelled down over a short icefall. I was hooked!

Before I went to the Himalayas, I had experience hiking, rock climbing, and ice climbing in America and in Switzerland. In 1986 my mother and I went to the Everest region of the Himalaya with a trekking group. We were both in great shape, but I became ill with altitude sickness and a lung infection. I returned to Nepal with Sir Edmund Hillary in 1990. Each trip was spectacular, but I realized I could not climb as high as I wanted without having trouble with altitude.

I don't believe high-altitude climbing is for everyone. You must train yourself physically and emotionally before going to high altitude. Learn all you can about climbing and then set your goals AND limits. Don't let your ego push you beyond your ability. Enjoy and respect the mountains!

Question: Why did they need so many people on the team?

Answer: That is a very good question. The British sponsors for the 1953 expedition first wanted team leader Eric Shipton. However, Shipton wanted a small team. The sponsors wanted to send over several scientists, doctors, lots of new equipment, plenty of nutritious food, and many strong climbers. The sponsors believed that more was better. They also believed that if the climbers could eat good food, sleep in good tents, and have good oxygen systems, then they would stay strong enough to reach the top. In order to get the equipment and food up the mountain, the team had to hire over 100 local porters.

In the end, the sponsors let Shipton go and hired John Hunt. Hunt agreed with the sponsors' theories. The team carried the best in high-altitude boots, windproof clothing, lightweight but sturdy tents, special radios and walkie-talkies, Primus stoves, aluminum-alloy ladders for crevasses, ropes, and oxygen tanks. In many cases the team brought different types of equipment to see what worked best. This was just the beginning of the production of mountain gear. I hope this answers your question.

Question: Is the monastery occupied year-round? If so, how are supplies delivered?

Answer: Yes, the monastery is occupied by monks all year. A few years ago, it burned down because of an accident with a space heater. Donations were made from the Sherpa community and from people and foundations from all over the world. Then Tengpoche was rebuilt. Supplies are carried up to the monastery by porters who come from the Katmandu Valley. Sometimes equipment is flown to Lukla Airport (about 9,000') and then Sherpas and other porters carry things on their back. Sometimes yaks are also loaded with equipment and led to the monastery. Mail from abroad can take two months to reach the monks at Tengpoche.

Question: I am in the fifth grade and live in the city. Where and how could I learn to climb? I have been to camp in the summer, but nobody does climbing. Do you know any organizations that can teach young people about climbing? Also, how did you get in shape to climb in the Himalayas? How old were you when you first went?

Answer: I checked the Internet and found many mountaineering schools listed. You could start by searching the Net (under mountaineering school or rock-climbing school) and then ask schools for their brochures. Caution: Find out about a school before you sign up with them. Ask for references. Talk to your parents or guardians about this.

Another way to find a mountaineering school or camp is to ask your athletic coaches, teachers, or at sporting goods stores. You could write to tourist bureaus in such mountainous states as Vermont, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Colorado, Utah, or California (to mention only a few). They could send you brochures about mountaineering camps.

I was 27 when I first went to climb in Nepal. My mother and I went together; she was 51.

I live in a flat city with no hills so I could not practice high-altitude climbing. Still, I biked 20 miles per day, sometimes more, went running, did stretches and exercises at home, and wore my hiking boots around everywhere. Never go climbing with stiff, new boots. Break them in before you depart.

Question: How do you think your adventures with Sir Edmund Hillary have affected you?

Answer: If you are from Washington DC, I am doubly pleased you wrote. I was living in DC when I wrote my book on Sir Edmund Hillary. You pose an interesting question. When I first went to Nepal with my mother, I was on a mountain tour. I did not learn a great deal about the life of the Sherpas in the Everest region. I only learned about climbing at high altitude and about the scenery.

When I trekked with Sir Edmund, I was introduced to many Sherpas, several of whom became my friends. From watching Sir Edmund, I learned a great deal about his generosity to the Sherpas, and about theirs to him. By staying in the homes of Sherpas, I began to understand both the joys and the hardships of the famous mountain guides and their families. I departed with a feeling of warmth for the people who gave and gave and gave. I also departed with a feeling of shame over the environmental destruction that has taken place for me and all the other tourists who want to climb in the Himalayas.

I think often about the Solu-Khumbu that I love so much, and about my Sherpa friends, with whom I correspond regularly. Hillary's care and compassion inspired me to teach children about the people who live under Chomolungma.

Question: Has tourism brought "anything" good to the Sherpas? Better livelihood? And even more important, is there anything we can do from this country to help with the situation of both the land and the people? Is enough known about these people? Maybe a book should be written about these generous, laughing, gentle people.

Answer: There are a few books written about the Sherpas, and Tenzing Norgay wrote an autobiography called Tiger of the Snows.  Still, few people know much about their culture. Yes, the tourism has hurt their ecology, but it has brought employment to many Sherpas who would otherwise remain farmers and yak herders. Sir Edmund Hillary has set up his Himalayan Trust in order to finance schools and hospitals for the Sherpas. Anyone interested could donate to his trust or volunteer as a carpenter, doctor, or teacher in one of the Sherpa facilities. Thanks for asking!