Sierra Blogging Post Archives

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first climber to summit Everest, passed away peacefully at his home in New Zealand yesterday. He was 88. The extraordinary contributions he made to the climbing and outdoor community will not be forgotten.

Hillary was best known for his successful Everest summit with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. But his adventures didn't end there. After being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II upon his return from Nepal, he set his sights on Antarctica. He went on to lead the Trans-Antarctic expedition, reach the South Pole by tractor in 1958 and make the first ascent of Antarctica's Mt. Herschel in 1967. In later years, he would explore East Himalayan rivers and the Ganges.



But it's the work he did to benefit the Sherpas and environment of the Himalayas that are his most important achievements. Hillary's Himalayan Trust, established in 1961, has supported numerous schools, air strips, and hospitals in Nepal. Sir Hillary also campaigned tirelessly for numerous environmental causes in the region. He persuaded the Nepalese to declare the area surrounding Everest a national park and with funding from his native New Zealand, helped protect and manage it.

Sir Edmund Hillary was an explorer, an environmentalist and a humanitarian. May his generosity and love for the natural world be an enduring lesson for us all.