EDITORIAL Famous feat brought pure joy on Everest

• Published date: 29 May 2023
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent to the top of the 8849m Mt Everest with sherpa Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953, remains inspiring, despite concerns around climbing the world’s highest mountain

Getting there in 1953 was a result of struggle and teamwork with the two tethered to the same rope. Both wrote afterwards that they took turns in leading on the way up.

Hillary thawed out frozen-solid boots over the camp stove at 8500m for the final push to the top. The pair were close together at the end, with Hillary slightly ahead.

Despite the inevitable glory attached to being ‘first’, both were keen to stress the collaborative nature of the expedition, and their names are immortalised together.

Sir Edmund’s son Peter Hillary told the Times: “They did it together. That had been their agreement. They were an outstanding team to [reach] the top of the world.”

It’s a humble attitude from today’s viewpoint where cults of personality and commercial branding hang around billionaire tech tycoon explorers.

Most major achievements then and now involve teamwork even if one or some people are out front for the project. Behind the captain of a ship are more officers and others who contribute to decision-making. There were nine climbers in the main Everest expedition group and dozens of other people, backed by hundreds of porters. A Times reporter there wrote of the reaction when Hillary and Tenzing returned to camp: “It was a moment so thrilling, so vibrant, that the...