Sir Edmund Hillary: The Mountaineering Legend

Zeenews Bureau

Wellington, Jan 11: Mountaineering legend, Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered the enormous Mount Everest along with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa died on Friday of a heart attack at the age of 88. He was the first conqueror of the peak. Hillary scaled the world`s highest mountain in 1953. He was New Zealand`s best-known son and his picture also adorns the country`s five-dollar note. A heroic figure, who not only scaled the Everest, but also lived a life of determination, humility, and generosity. After Everest, Hillary led a number of expeditions to the South Pole and the Himalayas, and devoted his time to helping Nepal`s Sherpa people who live in the shadow of Everest. Hillary was also a philanthropist. His trust, the Himalaya Trust raises about USD 250,000 a year and he personally helped build schools, hospitals, bridges, pipelines and even an airfield for the Sherpas. The legacy of Sir Edmund Hillary will live on. His exploits continue to inspire new generations of the world, as they have for more than half a century already. Timeline

Hillary was born in 1919

Joined Airforce in 1943 as a Navigator

His first conquest was Mt Cook in the year 1947

Climbed the Austrian and Swiss Alps in 1949

Was part of a British reconnaissance expedition to Everest in 1951

Conquered Mount Everest in 1953 with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa

Knighted in the same year for his achievement

Published his book ‘High Adventure’ in 1955

Published ‘East of Everest’ in 1956

In 1958 led a team to south pole

In 1961Began fundraising and charity work, built a school

In 1977, he along with his son Peter joined the From the Ocean to the Sky adventure

In 1987, Tenzing Norgay in his Biography mentioned it to the world that Hillary reached the peak first

In 1999, wrote A View from the Summit.

2003 was the 50th anniversary of the conquest of Mt Everest, it was celebrated with huge fanfare

In 2007, Hillary travelled to Antarctica for the last time to mark his historic Journey there and the establishment of Scott Base

Died on 11 January 2008