Just as Everest is a giant among mountains, Rick Wilcox, owner of International Mountain Climbing Equipment of North Conway and leader of the successful 1991 New England Everest Expedition, praised the late Sir Edmund Hillary as a man of great integrity who towered above others, both physically and in terms of his commitment to humanitarism.
On the eve of International Mountain Climbing School's 15th annual Ice Festival, ongoing through Feb. 10, Wilcox shared his thoughts on Hillary, 88, who along with Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay on May 29, 1953, became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of 29,035-foot Mount Everest.
kAmw:==2CJ[ H9@D6 w:>2=2J2 u@F?52E:@? D6E FA D49@@=D[ 3C:586D[ C@25D 2?5 9@DA:E2=D :? }6A2= 27E6C 9:D 762E[ H2D 92:=65 E96 H@C=5 @G6C H96? 96 A2DD65 2H2J 7C@> 2 962CE 2EE24< :? 9:D ?2E:G6 }6H +62=2?5 @? y2?] ``]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D E96 C:89E A6CD@? E@ 36 E96 7:CDE A6CD@? E@ 5@ H92E 96 5:5 96 925 E96 :?E68C:EJ[ E96 9F>2?:E2C:D> 2?5 E96 5C:G6 E@ 96=A @FE E96 A6@A=6 :? E96 tG6C6DE C68:@?] w6 DA6?E D:I >@?E9D @7 6G6CJ J62C :? }6A2= E96 C6DE @7 9:D 25F=E =:76[ D2:5 (:=4@I]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D E@E2==J 565:42E65 E@ :>AC@G:?8 E96 962=E9 2?5 65F42E:@?2= DE2?52C5D @7 A6@A=6 E96C6[ 2?5 9:D w:==2CJ u@F?52E:@? 3642>6 H@C=5H:56[ 25565 E96 t2E@? C6D:56?E[ H9@ H2D cb H96? 96 >256 9:D tG6C6DE 2D46?E[ H9:49 H2D 9:D adE9 6IA65:E:@? 2?5 9:D 7:7E9 w:>2=2J2? 4=:>3]k^Am
kAm~E96C >6>36CD @7 E96 }6H t?8=2?5 tIA65:E:@? E@ DF>>:E :?4=F565 |2C< #:496J[ q2CCJ #F8@ 2?5 E96 =2E6 *G6D {2u@C6DE[ E96 =2EE6C @7 H9@> H2D <:==65 H:E9 E9C66 @E96CD 2 76H J62CD 28@ :? 2 <2J2<:?8 244:56?E :? r2?252 :? 2? F?D4965F=65 52> C6=62D6]k^Am
kAm%96 7@FC }6H t?8=2?5 tIA65:E:@? >6>36CD H6C6 7@FC @7 E96 bg H9@ DF>>:E65 tG6C6DE :? `hh`]k^Am
kAmpE E96 6?5 @7 a__f[ :E H2D 36=:6G65 E92E >@C6 E92? b[e__ 925 D42=65 tG6C6DE[ 2?5 >@C6 E92? a__ 925 5:65 ECJ:?8]k^Am
kAm(96? w:==2CJ 5:65 =2DE >@?E9[ (:=4@I D2:5 96 H2D 42==65 3J >2?J C6A@CE6CD E9C@F89@FE E96 DE2E6[ 2D<:?8 9:> E@ C6=2E6 9:D E9@F89ED 23@FE 2 >2? H9@> 96 ?6G6C >6E[ 3FE H9@> 96 >F49 C6G6C65]k^Am
kAm{:<6 WE96 =2E6X sC] qC25 (2D93FC? W@7 q@DE@?VD |FD6F> @7 $4:6?46X[ 96 H2D @?6 @7 E9@D6 A:??24=6 7:8FC6D H9@ C62==J 5:5 D@>6E9:?8 H:E9 9:D =:76 2?5 H9@ C62==J 42C65] %96J 46CE2:?=J H6C6 3@E9 8@@5 C@=6 >@56=D 7@C E96 C6DE @7 FD[ D2:5 (:=4@I] %96C6 :D 2 82E96C:?8 :? $2? uC2?4:D4@ 6G6CJ J62C 7@C tG6C6DE DF>>:E6CD[ H9:49 :D 96=5 2D 2 7F?5\C2:D6C 7@C E96 p>6C:42? 5:G:D:@? @7 E96 w:>2=2J2? %CFDE] $:C t5>F?5 @7E6? 2EE6?565[ 3642FD6 96 H2D @?6 @7 E9@D6 <:?5 @7 8FJD[ 3FE[ 36:?8 2 525 H:E9 49:=5C6? 6:E96C :? @C 3@F?5 7@C 4@==686[ :EVD 2=H2JD 366? D@>6E9:?8 x H2?E65 E@ 5@ 3FE 5:5 ?@E 6G6C 86E E@]k^Am
kAmx 42>6 E9:D 4=@D6 E@ >66E:?8 9:> @?46[ 3FE :E 5:5?VE H@C< @FE[ =2>6?E65 (:=4@I]k^Am
kAmxEVD ?@ D64C6E E92E >@?6J :D ?@H 2 >2;@C 56E6C>:?:?8 724E@C :? H9@ 86ED E@ 4=:>3 E96 H@C=5VD E2==6DE A62<] p EC2865J @7 |2J ``[ `hhe H96? 6:89E A6@A=6 5:65 @? tG6C6DE[ :?4=F5:?8 8F:56D #@3 w2== 2?5 $4@EE u:D496C H2D 366? H6== 49C@?:4=65 3J y@? zC2<2F6C :? 9:D 36DE\D6==:?8 3@@<[ Qx?E@ %9:? p:C[Q 2?5 E96 5632E6 4@?E:?F6D E@52J H96E96C A6@A=6 @F89E E@ 36 2==@H65 @? E96 >@F?E2:? H9@D6 @?=J 2AA2C6?E BF2=:7:42E:@? :D E96:C 23:=:EJ E@ A2J 2 8F:56VD 766 E@ 86E E96> E@ E96 E@A]k^Am
kAm(:=4@I 62C=:6C E9:D H66< D2:5 96 H2D :?G:E65 E@ DA62< :? |2?92EE2? E9:D A2DE (65?6D52J[ u63] e[ 2E 2 4@?76C6?46^3@@<\D:8?:?8 @? E96 492?8:?8 EC6?5D :? 9@H A6@A=6 E@52J 4=:>3 tG6C6DE G6CDFD E96 w:==2CJ H2J]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H 3@@< :D Qw:89 rC:>6Di %96 u2E6 @7 tG6C6DE :? 2? p86 @7 vC665[Q 3J |:4926= z@52D[ 2 r@??64E:4FE HC:E6C H9@ H6?E @? 2 A2:5 8F:5:?8 4=:>3 @? tG6C6DE 2?5 925 2 =6DD E92? 6?;@J23=6 6IA6C:6?46[ 244@C5:?8 E@ (:=4@I]k^Am
kAmQw:89 rC:>6D @? tG6C6DEQ 7@4FD6D @? E96 9F86 ?F>36CD @7 A6@A=6 A2J:?8 8F:56D E@ 8@ E@ tG6C6DE]k^Am
kAm~G6C E96 A2DE 7@FC J62CD[ `[d__ A6@A=6 92G6 4=:>365 tG6C6DE[ D@ E96C6 2C6 ;FDE E96D6 2C>:6D @7 A6@A=6 4=:>3:?8 :E 2?5 2== E96 AC@3=6>D E92E 8@ H:E9 2C>:6D[ D2:5 (:=4@I AC:@C E@ E96 u63] e }6H *@C< r:EJ 4@?76C6?46]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 w:==2CJ H9@ H2D =@G:?8=J =2F565 3J 9:D 4@F?ECJ>6? 2D E96 "F:?E6DD6?E:2= z:H: 5:5 ?@E =:<6 E@ D66 E96 =2E6DE EC6?5 E@H2C5 9:C:?8 8F:56D E@ =625 :?6IA6C:6?465 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 ?@ C62= 3FD:?6DD 36:?8 @? E96 E@A @7 E96 H@C=5]k^Am
kAmw6 5:5 ?@E F?56CDE2?5 2E 2== H9J D@>6@?6 H@F=5 36 8F:565 FA tG6C6DE[ 2D :E :D ?@E E96 <:?5 @7 >@F?E2:? E92E J@F E2<6 F?BF2=:7:65 4=:>36CD E@] w6 76=E E96 9:896DE A=246 :? E96 H@C=5 :D ?@E 2 A=246 7@C 2>2E6FCD 2?5 368:??6CD] x7 J@F =@@< 2E E96 =:DE @7 E9@D6 ?@H 2D46?5:?8 :E H:E9 8F:56D[ E96C6 2C6 A6@A=6 H9@ 5@ ?@E <?@H 9@H E@ C2AA6= @C 9@H E@ E:6 :? E@ C@A6[ 3FE :7 E96J 92G6 6?@F89 >@?6J[ E96J 86E E@ 8@[ D2:5 (:=4@I[ H9@D6 6:89E\>2? 6IA65:E:@? DF4466565 :? 86EE:?8 92=7 E@ E96 DF>>:E :? |2J `hh`]k^Am
kAm(:=4@I D2JD E96 5:D2DEC@FD :?4:56?E @7 `hhe EFC?65 E96 8F:5:?8 3FD:?6DD 2C@F?5]k^Am
kAm%96 8F:5:?8 3FD:?6DD 8@E D276C 27E6C E96 6G6?ED @7 `hhe 3FE E96 562E9 E@== 2>@?8 2>2E6FCD 92D :?4C62D65 3642FD6 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 E62>D E92E 8@ 86?6C2==J 8@E >F49 =@H6C[ D2:5 (:=4@I]k^Am
kAmxE FD65 E@ 36 2 ?2E:@?VD E@A 4=:>36CD H6?E E@ 36 @? E96 E62>D ?@H :EVD H9@>6G6C 42? A2J] xE DA6==D 7@C =@ED @7 A6CD@?2=:EJ 4@?7=:4ED @? E96 >@F?E2:?] v62C 86ED DE@=6? 7C@> @?6 2?@E96Cj E96C6VD 2 3=:?5 CFD9 E@ E96 E@A G6CDFD 2 E62> DA:C:E] %96 4@?76C6?46 H2D E@ 255C6DD E9@D6 :DDF6D 2?5 H2JD E@ :>AC@G6 :E[ D2:5 (:=4@I]k^Am
kAm(:=4@I D2JD E96 =2E6DE EC6?5 92D @?=J :?4C62D65 9:D @H? D6?D6 @7 244@>A=:D9>6?E 2D E96 J62CD 92G6 8@?6 3J]k^Am
kAmx? >@F?E2:?66C:?8[ H6 42== E96 H2J J@F 5@ D@>6E9:?8 2D DEJ=6] xEVD E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 7=J:?8 E96 A=2?6 2?5 C:5:?8 :? E96 324< D62E[ D2:5 (:=4@I] x7 J@F =6E E96 $96CA2D @C 8F:56D 42CCJ J@FC A24<[ 2?5 D6E J@FC C@A6D[ J@FVC6 C:5:?8 :? E96 324< D62E] ~? @FC EC:A @? E96 >@F?E2:?[ H6 5:5 ?@E FD6 $96CA2D 23@G6 r2>A aj H6 @?=J 925 7@FC $96CA2D 7@C E96 6:89E @7 FD] p?5 7@FC @7 E96 6:89E @7 FD >256 :E E@ E96 E@A[ D@ 92=7 :D 8@@5]k^Am
kAm(6 2=D@ 2== 42>6 324< 2D 7C:6?5D 3642FD6 H6 925 4=:>365 E@86E96C 367@C6 2?5 H6 H6C6 2 E62> @7 7C:6?5D] &?=:<6 H92EVD 8@:?8 @? E@52J[ H96? A6@A=6 DE62= @? E96 >@F?E2:? @C 2C6 :? 2 CFD9 E@ 86E E@ E96 E@A[ H6 5@?VE ?665 E@ HC:E6 3@@<D 23@FE 9@H H6 92E6 6249 @E96C] (6 5:5 :E E96 @=5\72D9:@?65 H2J[ D2:5 (:=4@I[ 255:?8[ E96 w:==2CJ H2J]k^Am
kAm(:=4@I H2D ;@:?65 E9:D H66< 2E x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? tBF:A>6?E 3J 9:D 7C:6?5[ G:D:E:?8 4=:>36C %D652> $96CA2 @7 E96 G:==286 @7 }2>496 q2K22C]k^Am
kAm%D952> 2D 2 3@J 2EE6?565 E96 w:==2CJ D49@@= :? 9:D G:==286[ 2?5 ?@H CF?D x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? tBF:A>6?E }6A2=]k^Am
kAmw6 2=D@ @A6C2E6D 2 C6DE2FC2?E 2?5 9@E6= E96C6[ 3@E9 @7 H9:49 2C6 FD65 3J x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? r=:>3:?8 $49@@= H96? (:=4@IVD D49@@= D6?5D EC6<<6CD E@ }6A2= 6G6CJ J62C]k^Am
kAmw6 5@6D E96 H9@=6 E9:?8 2?5 E96 G2==6J 92D 96=A65 E@ 3C:?8 9:D <:5D 96C6 E@ 8@ E@ D49@@= 2E uCJ63FC8 p4256>J[ D2:5 (:=4@I[ ?@E:?8 E92E %D652>VD D@? :D ?@H :? 4@==686 :? |2DD249FD6EED 3FE 2EE6?565 E96 24256>J 2?5 E92E 9:D 52F89E6C :D 2E E96 uCJ63FC8 D49@@= ?@H]k^Am
kAm(:=4@I D2JD E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2=D@ 96=A65 2?@E96C $96CA2VD 49:=5C6? :? E96 A2DE]k^Am
kAmw6 H2D 5:D4@G6C65 3J >J 525 WE96 #6G] s:4< (:=4@I @7 t2E@?X 2?5 >J >@> Wy62? (:=4@IX :? `hgg[ H96? E96J 244@>A2?:65 FD :? }6A2= @? 2 EC6< E@ tG6C6DE 32D6 42>A] |J 525 D2:5 E92E %D652> D9@F=5 4@>6 2?5 G:D:E] w6VD 366? 96C6 6G6CJ J62C D:?46[ D2:5 (:=4@I]k^Am
kAm%96 4=:>3:?8 4@>>F?:EJ :? E96 A2DE 2=D@ 92D 2DD:DE65 &C86? $96CA2[ 2?@E96C 4=:>36C 7C@> E96 C68:@?[ E@ 92G6 9:D EH@ 49:=5C6? 8@ E@ uCJ63FC8 p4256>J]k^Am
kAm&C86? $96CA2 D6CG6D 2D E96 EC2G6= 286?E 7@C x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? r=:>3:?8 $49@@=VD 4=:>3:?8 EC:AD E@ }6A2=]k^Am
kAm%96 G:56@[ Q%9:? p:Ci %96 $E@CJ @7 E96 `hh` }6H t?8=2?5 tG6C6DE tIA65:E:@?[Q AC@5F465 3J %9@> !@==2C5 @7 tJ6D ~A6? !C@5F4E:@?D @7 y24<D@?[ :D ?@H 2G2:=23=6 2E x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? tBF:A>6?E :? 2 s's 7@C>2E]k^Am
kAm!@==2C5 2=D@ C646?E=J 4@>A=6E65 H@C< @? 2 ?6H AC@5F4E:@?[ Qp=2D<2? #6>:?:D46?46Dj e_ *62CD @7 p5G6?EFC6[Q @? E96 =:G6D @7 6DE66>65 4=:>36CD[ >2A>2<6CD 2?5 25G6?EFC6CD q2C32C2 2?5 E96 =2E6 sC] qC25 (2D93FC?[ E96 =2EE6C @7 H9@> A2DD65 2H2J :? y2?F2CJ a__f]k^Am
kAm!@==2C5 82G6 2 AC6D6?E2E:@? @? 9:D ?6H G:56@ @? sC] (2D93FC?[ 2 7C6BF6?E |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J G:D:E@C[ 2E E96 p>6C:42? p=A:?6 r=F3VD 565:42E:@? @7 E96 (2D93FC? |FD6F> :? v@=56?[ r@=@][ E9:D H66<]k^Am
kAmQ|J 7:=> :D 7F== @7 2C49:G2= 7:=> 7C@> qC25VD 4@==64E:@?[ >J 7:=> H@C< H:E9 qC25 :? p=2D<2 2?5 2E 9:D 9@>6[ 2D H6== 2D A2CED @7 :?E6CG:6HD x 5:5 C646?E=J H:E9 s2G:5 #@36CED WHC:E:?8 2 3:@ @? qC25 7@C }2E v6@X[ |2C< #:496J W2 >6>36C @7 E96 `hh` }6H t?8=2?5 tG6C6DE tIA65:E:@? 2?5 2 A2DE AC6D:56?E @7 E96 p>6C:42? p=A:?6 r=F3X 2?5 %@?J s642?62D W!2?@AE:4@? v2==6CJX] |J 8@2= :D E@ 7:?5 4@==64E:G6 :?E6C6DE :? 7:?5:?8 DF77:4:6?E 6?@F89 7F?5:?8 E@ AC@5F46 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 5@4F>6?E2CJ 23@FE qC25] (:E9 E96 >FD6F> :ED6=7[ E96 ppr[ 2?5 E96 >2;@C 5@?@CD[ x 2> :? 2 8C62E A=246 E@ >2<6 E92E 92AA6?[ D2:5 !@==2C5 E9:D H66<]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE E96 >FD6F> @C E96 7:=>[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]2>6C:42?2=A:?64=F3]@C8QmHHH]2>6C:42?2=A:?64=F3]@C8k^2m @C k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]6J6D@A6?AC@5F4E:@?D]4@>QmHHH]6J6D@A6?AC@5F4E:@?D]4@>k^2m]k^Am
kAmu@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 x?E6C?2E:@?2= |@F?E2:? r=:>3:?8 $49@@=VD 2??F2= x46 u6DE E2<:?8 A=246 E9:D H66<6?5[ 42== We_bX bde\f_ec]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.