Celebrating the 60th anniversary of reaching Everest summit

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of reaching Everest’s summit: free talk at Auckland Museum with Sarah Hillary and mountaineer Peter Cammell

On 29 May 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mt Everest - a feat that was recognised around the globe and widely celebrated in Britain where the news of the success of the British-led expedition coincided with the Queen's Coronation.

This Wednesday (29 May) night – 60 years to the day after Sir Ed and Tenzing reached the summit - Auckland Museum is hosting a free talk to mark the occasion with Sir Ed's daughter Sarah Hillary and mountaineer Peter Cammell.

Sarah will share some insights about her father and life after that momentous achievement that echoed around the world and focus on a personal perspective on her parents’ trip to Nepal in 1961.

"Ed really liked people and nature. That's why he kept going back (to Nepal), it wasn't just about climbing mountains. He did like adventures but a big part of the enjoyment was the connections with other people, having a good time, pushing yourself and doing something useful on the way," says Sarah Hillary.

Sarah says it was evident that Sir Ed took great pleasure from seeing the changes they were able to make for the people of Nepal through the Himalayan Trust which he founded in 1960.

“He felt he could really make a difference and you see that in his letters, when they were able to stop the flow of a smallpox epidemic for example. From what were very simple actions he saw you could really help people."

Peter, a qualified alpine and rock instructor and past president of the New Zealand Alpine Club, climbed Everest in June last year and will share what it's like to stand on top of the world's tallest peak.

With very recent memories of his own climb, Peter says he felt very close to the stories and the history of Sir Ed's climb while he was on Everest.

"On arrival at Base Camp in early April 2012 I paused and contemplated the scene before me. It was different, but the same as Ed must have seen on the Reconnaissance expedition 1951.

"I was elated and excited climbing the Lhotse Face, remembering George Lowe cutting steps with Ed. I climbed the Hillary Step, bridging between the steep rock and snow arête of the Kangshung face, just like Ed did. I was climbing in the footsteps of history and all the stories came alive for me."

Through his trips to the Khumbu Valley Peter has also seen the incredible results of the Himalayan Trust endeavours.

Sir Edmund Hillary’s diary is also being shared daily on the Auckland Museum blog:
http://blog.aucklandmuseum.com/category/exhibitions/hillarys-diary/

The free exhibition From The Summit – Hillary’s Enduring Legacy, focusing on the 1953 expedition and featuring a multimedia scale model of Everest, is open now:
http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/1854/the-summit-exhibition

Ascending Everest
Expert Session with Sarah Hillary and mountaineer Peter Cammell
Wednesday 29 May
6PM Exhibition opens
7-8.30PM
Auditorium
Auckland Museum
Bookings recommended. Book at ticket desks, email bookings@aucklandmuseum.com or phone 09 306 7048.

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