At 11:30am on May 29, 1953, an everyday average beekeeper from New Zealand named Sir Edmond Percival Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to reach the summit of the 29,035-foot Mount Everest. Yesterday, Hillary died at age 88.
I have been fascinated by Sir Edmond ever since I was a young child. His dedication, leadership, passion, and continued love of adventure taught me to dream big and do more in the process. My fascination of Hillary’s adventures over the years continues to this day. My long-standing fascination is based on two simple statements he made after his climb:
First, “People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.”
And second, “It is not the mountains,” Hillary was quoted as saying that they conquered, “but ourselves.”
He will be missed by millions of adventurers.
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