Best-known internationally as the first man to climb Mt. Everest in May with Tenzing Norgay, for the last 50 years he has devoted himself to environmental and humanitarian efforts that have made a profound difference to communities in Nepal where his famous summiting was achieved.
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 20 , his father a bee-keeper and mother a teacher, Hillary was educated at Auckland Grammar School and spent two years at Auckland University before joining his father in the honey production business. His first contact with mountains came through a skiing trip at High School but his interests soon changed with ten years of weekends and holidays spent making a number of difficult first ascents in New Zealand's mountainous regions.
This brought an invitation to join the British Everest reconnaissance party in September which discovered the route up the south side of Mt. Everest, which was later used in the successful ascent.
Hillary was back in the Himalayas again in with the British Cho Oyu expedition, and on 29th May with Tenzing Norgay, he reached the summit during the successful assault of the British Mount Everest Expedition. An extensive scientific and exploratory programme was undertaken and Hillary and four companions travelled overland with three modified farm tractors and became the first ever party with vehicles to reach the South Pole.
A search for the Yeti concluded the creature was largely mythological. Several difficult first ascents were made including Mt Amadablam 22, ft. Hillary himself suffered a minor cerebral stroke at 21, ft but made a complete recovery. During this expedition Hillary first took action on his growing concern for the Sherpa people's welfare.
