Friday, January 11, 2008

Sir Edmund Hillary 1919-2008

how do you like your blue-eyed boy mr death?


And tell Moi: what mavericks do we have left?

10 comments:

Doris Rose said...

clearly,mountain climbing is HELL on ones appearance--to whit: dry, wind burned,sun burned
un- moisturized skin(eeew). And the hair!oy, I can't even begin...
Bag that head in a mayonaise jar-stat.

Wicked Thistle said...

What a guy--full of enthusiasm, creativity, and humility. He took a stand on the absolute wrongness of leaving weakened climbers to fend for themselves on Everest and refused to take credit for being the first to top the big mountain until after his climbing companion had died. An adventurer and a gentleman, that one. So long, Ed.

moi said...

Doris:: Well, if it were down to a choice between wrinkles and conquoring Everest, I'd take Everest and damn the wrinkles!

Wicked: Last of a breed, that's for sure.

Karen said...

I love people with that much strength, courage and determination. RIP Edmund and may there be many more mountains to climb among the clouds.

Aunty Belle said...

I'se partial to mavericks wif' manners--the new patron saint of mountaineers. RIP.

But then...that means...hoo-whee! I'll ask him to git be back over to the Camino!! (wanna come anyone?)

Aunty Belle said...

A good article on Sir Edmund:
http://blog.oup.com/

sparringK9 said...

i love climbing stories though i myself have no desire to climb a mountain...er, at least an icy one requiring oxygen and sherpas. i read into thin air jon krakauers book on the fatefull climb where a bunch of climbers died. i loved it and marvelled at the selfishness of some of the climbers on that expedition. very un hillary. very.

the Dread Pirate Rackham said...

i love this comment.

did you know sir edmund was a beekeeper? true story. he was quite a man. there are few left.

I'm currently reading ed viestur's book - it's not the same.

ThursdayNext said...

I hate it when anyone born before 1940 passes away these days...that generation lost is felt so greatly. They were of different stock - strong, selfless, polite, conscientious...

moi said...

She and Pirate: I've read Krakauer and Viestur and all "those" guys. A marked difference in attitude, for sure.

Thursday: Me, too. I wonder, who are our future adventurers? And where do we go with that strength of character, curiosity, and joy? Into the world of insta text messaging? Commodities trading? Reality television show producing?