Unvarnished Heroes
Sir Edmund Hillary, dead at 88, having lived a full and rewarding life. Not as a celebrity figure, although he most certainly was that, but as a man who managed to fulfill his obligations to himself in the most noble terms, as a truly decent human being. There was no need for his exploits to be embellished; his prodigious feat of sheer will and determined strength gave him an unparalleled place in the history of human exploration and adventure.His motivation as uncomplicated as his own stalwart character. He was curious to determine the limits of his own capabilities and he was successful in enthusing the co-operation of another singular individual, drawn to geological anomalies and personal exploration - Tenzing Norgay. Together they proved themselves a formidable team.
Their mission not to dominate Everest or tame nature but to prove themselves to themselves.
And, having done so, to move on to other life-compelling enterprises. This was no "spiritual" quest for Sir Hillary, unlike the manner in which so many more recent summiteers describe the sacred element compelling their aspirations. This was a matter-of-fact practicality seeking to surmount the apparently insurmountable.
And they succeeded because they trusted one another as equal human beings, despite one having had the background of a developed-world outlook and education and the other, clearly not. They achieved their goal at great odds. No hands-up or pre-preparations or scouting ahead. No usefully installed ropes at particularly perilous, precipitous, parlous intervals.
No ladder-type footbridges carefully installed and maintained to assist in overcoming yawning chasms and icefields. No lightweight, modern apparel and equipment. Above all, no timely assistance at the juncture of the penultimate hurdle - the Hillary Step - for they relentlessly, fearlessly, pioneered it all.
Climbing Everest even with practised and experienced Western guides, Sherpas who haul the weight, set up tents, cook meals and prepare tea; give a helping hand, offer oxygen - remains a physically exhausting, mentally trying gamble against neutral yet capricious nature and her fearsome elements.
These unpretentious, curiosity-compelled, adventurers led the way for a cadre of similarly seeking men and women from many countries anxious to themselves experience the high of achieving the most elevated summit in the world. Edmund Hillary himself achieved no such exaltation of achievement, but rather the quiet satisfaction of having achieved his purpose; to prove himself to himself.
His later exploration adventures, although notable in scope and direction never managed to eclipse the appeal of summitting Mount Everest. But where this man demonstrated his true hero status was his devotion to the mountain's people, the Sherpa of Nepal. He organized an Himalaya Trust and worked to raise the equivalent of an annual quarter-million in funding.
And personally lent his time and strength and gratitude to building schools, hospitals, bridges, pipelines and an airfield. This represents his true legacy.
Labels: Environment, Heroes and Villains, World News
posted by Pieface @ Friday, January 11, 2008
<< Home