Sunday, January 13, 2008
Sir Edmund Hillary and Antarctica
Most people know Sir Edmund Hillary for his accomplishment of being the first to climb to the top of Mount Everest. What most people do not know is that he was also did a lot of exploring in Antarctica. Almost exactly 50 years ago he reached the South Pole. The flag was placed at half mast a few days ago at New Zealand's Scott Base, which he was involved in establishing, as a symbol of one of New Zealand's greatest explorers passing on January 11, 2008. He died of a heart attack at the age of 88 after a period of ill health. Sir Edmund's last trip to Antarctica was last January to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Scott Base.