It's not often in life we see living legends. Sir Edmund Hillary was one such man. His most obvious achievement was climbing Mount Everest, however this was just the beginning of an amazing life.
Hillary had no great advantages coming from no famous family or riches and wealth, born an average pleb in Auckland, New Zealand. He was just an average man who accomplished amazing things. Climbing Everest merely being one of many. He and his Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay were the first to climb the tallest mountain in the world. They climbed into the death zone on primitive oxygen systems and through unchartered territory - such as the Hillary step. Unlike modern climber who have teams of Sherpas to lay out ropes, - and ladders on the Hillary step - Hillary had no such help - having to cut out steps with ice ax every step of the way and having to climb the step. The only advantage compared to modern climbers is that they didn't have to wait in queques to get to the top - in fact today Everest is over crowded with climbers such is the desire of many to repeat the feat - however even today with modern technology the price of the climb often results in death - which only goes to highlight the magnitude of the achievement over 50 years ago.
Many would have been satisfied with that achievement and gladly entered retirement. Hillary having seen that the people of Nepal didn't have schools and hospitals spent time and effort to get them built forming the Himalayan Trust. He also drove the first motor vehicle to Antarctica and traveled the River Ganges from mouth to source. He represented the adventurer spirit that people like to think they have. He later served as the NZ high commissioner to India.
He achieved numerous honors in his life such as the order of the Garter, Knight commander of the order of the British empire, and member of the order of New Zealand. He was probably one of the most decorated persons outside of royalty and military endeavors. He appears on the New Zealand $5 note and giving his passing it is unlikely that anyone will replace him in that honor.
Edmund Hillary represented everything good about New Zealand - it is a shame he and that old New Zealand is passing away into history.