Edmund Hillary

Worksheets

Edmund Hillary Facts

Edmund Hillary was a modern explorer and mountaineer who first reached the peak of Mount Everest in 1953, along with Tibetan Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay.

Early Life★ Edmund Percival Hillary was born on July 20, 1919, in Auckland,

New Zealand. Along with his parents, Percival and Gertrude, young Edmund spent most of his childhood in a small village of Tuakau. He was a shy child who loved reading books.

★ He attended Auckland Grammar School and valued education because his mother was a school teacher.

★ At the age of 16, he discovered his interest in mountain climbing during a school ski trip to Mount Ruapehu.

Edmund Hillary FactsMountain Climbing and the Peak of Everest★ While studying at the University of Auckland, Hillary joined outdoor

activity clubs including mountain climbing. At the age of 20, he had his first major climb at Mount Ollivier, in the Southern Alps of New Zealand.

★ During WWII, he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. After the war, Edmund and his brother, Rex, became beekeepers like their father.

★ In January 1948, Hillary started climbing New Zealand’s highest peaks. Three years later, he joined the British expedition to Mount Everest along with over 400 other members. The ninth attempt, led by John Hunt, was a success.

Edmund Hillary (left) and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay (right)

★ On May 29, 1953, at exactly 11:30 a.m, Hillary, accompanied by Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, reached the 29,029-foot peak of Mount Everest.

★ They were the first to climb to “the top of the world.” After their success, a 40-foot rock wall was named Hillary’s Step. At the summit, Hillary buried a crucifix while Norgay was photographed holding his ax with the flag of India, Britain, Nepal and the United Nations.

★ On the eve of Elizabeth II’s coronation, the successful summit to Mount Everest was announced.

Edmund Hillary Facts★ On January 4, 1958, Hillary led the New Zealand Division of the

Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition as they reached the South Pole using tractors. In addition, he was among the first to climb Mount Hershel in 1967.

★ In 1977, he traversed the Ganges from the Himalayas.

Later Life, Death, and Legacy

Edmund Hillary (left) and Neil Armstrong (right)

★ In 1985, two of the modern explorers, Hillary and astronaut Neil Armstrong, made history when they reached the North Pole using a small twin-engine plane. Hillary became the first person to stand on both poles, plus the “third pole,” the Everest summit.

★ From 1985 to 1988, he served as New Zealand’s high commissioner to Nepal, Bangladesh and India. Moreover, Hillary established the Himalayan Trust, a foundation helping the Sherpa people by building schools, hospitals and transportation hubs.

★ In 2003, during the 50th anniversary of reaching the summit, Hillary became an honorary citizen of Nepal.

★ During his later years, he wrote a number of books detailing his adventures, including High Adventure (1955), No Latitude for Error (1961) and The Crossing of Antarctica (1958).

★ On January 11, 2008, Sir Edmund Hillary, age 88, died of heart failure in Auckland.

Mount Everest Explorer

Name:

Early Life

Everest Expedition

Interests

Public Recognition

Legacy

Newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II bestowed Edmund Hillary and other members of the Everest expedition with coronation medals for their achievement. Can you fill in information about Hillary?

To the PeakName:

1919

1939

1951

1977

1935

1948

1953

2008

In New Zealand, mountain climbers are often called ‘trampers.’ When Hillary was 16, he discovered his love for hiking. Can you complete his timeline?

Hillary to the Top of the World

Name:

1.

3.

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3.Which country organized the first successful expedition to reach the top of Mt. Everest?4.What part of the world did Hillary lead an expedition using motor vehicles?5. What was his job before he conquered Everest?

1.What country was Edmund Hillary born in?2.Who accompanied Hillary on his expedition to reach the summit of Mt. Everest?

Time magazine named Edmund Hillary as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Complete the crossword about his adventures.

A Mountain to Climb

Name:

Geography Weather History

In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the Earth’s highest peak. Do some research and tell us something about Mount Everest.

Mt. Everest Climbers

Name:

May 29,1953Name:Country:Record Name: Picture

May 21,2004

PictureName:Country:Record Name:

May 23, 2013

PictureName:Country:Record Name:

May 30, 2005

PictureName:Country:Record Name:

May 21, 2002

PictureName:Country:Record Name:

First climbers confirmed as having reached the summit.

Cancer survivor with one lung climbs world’s tallest peak.

Fastest ascent from Everest south Base Camp with supplemental oxygen.

Oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

First two people to marry on top of Mount Everest.

Since Hillary and Norgay’s successful summit, professional mountain climbers around the world attempt to reach the summit of Everest every year. Complete the profiling.

The Highest MountainName:

D F V V G A H B N F A S A Y

C O M O U N T E V E R E S T

V N L J H R G X S X S K R O

M A K A L U T F H K G A R L

N N W Q T P Z X C V G B O J

B G R D H A U L A G I R I M

S A C D V N A W S D F U O G

S P R M A N A S L U Y I P B

F A S D F A S F H F S S D D

E R G G N N C H O O Y U F S

C B D F G V V N T V N F F B

D A F H N U P T S E B B V A

A T Q C S X C V E X E W R B

In the 1950s and ’60s, Edmund Hillary successfully climbed the peaks of over 10 mountains in the Himalayas. Can you find some mountain peaks in the grid below?

Goddess of the SkyName:

1. Before it was named after Sir George Everest in 1865, Mt. Everest was first

known simply as “Peak 16”.

2. The Mt. Everest in Tibet it is known as Sagarmatha meaning “Forehead or Goddess of the Sky.

3.Avalanches are the foremost cause of death, followed by falls.

4. Climbers can suffer acute altitude sickness as well as frostbite and hypothermia.

5. The Indian mathematician Reinhold Messner was the first to put a figure on the height of the mountain.

Prior to Hillary’s successful summit, several expeditions led by different countries failed. Read the statements about Mount Everest, color the mountain with BLUE if correct and RED if false.

All FirstName:

First woman to reach the summit.

First person to reach the summit from a different route.

First to descend on a snowboard.

First person with Down’s Syndrome to reach Everest Camp.

First twins to summit Mt. Everest together.

First to recite national anthem at Mt. Everest.

Edmund Hillary was not only the first person to reach the peak of Mount Everest, he was also the first to stand at both the North and South Pole. Look for other firsts related to climbing Everest.

Modern Explorers

Name:

In 1985, Edmund Hillary and Neil Armstrong made history after flying to the North Pole using a small twin-engine plane. Complete your book of modern explorers using the categories.

SPACEUNDERWATER

AERONAUTICS

LAND

News on Top!

Name:

Mountaineers Tom Bourdillon and Charles Evans were the preceding attempt to reach the peak of Everest. After studying Edmund Hillary, write a news headline highlighting his legacy and achievements.

NEWS ON TOP!

TITLE:

About you:_____________________________________________

“Life’s a bit of mountaineering - never look down.”-Edmund Hillary