Mountain Peaks and Hollows

By: Kim Packard

Created August 2012

Arms of Edmund Hillary with prayer wheels

In 1953, the dream of conquering Everest was finally achieved by New Zealand mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and his Nepali Sherpa companion Tenzing Norgay . “We mountain climbers always help each other.” E.H.

George Mallory is famously quoted as having replied to the question “Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?” with the retort “Because it’s there”, which has been called “the most famous three words in mountaineering”.

“If you climb a mountain for the first time and die on the descent, is it really a complete first ascent of the mountain? I am rather inclined to think personally that maybe it is quite important, the getting down, and the complete climb of a mountain is reaching the summit and getting safely to the bottom again.” Edmund Hillary

Tenzing-Hillary Airport

Cerro Torre

Seven Summits

Great north faces of the Alps

History of mountaineering

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes Tanzania

Mauna Kea Hawaii Island, Hawaii

Leuka Ori Crete, Greece

Montagne Sainte-Victoire Provence, France

Climbing and Philosophy Interview

Mountain film

Religion-Spirituality Mountain Climb Allegory Jacob Needleman speaks of a mountain that is very high, and being at the top of the mountain is being with God. The base of this mountain is so broad that it extends out to several different climate zones. People in the arctic climate have a tradition about how to climb the mountain, wearing a parka with snowshoes and goggles, etc. The people in the tropical zone teach how it is necessary to wear short pants and a pith helmet with mosquito netting. The people in the arctic, by the time they get halfway up the mountain find that it is warmer than they had thought, so they shed some of their outerwear. The people from the tropics find the need to go back to get a sweater. By the time they get to the top, they’re all dressed in a similar way because there is only one top. The problem Needleman cautions about is when people walk around the base of the mountain arguing with each other about the proper way to dress for the journey. speaks of a mountain that is very high, and being at the top of the mountain is being with God.