28 moments

1. Birth in Auckland

   1919-07-20 · Auckland, New Zealand

   Edmund Percival Hillary was born in Auckland, beginning the life of the New Zealand mountaineer and explorer.

2. Family move to Tuakau

   1920-01-01 · Tuakau, Waikato, New Zealand

   Hillary moved with his family to Tuakau, south of Auckland, after his father received returned-serviceman land. Only the year is supported.

3. Move to Remuera

   1935-01-01 · Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand

   The Hillary family relocated to Remuera, Auckland, during his final year at Auckland Grammar School. Representative coordinates for the suburb.

4. School trip to Mount Ruapehu

   1935-01-01 · Mount Ruapehu, Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

   At age 16, Hillary made a school trip to Mount Ruapehu, an early formative encounter with snow and mountain travel. The source supports the year but not a more precise date.

5. First major climb: Mount Ollivier

   1939-01-01 · Mount Ollivier, Canterbury, New Zealand

   Hillary completed his first major climb by reaching the summit of Mount Ollivier near Aoraki / Mount Cook. The source supports the year only.

6. RNZAF posting in Fiji

   1945-01-01 · Fiji

   

   During World War II, Hillary was sent to Fiji as a Royal New Zealand Air Force navigator. Coordinates are a representative point in Suva because the specific Fijian posting site is not stated.

7. RNZAF posting in the Solomon Islands

   1945-01-01 · Solomon Islands

   

   Hillary was posted to the Solomon Islands during wartime service and was badly burned in an accident there. Coordinates are a representative point in Honiara because the specific posting site is not stated.

8. First ascent of Aoraki / Mount Cook

   1948-01-01 · Aoraki / Mount Cook, Canterbury, New Zealand

   Hillary made his first ascent of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook. The source supports the year but not a more precise date.

9. Climb of the Jungfrau

   1949-01-01 · Jungfrau, Bernese Alps, Switzerland

   While in Europe for his sister’s wedding, Hillary climbed the Jungfrau in the Swiss Alps. The source supports the year only.

10. Garhwal Himalayan expedition

    1951-01-01 · Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

    Hillary took part in a New Zealand expedition in the Garhwal Himalaya that climbed five peaks above 6,000 metres. Coordinates are a representative point for the Garhwal Himalaya; the expedition’s individual peaks are not specified.

11. Summit of Mount Everest

    1953-05-29 · Mount Everest summit, Nepal–China border

    

    Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, completing the first confirmed ascent. Coordinates mark the summit on the Nepal–China border.

12. Everest-expedition reception in Kathmandu

    1953-06-22 · Kathmandu, Nepal

    

    Hillary attended the Nepalese government reception for the Everest expedition and received a jewelled kukri. Coordinates represent central Kathmandu; the reception venue is not specified.

13. Marble Point airstrip landing

    1957-01-01 · Marble Point, Victoria Land, Antarctica

    

    Hillary accompanied the first aircraft to land at the Marble Point ground airstrip in Antarctica. Evidence is a contemporaneous image caption; only the year is supported.

14. Arrival at the South Pole

    1958-01-04 · Geographic South Pole, Antarctica

    

    Leading the New Zealand section of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Hillary reached the South Pole overland. Longitude is conventional at the Geographic South Pole.

15. Explorer of the Year banquet

    1959-01-01 · New York City, New York, United States

    Hillary travelled to New York to address the Argosy magazine Explorer of the Year award banquet. Coordinates represent central New York City; the banquet venue is not stated.

16. World Book meeting in Chicago

    1959-10-01 · Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Hillary met World Book representatives in Chicago, securing support for the Himalayan Scientific and Mountaineering Expedition. Coordinates represent central Chicago; the meeting venue is not stated.

17. Yeti-scallop examination trip

    1960-12-01 · Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Hillary and Desmond Doig brought a purported Yeti scalp from the Khumbu region to Chicago for examination. Coordinates represent central Chicago; the specific destination is not stated.

18. Illness on Makalu

    1961-05-04 · Makalu, Nepal–China border

    During the Silver Hut expedition’s Makalu attempt, Hillary became ill at Camp 4 and descended from the mountain. Coordinates mark Makalu; the exact location of Camp 4 is not supplied by the source.

19. Hospital-building work at Phaphlu

    1975-03-01 · Phaphlu, Solukhumbu, Nepal

    Hillary was in Phaphlu assisting construction of a hospital when his wife and daughter were travelling to join him. The source establishes Hillary was in Phaphlu by 31 March but does not supply his arrival date; month precision is used.

20. Ocean to Sky expedition at the Ganges mouth

    1977-01-01 · Ganges River mouth, West Bengal, India

    Hillary led the Ocean to Sky jet-boat expedition from the mouth of the Ganges toward its Himalayan source. Coordinates are a representative point at the Ganges delta mouth; the precise launch point is not stated.

21. East Face Everest attempt

    1981-01-01 · East Face of Mount Everest, Tibet Autonomous Region, China

    Altitude sickness during an attempt on Everest’s east face led Hillary to conclude that his major mountaineering years were over. Coordinates represent Everest’s summit area because the source does not identify the expedition’s exact position on the east face.

22. North Pole ski-plane landing

    1985-01-01 · Geographic North Pole, Arctic Ocean

    Hillary accompanied Neil Armstrong on a ski-plane trip over the Arctic Ocean and landed at the North Pole. Longitude is conventional at the Geographic North Pole; the source supports the year only.

23. Arrival as High Commissioner in New Delhi

    1985-02-01 · New Delhi, India

    Hillary arrived in New Delhi to begin service as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal. Coordinates represent central New Delhi; the residence or High Commission site is not specified.

24. Marriage to June Mulgrew

    1989-11-30 · Auckland, New Zealand

    

    After returning to New Zealand, Hillary married June Mulgrew in Auckland. Coordinates represent central Auckland; the ceremony venue is not stated.

25. Honorary-citizenship ceremony

    2003-01-01 · Kathmandu, Nepal

    

    At the fiftieth anniversary of the Everest ascent, Hillary received honorary Nepalese citizenship at a ceremony in Kathmandu. The source supports the year but not a more precise date.

26. Scott Base anniversary visit

    2007-01-01 · Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica

    Despite frail health, Hillary visited Scott Base with a delegation marking its fiftieth anniversary. The source supports month precision.

27. Kathmandu trip and fall

    2007-04-22 · Kathmandu, Nepal

    During a trip to Kathmandu, Hillary suffered a fall; he was hospitalized after returning to New Zealand. Coordinates represent central Kathmandu; the precise site of the fall is not stated.

28. Death at Auckland City Hospital

    2008-01-11 · Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand

    

    Hillary died of heart failure at Auckland City Hospital at age 88.