Sir Edmund was such a down-to-earth person that his phone number was listed in the phone book. I looked it up when we were vacationing in Auckland, but I never called him. He probably wouldn’t have been home anyway, because he spent so much time raising funds for, and building, health clinics and schools in Nepal. To the end of his life, he always listed his occupation as “bee keeper”.
He climbed ten other peaks in the Himalayas, was part of the first expedition to the South Pole to make it using motor vehicles (and the first to make it at all since Robert Scott in 1912), made it to the North Pole, first to travel the length of the Ganges by jet boat.
I remember when he did it. Like I remember the first 4-minute mile. And the first artificial satellite. And a bunch of other things we now take for granted.
Good Caulfield question, acknowledgement of that fact by a veteran pedagogue and a good punchline. I’m a sucker for groaners, they’re usually found in the comments, one of the reasons I enjoy coming here.
“Getting to the BOTTOM is an important part, too.” —Edmund Hillary, widely thot to be the 1st person to reach the top of Mount Everest (in 1953), remark upon being informed in 1999 that George Mallory might have reached the summit in 1924 but froze to death on the way back
Quick: Four-minute mile. Give me a name.Quick: Everest. Give me a name.
I bet you came up with Roger Bannister and Sir Edmund Hillary, even though there’s been a parade of sub-4 runners and Everest summiteers since*. Shoot, I couldn’t even tell you who the current record holder in the mile is, and I follow running. I don’t even know if there is a “best” climb up Everest, or even one that’s all that good anymore.
All of which seems to say that if you can be the best at something, good on you and enjoy it while it lasts. If you want to be remembered, it’s best to be the first.______________*Though I’d love to see someone short-roped to a 4-minute mile. That would be something.
starfighter441 about 5 years ago
Oh well played Frazz, well played.
Kind&Kinder about 5 years ago
You’ll be punished for that, Frazz!
GreasyOldTam about 5 years ago
Sir Edmund was such a down-to-earth person that his phone number was listed in the phone book. I looked it up when we were vacationing in Auckland, but I never called him. He probably wouldn’t have been home anyway, because he spent so much time raising funds for, and building, health clinics and schools in Nepal. To the end of his life, he always listed his occupation as “bee keeper”.
GreasyOldTam about 5 years ago
He climbed ten other peaks in the Himalayas, was part of the first expedition to the South Pole to make it using motor vehicles (and the first to make it at all since Robert Scott in 1912), made it to the North Pole, first to travel the length of the Ganges by jet boat.
JonGl Premium Member about 5 years ago
Boo! Hiss!!! Wish I’d thought of it. ;-)
pschearer Premium Member about 5 years ago
I remember when he did it. Like I remember the first 4-minute mile. And the first artificial satellite. And a bunch of other things we now take for granted.
cervelo about 5 years ago
Good Caulfield question, acknowledgement of that fact by a veteran pedagogue and a good punchline. I’m a sucker for groaners, they’re usually found in the comments, one of the reasons I enjoy coming here.
matzam Premium Member about 5 years ago
plus most likely it was Tensing who actually reached the summit first.
sandpiper about 5 years ago
Great pun, Frazz. But even better question from Caulfield. And, given Hilary’s history, I suspect the answer is yes to both parts of the question.
The Legend of Brandon Sawyer Premium Member about 5 years ago
Is this a step backwards or forwards for Caulfield?
Richard S Russell Premium Member about 5 years ago
“Getting to the BOTTOM is an important part, too.” —Edmund Hillary, widely thot to be the 1st person to reach the top of Mount Everest (in 1953), remark upon being informed in 1999 that George Mallory might have reached the summit in 1924 but froze to death on the way back
pnmiq about 5 years ago
Watch out, Pastis.
michiganmtbr about 5 years ago
Are you taking lessons from Pastis on puns?
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 5 years ago
Frazz14 hrs ·
Quick: Four-minute mile. Give me a name.Quick: Everest. Give me a name.
I bet you came up with Roger Bannister and Sir Edmund Hillary, even though there’s been a parade of sub-4 runners and Everest summiteers since*. Shoot, I couldn’t even tell you who the current record holder in the mile is, and I follow running. I don’t even know if there is a “best” climb up Everest, or even one that’s all that good anymore.
All of which seems to say that if you can be the best at something, good on you and enjoy it while it lasts. If you want to be remembered, it’s best to be the first.______________*Though I’d love to see someone short-roped to a 4-minute mile. That would be something.