This quote has been attributed to Sir Hillary and describes a mutual-help philosophy common to those who aspire to reach great heights.

We architects would do well to consider how this philosophy might be of some mutual benefit to our profession.

that's too bad

A great loss for New Zealand and the world. We'll miss you, Ed.

first, because of tenzing norgay...who was on about five attempts to reach the summit before edmund's...

Most historical accounts credit Tenzing Norgay and Hillary together. Norgay has said publicly that Hillary's foot was the first on the mountain. But Hillary also consistently gave equal credit to Norgay.

A class act!

are we absolutely certain that Mallory did not get there first?

re. Mallory -- Hillary's take on that unanswerable question was this: "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."

Seems a sufficient rationale to me !

The expedition which recovered Mallory's body concluded from its position that he fell on the way up.