Peter Hillary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Hillary
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Hillary in 2015
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| Born |
Peter Edmund Hillary
26 December 1954 Auckland, New Zealand
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| Occupation | Mountaineer, philanthropist, writer |
| Spouse(s) |
Ann Moorhead
(divorced)Yvonne Oomen |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Sarah Hillary (sister) |
Peter Edmund Hillary (born 26 December 1954) is a New Zealand adventurer, writer, and philanthropist. He is the son of the famous mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary. His father and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to ever climb to the top of Mount Everest.
Following in his father's footsteps, Peter also climbed Mount Everest in 1990. This made them the first father and son to have both reached the world's highest peak. Peter has climbed Everest twice. He also completed an 84-day journey across Antarctica to the South Pole. He even helped astronaut Neil Armstrong fly a small plane to the North Pole.
On 19 June 2008, Peter completed the Seven Summits. This means he climbed the highest mountain on all seven continents.
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Early Life and Family
Peter Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 26 December 1954. He was the oldest child of Sir Edmund Hillary and Louise Mary Rose. He has two younger sisters, Sarah and Belinda.
Growing up was a big adventure for Peter. His family traveled the world. When he was seven, they went on a long tour across the United States and Canada. On their way home, they visited his father's friend, Tenzing Norgay, in Nepal. Peter's childhood was filled with amazing experiences. He explored Australian deserts, learned to ski, and climbed New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki / Mount Cook.
When Peter was 20, a sad event happened. His mother and his youngest sister, Belinda, died in a plane crash in Nepal. Peter said that his mother and sister were "the glue that bonded the family together."
Peter has five children. He was first married to Ann Moorhead and later married Yvonne Oomen.
On 11 January 2008, Peter's father, Sir Edmund Hillary, passed away. His funeral was shown on television across New Zealand. Peter gave a speech about his father, saying, "Growing up in the Hillary family, was quite an adventure... Adventure was compulsory."
Protecting His Father's Legacy
After his father's death, Peter worked to protect his family's history. He and his sister Sarah had to stop the sale of some of their father's special watches. One watch was given to Sir Edmund after he climbed Everest.
A court decided that the watches belonged to Peter and Sarah. They donated these important items to the Auckland War Memorial Museum so everyone could see them.
Climbing Mount Everest
Peter Hillary has been on five expeditions to Mount Everest. He reached the summit, or the very top, two times.
First Everest Summit
Peter's first successful climb to the top of Everest was in 1990. This achievement made him and his father the first father-son team to both conquer the mountain. The expedition was led by Pete Athans, a very experienced Everest climber.
50th Anniversary Climb
In May 2003, Peter climbed Everest for a second time. This trip was special because it marked the 50th anniversary of his father's first climb.
The expedition was organized by the National Geographic Society. It brought together the sons of the original climbers. Peter was joined by Jamling Norgay, the son of Tenzing Norgay. Brent Bishop, the son of an American climber from a 1963 expedition, was also there.
Helping Others
Like his father, Peter Hillary works to help people in need. This kind of work is called philanthropy.
He spends a lot of his time raising money for the Himalayan Trust. His father started this organization in 1960. The Trust helps build schools and hospitals for the people of the Khumbu Valley in Nepal. Peter is also a director of the Australian Himalayan Foundation.
Peter supports other charities too. He is a patron for the Everest Rescue Trust, which provides rescue helicopters in Nepal. He also supports the Kea Conservation Trust, which works to protect the Kea, a smart alpine parrot found in New Zealand.
Books and Writing
Peter Hillary has written several books about his adventures. Some of his books are:
- Two Generations (written with his father, Sir Edmund Hillary)
- Ascent: Two Lives Explored (also with his father)
- In the Ghost Country: A Lifetime Spent on the Edge
He also wrote about his experiences for magazines. After a dangerous event on the mountain K2 in 1995, he wrote an article called "In the Name of the Father." He described being one of only three survivors from his expedition.
Awards
Peter Hillary has received many awards for his achievements in exploring and mountaineering.
- New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal (1990)
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2001)
- The Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award (2003)
- Tenzing Norgay Award for Mountaineering (2009)
