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 famous mountaineer and helper of others from New Zealand. He is the son of Sir Edmund Hillary, who, with Tenzing Norgay, was the first to reach the top of Mount Everest. When Peter Hillary climbed Everest in 1990, he and his father became the first father and son to do this.
Peter has climbed Everest twice. He also completed an 84-day trip across Antarctica to the South Pole. He even guided astronaut Neil Armstrong to the North Pole! On 19 June 2008, he finished climbing the Seven Summits. This means he reached the top of the highest mountains on all seven continents. His last peak was Denali in Alaska.
Contents
Peter Hillary's Life
Early Life and Adventures
Peter Edmund Hillary was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 26 December 1954. He was the oldest of three children. His parents were Sir Edmund Hillary and Louise Mary Rose. Peter went to school at King's College, Auckland and Auckland University.
As a child, Peter traveled a lot. In 1962, when he was seven, his family visited the United States and Canada. His father was giving talks there. On their way back to New Zealand, they visited Tenzing Norgay in Nepal. Peter also traveled to the United Kingdom and explored the deserts of Australia. He learned to ski in New Zealand and climbed Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. He also spent time around campfires in the Himalayas. When he was eleven, his father took him to Mount Everest.
In 1975, a sad event happened. Peter's mother and youngest sister, Belinda, died in a plane crash in Kathmandu, Nepal. Peter was twenty years old at the time. He was visiting a friend in India when he heard the news.
Peter later married Yvonne Oomen. They have two children, Alexander and Lily. He also has two children, Amelia and George, from his first marriage.
Remembering His Father
On 11 January 2008, Peter's father, Sir Edmund Hillary, passed away. Sir Edmund had a sudden heart attack in Auckland Hospital. Peter gave a speech at his father's funeral. He said that growing up in the Hillary family was "quite an adventure."
Later, Peter and his sister Sarah scattered most of their father's ashes. This was done in a private ceremony on Auckland's Hauraki Gulf. A small part of Sir Edmund's ashes was kept. There was an idea to scatter them on Mount Everest, but this did not happen.
Climbing Mount Everest
Peter Hillary has been to Mount Everest five times. He reached the top twice using the South Col route. In 1990, when he first reached the summit, he and his father became the first father and son to do so. This trip was led by experienced climber Pete Athans.
His second climb to the top was in May 2003. This was part of a special trip to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's first climb in 1953. This anniversary trip brought together Peter Hillary, Jamling Norgay, and Brent Bishop. They are the sons of Sir Edmund, Tenzing Norgay, and Barry Bishop. Barry Bishop was part of the first American team to reach the summit in 1963.
Helping Others
Peter Hillary now spends much of his time raising money for his father's Himalayan Trust. This trust was started in 1960 to help people in the Khumbu Valley region of Nepal. He also helps lead the Australian Himalayan Foundation.
Peter is also a supporter of the Everest Rescue Trust. This group helps run a rescue helicopter service in the high mountains of Nepal.
Since 2017, Peter has also been a supporter of the Kea Conservation Trust. This group works to protect the Kea, a special alpine parrot found in New Zealand.
Author and Speaker
Peter Hillary has written several books, sometimes with others. Some of his books include:
- A Sunny Day in the Himalayas (1980)
- First Across the Roof of the World (with Graham Dingle, 1982)
- Two Generations (with his father, Sir Edmund Hillary, 1984)
- Ascent: Two Lives Explored (also with his father, 1986)
- Rimo: Mountain on the Silk Road (1992)
- Bridgit was Bored (a children's book with his first wife, Ann Moorhead, 1992)
- In the Ghost Country: A Lifetime Spent on the Edge (with John Elder, 2003)
He also wrote the afterword for the book Letters from Everest by George Lowe. George Lowe was Sir Edmund Hillary's close friend. Peter also wrote articles for magazines. One article was about the dangers of climbing Everest, called "Everest is Mighty, We are Fragile." Another article, "In the Name of the Father," described his experience on K2 in 1995, where he was one of only three survivors after seven climbers died.
Awards
- New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal (1990)
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (2001)
- The Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award (2003)
- Mountain Institute Mountain Hero Award (2004)
- Circumnavigators Club Order of Magellan (2006)
- Tenzing Norgay Award for Mountaineering (2009)
