Age hasn't dimmed his enthusiasm for the mountains, though he admits to altitude sickness these days. Sir Edmund Hillary, 83, the Kiwi beekeeper-turned-ace-mountaineer who, along with Tenzing Norgay, became the first to summit Mount Everest in 1953, is now part of the mountain lore. On the way to Kathmandu to attend the 50th anniversary of the first ascent, Sir Edmund dropped in at Delhi to attend a function renaming two roads after him and Tenzing. Excerpts of an interview with Soutik Biswas:
On the 50th anniversary of the first ascent, some 50 teams are queuing up to make it to the top. Doesn't Everest need rest?
You want mountaineers staying off Everest for a few years?
So, the mountain does deserve a rest?
Don't you think Everest has been reduced to a fad of sorts with all kinds of people clambering up?
Does this make you angry?
And what's happening now?
Is climbing Everest no big deal today?
And there are loads of gimmicks on the mountain. Skiing, snowboarding down the slopes and what have you.
You think its ridiculous?
You recently said no to a snowboarding event for the 50th anniversary.
Is there any fresh challenge left on the Everest?
But Everest?
But does that go against the spirit of mountaineering, the Alpinist spirit?
You look at the 50th anniversary with mixed feelings?
What's your involvement with the mountain today?
