RIP, Sir Ed

Published on January 11 2008

I love that attitude. A good match for the man's altitude. Edmund Hillary, first atop Everest, dies

Hillarys life was marked by grand achievements, high adventure, discovery, excitement — and by his personal humility. Humble to the point that he only admitted being the first man atop Everest long after the death of climbing companion Tenzing Norgay. He had pride in his feats. Returning to base camp as the man who took the first step onto the top of the worlds highest peak, he declared: "We knocked the bastard off."