Sthn Alps peak could be renamed to honour Sir Ed

Press release from The Hermitage, Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and Alpine Guides, Aoraki Mount Cook

15 January 2008

Southern Alps peak could be renamed to honour Sir Edmund Hillary

The Hermitage, Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and Alpine Guides Limited have responded to calls to name a Southern Alps peak in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary.

The Aoraki Mount Cook community, representing much of New Zealand’s climbing community, believes that renaming the first mountain Sir Edmund climbed in the region would be a fitting tribute to his memory.

In the summer of 1939/40 during his first visit to The Hermitage, Sir Edmund conquered Mount Ollivier – a 1933 metre peak in the Sealy Range beyond Mueller Hut. It was the first mountain he ever climbed and he described the day of his ascent as “the happiest day of my life”.

The Hermitage General Manager Denis Callesen and Alpine Guides Managing Director Bryan Carter believe that renaming the peak would honour the man the Aoraki Mount Cook community holds dear to their hearts.

“Sir Ed had strong ties here and regularly returned over the years to climb, train for his expeditions or simply catch up with friends.”

The pair has checked the history of the Mount Ollivier name and so far believes it could be changed.

“It’s our plan to seek the family’s views on the subject in due course, and then investigate any issues involved. But right now we feel it’s important to simply remember Sir Ed as the great man and friend he was and support his family,”said Mr Callesen.

ENDS

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