Exhibition honouring Hillary's climb to Mount Everest unveiled

• 29th May marks the 60th anniversary of the first ever successful trek to Mt Everest
• The exhibition contains Hillary's mug, photographs from the summit and the diary he carried along with him on the tripA
• The exhibition also focuses on showing the humanitarian side of Hillary

Wellington (Xinhua): May 29 marks the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay's historic climb to the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. On May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary, a New Zealander, and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. Travelling as part of a British expedition, they were the first climbers to ever reach the 8,848-meter summit. A high-tech exhibition honouring the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's Mt Everest climb is on display at Auckland Museum. The route of Sir Edmund's climb is the main feature of the exhibition, but was unveiled to his children on Wednesday.

"I think it's so effective - the climb, the mountain, the old images, and then of course what dad's life became after climbing the peak with schools, and hospitals, that really was the great love of his life," said his son Peter Hillary. Over 40 years, Sir Edmund built 27 schools, two hospitals and many bridges. He also helped to repair monasteries. "He didn't have to do this. He could have sat back after climbing the mountain. But he didn't, and the friends that he gathered are still doing the good work," said exhibition developer Janneen Love. A piece of summit rock, sir Edmund's ice axe, and the diary he carried with him on his journey to Mount Everest are also on display at the museum, but the exhibition's creator hopes viewers get to know not only sir Ed the climber, but sir Ed, the humanitarian as well. "I want them to think about his legacy and what he's left in Nepal and maybe they can engage with it for themselves and think about what their own mountain is to conquer," she said. Auckland Museum also hosted an event on Wednesday evening in which Sir Ed's daughter Sarah Hillary and mountaineer Peter Cammell were guest speakers to commemorate the 60th anniversary. Mountaineer Peter Cammell spoke about the climbing aspect, while Sarah gave a more personal account, talking about her mother Louise's Tibetan dress. In South Island city of Duendin, Hillary Collection exhibition is also open to public in Otago Museum to mark the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's historic climb to the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. The Hillary Collection, which was gifted to the Otago Museum by June, Lady Hillary, and Hillary's children Peter Hillary and Sarah Hillary, celebrates the life and achievements of this world-renowned New Zealander. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were only able to spend around 15 minutes on the summit before beginning their descent as their oxygen was running low. During that time, Hillary took his famous photographs of Tenzing holding the fluttering flags, as well as photographing the ridges leading away from the summit.

Providing proof of their successful climb, Hillary's iconic images were captured using a second-hand 1935 Kodak Retina camera, now on display at the Otago Museum, and those photos went on to be seen in publications around the world. On the way down from the summit, Hillary put a handful of small stones in his pocket to keep as mementos of his incredible experience, some of which can also be seen at the Otago Museum. Later, his mother kept one of the rocks in a silver locket alongside a note signed by Hillary. Simple enamel mugs were issued to the members of the 1953 Everest expedition team. Following the advice of the expedition's physiologist, they drank mug after mug of tea and a hot, sweet, lemon drink to reduce the possibility of dehydration. Hillary's mug, which is part of the Otago Museum's Hillary Collection, still bears his name. Celebrate the life and achievements of Sir Edmund Hillary and delve into his exhilarating story visitors can have close look to Hillary's passport, camera, mug, rock shards and other personal items.