now a memory

Last year I met someone who was likely the most adventuresome explorer on earth. He climbed the highest peak and was the first to motor down to the southern point of the earth. He left behind a legacy of awe-inspiring motivation for the adventure-seeking-wanna-be's, like myself, to follow.

I met Sir Edmund Hillary last year at the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base. He founded this station just over a mile from me at McMurdo Station and his involvement with Antarctic exploration is an important piece of history. If you could have seen his smile when he walked off the plane, or reminisced at the luncheon about his time spent here, you would have seen an old man with a young heart. Today, he passed away after 88 years exploring this earth. Now, his life, legacy, and my brief greeting with him are only a memory.

I've had a full and rewarding life. Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down. -- Sir Edmund Hillary --