Hillary Returns

Short Film (Full Length) – 1953

Following the 1953 conquest of Mount Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary and fellow New Zealand climber George Lowe arrive in Auckland. In this National Film Unit newsreel they alight from a flying boat to a hero's welcome from the Kiwi public. After a further welcome in Hillary's hometown of Papakura, Sir Edmund is interviewed by his brother Rex. He muses about the last challenging step on Everest (soon to be named Hillary's Step) and the suitability of the Southern Alps as preparation for — to paraphrase Sir Ed — knocking the bastard off.

Yes it wasn’t too bad. I was a bit worried about it at first and thought that we wouldn’t get up it. But fortunately there was a crack between the ice and the rock. I got into this and I was able to wriggle my way up it.
– Edmund Hillary describes what would be named the Hillary Step, a very difficult part of the Mt Everest ascent