Sir Edmund Hillary

New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary makes a speech during the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base celebration, at Scott Base, Antarctica, in this Jan. 20, 2007 photo. Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, died, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. He was 88.

Sardar Tenzing Norgay of Nepal and Edmund P. Hillary of New Zealand, left, show the kit they wore when conquering the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, on May 29, at the British Embassy in Katmandu, capital of Nepal, in this June 26, 1953 photo.

Explorers Sardar Tenzing Norgay of Nepal, left, and Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand who conquered Mount Everest in 1953, are seen in 1953. Hillary, the unassuming beekeeper who conquered Mount Everest to win renown as one of the 20th century's greatest adventurers, died New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. He was 88.

Sir Edmund Hillary, left, leader of the New Zealand Antarctic expedition, chats with Lieutenant Commander David W. Canham Jr., U.S. Commander at McMurdo Sound, during his visit to the U.S. base at Pram Point on Ross Island, Antarctica in this Jan. 11, 1957 photo.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the New Zealand explorer who conquered Mount Everest in 1953, is shown at Banepa, Nepal, in this March 12, 1963 photo.

The Thyangboche monastery in Nepal, which was rebuilt by Edmund Hillary's foundation.

The Thyangboche monastery that was rebuilt by Edmund Hillary's foundation appears between the summits of Mount Everest, left, and Ama Dablam, in Nepal. The monastery's location and its two important religious festivals make it a popular stop for inhabitants and climbers headed to Everest's base camp.

John Heilprin approaches Camp 1, elevation nearly 20,000 feet, on K2, the world's second-highest peak, straddling China and Pakistan in the Karakoram range in 2000. Heilprin says for a climber, the first time you lay eyes on Everest, it's hard not to think about Edmund Hillary and try to imagine what it was like when he and Tenzing Norgay topped out on the world's highest peak shortly before noon on May 29, 1953.

New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay was the first to conquer Mount Everest, waves as he arrives for official 50th anniversary ceremonies Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at Durbar Square in downtown Katmandu, Nepal.

New Zealand's Sir Edmund Hillary makes a speech during the 50th Anniversary of Scott Base celebration, at Scott Base, Antarctica, in this Jan. 20, 2007 photo.

Jamling Sherpa, son of Tenzing Norgay Sherpa who scaled Mount Everest in 1953 along with Edmund Hillary, lights butter lamps to offer prayers in front of a portrait of Hillary and Tenzing, in Katmandu, Nepal, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. Friends and colleagues of Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to stand atop the world's highest mountain, remembered him Friday.