In the Footsteps of Hillary 2022

In February 2022, three young people from South Auckland, New Zealand summited their first mountain on the Trust’s Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ In the Footsteps of Hillary. Antarctic Heritage Trust partnered with Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Otara to offer students the chance to walk in the footsteps of their school’s namesake by climbing Mount Ollivier, in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, Aotearoa New Zealand. This was one of the first peaks Sir Edmund Hillary climbed, and it began a lifetime of exploration that took him not only to the top of the world, in the first ascent of Everest, but also to Antarctica – achieving the third ever overland journey to the South Pole, after Amundsen and Scott reached it 110 years ago. In preparation for climbing Mt Ollivier, the Inspiring Explorers™ worked hard to increase their fitness and stamina with the help and mentoring of New Zealand rugby league legend and Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate past student, Ruben Wiki, and his wife Santa Wiki. Funded primarily by CLM Counties Manakau, Ruben and Santa ran weekly training sessions for the team at their Wiki Works Gym in Ōtara, South Auckland, along with regular weekend training walks.

CollectionInspiring Explorers Expeditions™

Photograph

Water stop during 'In the Footsteps of Hillary' Expedition of Mount Ollivier (001)

Group photo on summit of Mount Ollivier (006)

Inspiring Explorers alumni Jaylee Savage and A’aifou Potemani reach summit (001)

Inspiring Explorers alumni A'aifou Potemani tackling the rocky slope

Inspiring Explorers alumni Jaylee Savage tackling the rocky slope (001)

Mountaineer and guide Lydia Bradey ONZM and AHT's Marcus Waters (001)

Inspiring Explorers at Mueller Hut (006)

Inspiring Explorers alumni A'aifou Potemani and Jaylee Savage (002)

Tackling the rocky terrain

Inspiring Explorers alumni A'aifou Potemani (004)

Inspiring Explorers alumni Jaylee Savage (007)

Inspiring Explorers trio

Group photo at Department of Conservation sign (001)

Morning korero at Mueller Hut (003)

Sunset at Mueller Hut (001)

Group photo on summit of Mount Ollivier (009)

Trampers in the landscape (002)

Filming at the summit for Greenstone TV (002)

Inspiring Explorers alumni A'aifou Potemani and The Explorers Club presenter Sonny Ngatai

Guide Rob Frost and team approaching Mueller Hut (002)

Inspiring Explorers alumni Jaylee Savage (005)

Inspiring Explorers alumni A'aifou Potemani and Jaylee Savage (001)

Inspiring Explorer Sarah Magele (002)

Videos

Inspiring Explorers Expedition™ In the Footsteps of Hillary

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In the Footsteps of Hillary 2022