My relationship with the mountains actually started when I was
My relationship with the mountains actually started when I was 16. Every year, a group used to be taken from Auckland Grammar down to the Tangariro National Park for a skiing holiday.
The conqueror of Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary, once recalled with humility: “My relationship with the mountains actually started when I was 16. Every year, a group used to be taken from Auckland Grammar down to the Tangariro National Park for a skiing holiday.” In these words he unveils the beginning of a sacred bond, the first spark of a lifelong relationship with the mountains that would one day call him to their highest summit. What seemed a youthful holiday was in truth the stirring of destiny.
For the mountains are no ordinary teachers. They whisper to the soul in silence, awaken awe in their immensity, and demand respect through their dangers. At sixteen, Hillary did not yet know he would stand upon the roof of the world, but already the relationship had begun: the shaping of his spirit by snow, wind, and stone. The Tangariro National Park became his first temple, where the boy was introduced to the grandeur that would forge the man.
Every great journey begins with such quiet origins. The holiday of youth becomes the crucible of greatness when the heart listens to the call. For in those early trips, amid laughter and camaraderie, Hillary learned to endure cold, to embrace risk, to find beauty in hardship. The relationship with the mountains was not built in an instant, but through the steady rhythm of return, year after year, until awe deepened into love and love into calling.
The story is more than personal memory—it is a parable for all. Great callings often come disguised as small beginnings. What we treat as pastime may be the hand of fate guiding us toward our purpose. So it was with Hillary: the boy skiing in Tangariro was already preparing, unknowingly, to stand as the first man upon Everest.
So let this wisdom endure: listen to the early stirrings of your relationships with the world around you. For what begins as play may become destiny. The mountains, the sea, the forest, the stars—all may plant their seeds within the young heart. Nurture them, honor them, and one day they may call you to greatness, as they once called a boy from Auckland to the top of the world.
VTVo Thuong
Edmund Hillary’s reflection on his early experiences in the Tangariro National Park made me realize how pivotal early experiences can be in defining who we become. His connection to the mountains was nurtured by an annual school trip. Do you think that early exposure to specific environments or activities helps to solidify our passions and career choices later in life?
VNVan Nguyen
It’s incredible how Edmund Hillary’s relationship with the mountains began at such a young age. That initial connection seemed to fuel his lifelong commitment to exploring and conquering the world’s highest peaks. How do you think early interactions with nature, like skiing or hiking, can influence our interests and even our life goals?
NNNhi Nguyen
Hillary’s early experience with the mountains, starting with a skiing trip, really speaks to how simple moments can ignite a lifelong passion. I’m curious—how many other people have had similar experiences that shaped their futures, whether it’s through travel, sports, or nature? Could this be why many adventurers are so drawn to the outdoors from a young age?
NTnhan tran
Edmund Hillary’s quote about his first encounter with the mountains makes me think about how formative experiences can have such a lasting impact. The fact that it was a school trip highlights how influential education and activities outside the classroom can be. Do you think that’s why outdoor adventures are so important for young people—they help them discover themselves in ways they might not in a classroom?
QDnguyen quang dai
It’s interesting how Edmund Hillary’s love for the mountains began with something so simple as a skiing holiday. I wonder if that early exposure to nature and the outdoors shaped his future so strongly. Do you think a single trip or event can truly change the course of someone's life, or is it just a matter of being in the right place at the right time?