Summits for Ed Tour Stopped in Respect
Noon April 16 2008
The Summits for Ed tribute tour being run by the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre was stopped this morning at
Warkworth.
This decision was made out of respect for the families, friends and fellow students of the Elim Christian College pupils
and teacher who died in the tragedy at Tongariro yesterday.
Chairman of the OPC Hillary Centre Trust Mr Grant McKenzie said he had spoken to Lady Hillary overnight and it was
agreed that just as Sir Ed would not have walked passed a fallen comrade on a mountain, it would be inappropriate to
continue the summit climbs.
"Our first thoughts are with the grieving families and the school community and we are offering our support and
sympathy," Mr McKenzie said.
The Summits for Ed climb team would still attend the meeting points for the remaining tribute ceremonies in Whangarei,
Kaikohe, Russell, Kerikeri and Cape Reinga at the designated times, but no climb would take place.
Instead there would be a short ceremony at the assembly points and a minute's silence. Any rocks or stones brought along
to form part of Sir Ed's cairn at Tongariro would be collected by the team.
About 100 members of the public turned up at Warkworth this morning and were understanding of the situation and the
decision to stop the climb, Mr McKenzie said.
A decision would be made later whether the six remaining summits would be climbed at a future time, he said.
So far about 8000 people have participated in Sir Ed's tribute tour, climbing 33 of a scheduled 39 local summits from
Bluff to North Auckland.
Lady Hillary and her grandson Sam Mulgrew were to have attended the Cape Reinga walk to the lighthouse at noon on
Saturday.
ENDS