Chronicler of Everest and Himalayan legend Elizabeth Hawley dies
The Himalayan Trust express their deep sadness at the passing of Elizabeth (Liz) Hawley in Kathmandu on January 26,
2018. A truly remarkable person who lived a long life most interestingly.
Hawley served as New Zealand’s Honorary Consul in Nepal for over 20 years and played a key role in the New Zealand
Himalayan Trust for over five decades. She was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for Public Services from the New
Zealand government in 2004.
In 1960, Hawley left her home in the United States to work as a journalist in Kathmandu, at a time when Nepal had only
just opened its doors to foreigners. As a reporter covering stories on the royal family, politics, and the
mountaineering expeditions, Hawley quickly became part of the Kathmandu scene, socialising with expats, diplomats,
business leaders and royals. Kathmandu remained her home for the rest of her years.
Although having never ventured to Everest Base Camp, Hawley became an important figure in Himalayan climbing. She
reported on the mountaineering expeditions whose life and death dramas made such good stories and it became custom of
expedition leaders to pay her a visit and discuss their plans, and later, if they were successful – and only if they
were successful – to report on their climb.
Hawley would eventually become celebrated as the unofficial chronicler of Himalayan expedition climbing. Through the
Himalayan Database, she has logged the ascents of all major peaks within Nepal. She made firm friends with many of the
most famous climbers, including Messner, Bonington, Humar, Viesturs, and of course, Hillary.
When Hillary officially formed the Himalayan Trust in 1966, he realised he needed a representative in Kathmandu. Hawley
was exactly the right person. She knew her way around Nepalese government departments and she successfully negotiated
and secured the various permits and agreements Hillary needed for his projects building schools and hospitals.
“When I established the Himalayan Trust and started building schools and hospitals for the people in the mountains,
Elizabeth Hawley became a god-send to us,” said Hillary. “She was our executive officer and supervised our programmes
and finances with remarkable common-sense and wisdom. Our Sherpa staff admired and respected her, as we did, and they
worked together as a most respected team.”
Hawley also played a vital role in getting the Sagarmatha National Park Project off the ground.
In 2014 the government of Nepal named a peak after Hawley in recognition of her contribution to the mountaineering
industry. Hawley was far from impressed: “I thought it was just a joke. It should be a joke. Mountains should not be
named after people.”
A memorial service will be organised by Himalayan Trust Nepal in due course.
/Ends