Trek to roof of Devonport

By STUART DYE at Base Camp, Mt Victoria

Final checks were made at base camp and the expedition moved forward, boldly confident.

This was Summit Day, 50 years to the day since the great Sir Edmund Hillary knocked Everest off, and our group was ready to ascend.

We checked the weather forecast: fine, clear, a cold wind.

Others checked vital equipment - wallets, handbags and cellphones.

This was base camp, Mt Victoria, Devonport, as 200 children, teachers and community representatives set off to conquer the North Shore's highest peak.

The children of Devonport Primary School, with their "Sherpa" teachers keeping them safe on the ascent, looked solemn.

Perhaps they glimpsed the steep slopes of the southern col of Mt Victoria rearing up before them.

At 1300 hours they set off in single file, holding hands rather than a linking rope.

At 1315 it was over.

In the time in took Sir Edmund to snap photographs of Tenzing Norgay at the summit of Everest half a century ago, yesterday's climbers reached their own summit.

Atop Mt Victoria, the whole panorama of the Gulf spread out before the explorers, who were buffeted by a chill wind.

The celebrations would have rivalled those of Sir Edmund and Tenzing as the expedition members hugged and clapped each other on the back.

MP Wayne Mapp, North Shore City Mayor George Wood and a handful of representatives from local community groups were already at the summit, having reached the peak moments before.

It was a scene repeated across the country and throughout the world yesterday as thousands marked the anniversary of that first triumphant ascent of Everest by climbing their own nearest peaks.

Despite never having to face the sort of conditions Hillary had to overcome, it was a chance for people from the former beekeeper's homeland to join the celebrations of the day he stood at the roof of the world.

Mayor Wood said: "It's great that we are able to come to our highest mountain on the North Shore and pay our own tribute.

"They had to endure hardships which ... we cannot imagine."

As the children left the mountaintop they were handed certificates.

Then back to base camp: Mission accomplished.