On the summit of Everest, I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there.

When I was 50 years old, I actually decided to draw up a list of half a dozen things that I really hadn't done very well, and I was going to make efforts to improve. One of them was skiing, and I really did become a very much better skier.

I will come again & conquer you because as a mountain you can't grow, but as a human, I can

I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe But there is something about building up a comradeship - that I still believe is the greatest of all feats - and sharing in the dangers with your company of peers. It’s the intense effort, the giving of everything you’ve got. It’s really a very pleasant sensation.

Nothing can replace courage, a resounding motivation and that little bit of luck.

I was a dreamer when I was at high school and even primary school. I used to dream about doing adventurous things.

I did have my moments of despair. It was certainly not - it's not an experience I would like to have again. And then June came along.