Ed Hillary describes weight loss on Antarctica

Enjoying a meal at Scott Base in Antarctica. Still shot from the 1958 film Antarctic Adventure.

Listen to this 1958 clip of Sir Edmund Hillary discussing eating and weight loss in Antarctica.

Transcript

Sir Edmund Hillary:

I was astonished actually at the good condition that the chaps were in when I joined up with them, even after the long trip. They all seemed to be still in good physical condition, in fact some of them were decidedly portly after their...

Interviewer: [Laughs]

Sir Edmund Hillary:

...trip across in the vehicles. Their appetites seemed as good as ever. I was living in the same tent as Bunny [Fuchs], and, ah, my word did he eat.

Interviewer:

You lost a bit of weight yourself on the way to the Pole and during.

Sir Edmund Hillary:

Well actually it varied to some extent. On our actual trip to the Pole with vehicles we didn't worry as much about food as we should've: we didn't have enough of it probably, that was the problem. We certainly didn't eat pemmican to any great extent and we did lose a lot of weight. However, later on when I was travelling back with the Sno-Cats I tried out this, um, a new ration which is being developed, a sort of an experimental one, in fact...

Interviewer:

[Interrupts] The Medical Research Council one?

Sir Edmund Hillary:

Yes, the Medical Research Council one. And Bunny [Fuchs] and I both went on this, and found it jolly good actually. It's a lot more trouble than the old traditional one, but I found it very tasty. And when I got back to base I found that I had held my weight very well.