Unfortunately, to be remembered, you have to be "the first" or "the first to do it in a certain style". Edmond Hillary had a lot of help, but will always be remembered. Reinhold Messner had no help, and will always be remembered. Even Rob Hall never gets mentioned even though he basically died trying to help his client. Sad but true.
It's just the way it is in our modern civilized world, you have to do something that makes everyone's jaws drop to get any notice nowadays. Even climbing the Rupal face of Nanga Parbat solo without oxygen wouldn't raise many eyebrows these days. We have become numb, and it takes something absolutely amazing to get noticed any more.
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