Solving The MYSTERY of Mallory & Irvine on Everest

Thom Pollard presents a live event detailing his experiences on Mount Everest in the search for the Mystery of George Mallory and Sandy Irvine. Hosted by Musa Masala / @musamasala719
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Contents of presentation:
00:33 Tatiana intro of Musa Masala
2:34 Thom starts/Thank you
3:59 - History of 1924 expedition
8:17 - 1999 search expedition background
11:57 - Conrad Anker discovers Mallory
15:57 - Discovery makes world news
17:36 - artifacts of Mallory
21:39 - Musa Masala quick break and store items for fundraiser
23:20 - Part II - background of 2019 Irvine search expedition
20:49 - Tom Holzel’s spot locating Sandy Irvine
31:02 - 2019 team and expedition
32:57 - secret weapon: drones
41:10 - Crowds on Everest
43:25 - considering our own mortality and right to go up mountain
44:15 - (loss of internet/reboot) Thom has a TIA(?)
45:50 - 2019 goes on summit bid and search
47:52 - Mark unclips for search of Sandy Irvine
50:14 - conclusions of our search and expedition
52:28 - final thoughts on Mallory & Irvine
Before you judge the content of this video, consider that it is only a tiny slice of the pie in terms of what might have happened to George Mallory and Sandy Irvine on 8 June 1924. Numerous theories abound in regards to what route they might have taken, whether they made the summit or not, where they were when Odell spotted them. All I know for sure is that I don't know anything for sure. Anyone who tells you that they know what happened to these two intrepid souls, most definitely does NOT know. I definitely don't know. You don't know. This is my experience on the mountain, which all began in 1999 during the Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition, during which time the body of George Mallory was discovered. Blessings to you.
Don't believe a word I say. Find out the truth for yourself. If you feel the word of another is gospel, you are not your own man (or woman).
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FOR MORE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS ABOUT THE MYSTERY OF MALLORY & IRVINE VISIT:
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This film is a virtual event hosted by Musa Masala to raise awareness for safe and ethical mountain travel, featuring filmmaker and mountaineer Thom Pollard and the Mystery of Mallory & Irvine.
I played a part in two historic expeditions that were organized to solve the mystery. My entry into the 1999 expedition was my previous experience filming at altitude. Before departure in March of 1999 for Nepal I remarked to my dad while driving to the airport that there was no way in hell that we'd ever find anything. I sure was wrong. The discovery of George Mallory on 1 May 1999 set off a change in my life, having sold my photographs of the search and site of GLM's body to National Geographic Magazine. Those were the first photos I ever sold. 20 years later I returned, nagged all that time in between by the idea that the spirit of Sandy Irvine was still stuck on the mountain.
I'm not an archaeologist and surely was not trained or prepared to be one of the six people to ever (with permission from the Irvine and Mallory families) search the site. Knowing what I know now, if I had it all to do over again, of course I'd change a few things.
This presentation is really just my story. If one is interested in learning more about the Mystery of Mallory and Irvine I ask that they read any book by Jochen Hemmleb on the subject, as well as Mark Synnott's 2021 account of our expedition called The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest.
PLEASE VISIT the Musa Masala website to learn about this truly awesome organization: expert advice on safe, healthy and culturally aware mountain travel, and benefiting the construction of The Wongchhu Sherpa Memorial Hospital, at:
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=========
For more information about Thom Dharma Pollard:
eyesopenproductions.com/
For a free downloadable copy of A Course In Happiness:
/ thehappinessquotient

[@cordeliav3055]

I have to wonder, seeing that you are a spiritual bunch of people, why you have not gone within and done some serious meditation on this question. You are assuming you will never know the truth, but I think you can. The problem is you won't be able to make your "findings" public for fear of ridicule. You must know that consciousness never dies; only the body which is like an old suit of clothes discarded upon passing. You can be certain Mallory and Irvine are alive and well in that realm where we all must go when we pass. Connect with them in your meditation and ask the question: Did you reach the summit of Everest? You could also use the services of a medium, although you probably don't need one. Nevertheless, there are some excellent ones out there. I have a hunch both are on another world, still climbing mountains. I wonder if they have tackled Olympus Mons yet!

[@EverestMystery]

I appreciate this....I'e indeed done just that, going deep into meditation to see what happened. My podcast episodes dating back to when I was training for Everest in 2019 talk about being shadowed by Sandy. I spent more than a decade of my life on the mat, as they say. What you say rings true. It is no secret that to me, this channel isn't about Everest....it uses Everest as a portal for people coming together to discuss the important reasons for existence. Tiny steps here and there, going inward. I've seen GLM and SI on the mountain and spent considerable amounts of time connecting. My primary intent in 2019 was to free Sandy from the grip of the mountain. I've always felt that GLM was free....meaning, he didn't get stuck there. Sandy did. In 2019 I went to fix that. It wasn't necessary for me to see his body to make that happen. The Disney+ movie does go into that a bit. Regarding the idea of a medium....I would imagine anyone could ask one...I've not felt the necessity for it, as I've done that work myself. All that said, I've been writing about this and gathering it all together in one place., for a book As with this channel, it might be Everest that draws people to my book (as it does my public presentations) but the people leave having experienced something much more than just Everest. I want to have conversations about existence, life, the idea of our purposes here in this realm. I hope that I've adequately conveyed my thoughts here, and intend to further these types of discussions. Your comment encourages me to speak more vocally about it. Personally, the minutia of the mystery is a bit more than I desire...I've shared these thoughts before....I get bogged down by the details (because in my heart and soul I know what happened). But, people love to debate it....I welcome them here and maybe someone comes here thinking 'Everest' and leaves here thinking, 'be kind and non-judgmental to other beings'. Many thanks for your insight and thoughts. I've pinned your comment for now :) -Thom

[@cordeliav3055]

@@EverestMystery Thank you for your reply and insightful thoughts on this mystery. I understand where you are coming from, and will make the effort to search out your other videos. I came across your YT channel just yesterday, and have to say the subject of the climbers' fate is intriguing, to say the least. It was no small thing for you to return to Everest, risking life and limb, to free Irvine's Earth-bound spirit. Did you, however, ever ask them THE question? My gut tells me they didn't get to the summit, missing out by a whisker!

[@sage6336]

What time does your carer take you back to the home

[@scottinnh88]

Which lost on Everest video is it that you spoke about? There are a couple is it the National Geographic video or is it another?

[@dks13827]

@@scottinnh88 Nat Geo

[@arsenal10141014]

Great presentation. I believe they made it. And were coming down.

[@EverestMystery]

I hope we discover someday that they did make it! Thank you Joel!

[@scottnelson2384]

Agreed. I like to think to think they made it too, and Thom Pollard is one of the few mountaineers I actually like. They are the same breed as iron workers and I generally avoid them.

[@Khumbu0609]

May 1, 1999 is one of those days I'll never forget. I was online the moment the story broke that Mallory's body had been found. My jaw hit the floor. Great video!

[@lostinnevermore5354]

It was a bittersweet moment that I too will never forget.

[@garyacker7388]

@@lostinnevermore5354 yes I think that I was at work and it was just a short mention on the radio. No one else gave a darn because they're not climbers.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

No you weren't online and no your jaw did NOT hit the floor. Trust me.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

@@lostinnevermore5354 yes you will forget.

[@JuliusCaesar888]

@@garyacker7388 you weren't even at work you skipped that day and got written up the next day for it.

[@EverestMystery]

I opted to allow comments on this video again. So, here ya go. There were easily over 400 comments that now are, rather unfortunately, gone. Many of the comments were, to be blunt, obtuse beyond measure, which explains why I shut down comments in the first place. From here forward, any obtuse, rude, ignorant or unkind comments will be summarily removed and the commenter immediately blocked from this channel. Before writing in the comments, take a moment to 1) watch the entire video; 2) read the notes below the video. Also, be kind. Be thoughtful. Be a part of the community and not a person who creates or stirs division. Respectfully, Thom Pollard

[@twwap294]

thank you so much for allowing us to be part of this expedition through film. well I have no desire personally to summit Mount Everest I hold everyone who attempts to do that in the highest regard. Tom

[@EverestMystery]

NOTE TO VIEWERS: When I was hired to be the high altitude cameraman on the expedition to search for Mallory & Irvine in 1999 (for PBS in the states and the BBC in the UK), I knew nothing about George Mallory or Sandy Irvine. Absolutely nothing. Four months after that day, I was standing beside George Mallory himself. I'd become a literal part of the enduring mystery. At the same time, I was effectively written out of it, until recently. In the ensuing years. I came to learn how fascinating the mystery was not only to the mountaineering community, but to the world at large. With the addition of thousands of would-be detectives out there, sleuthing and sifting through anything and everything for new clues, we now have an expanded body of guesses at what might have happened on that fateful day, June 8, 1924. Take note of my use of the word 'guesses'. Any conclusion whatsoever is a guess, pure and simple. Anyone who tells you that they know what happened, anyone who tells you that you are dead wrong if you believe they took this route or that route, or Odell saw them here not there, is a person I'm not particularly interested in having a conversation with, particularly if there is even a hint of hostility in it. Blockheaded, unmovable individuals have very little value in my world. Friedrich Nietzsche said something of the nature that he wasn't interested in spending time with anyone who wasn't willing to reconsider everything they had ever learned. No one knows any more than the next person what happened that day. No journal entry, no conversation between Mallory or whomever, no sighting by Odell (and those who want to doubt his memory) can ever bring us one single step closer to knowing what went down that day. Until you've been up there, in the Death Zone, you can never know what it's like. Everything changes in a moment's notice. Other things linger for a lifetime. Life and death is in the balance. Poke around some of my other videos for thoughts on the mystery. And soon, I'll post a video about other hypotheses on Mallory & Irvine's fate. Respectfully, Thom Pollard

[@kristoffersmith8289]

I respectfully find it interesting that it's easier to believe the Chinese removed Irvines body than to admit the original research hypothesis was flawed. Reminds me of the search efforts for MH370

[@WWIIPacificHistory]

I agree that Michael Tracy seems like he has an ice axe to grind and he’s too sure of himself.

[@ihcman9130]

Well Thom I say thank you for sharing all your experiences on Everest. I'm glad people like you and Jake Norton keep digging further into this mystery and keep it interesting.

[@munnjean]

@@kristoffersmith8289 I must say sir that I find it quite difficult to accept that the Chinese expedition would have removed Irvine's body ,, for what reason ?

[@wgisgr8]

Did y’all bury Mallory or just cover him with stone ? Any after pics?

[@VanishedPNW]

The Chinese removing his body is just something our minds want to tell ourselves when we hit yet another stubborn dead-end. I think deep down that you feel like Irvine is still there somewhere, off in some corner yet discovered. It's vast, rocky, tricky canvas up there. Lest we forget that the discovery of the titanic, which was marred by confusion and frustration which had built pre-discovery, as the French and the Americans looked and looked in the area it "should" have been. They were actually trained to perform exactly that task, too! Finally, after combing the area for several months/years, they found the wreck. Their search was exhaustive and thorough, dare I say far better organized than attempts for Irvine. They had the good fortune of having fairly-level terrain, telepresence technology similar to your drones, and a search grid mostly devoid of complex features, which afforded them a grid-type search pattern. Bodies are notoriously difficult to spot, even in perfect search conditions. Typically, bodies are happened upon by folks unrelated to search efforts who just happen to glance down at the perfect moment and catch something funny out of the corner of their eye. Ultimately, I believe this is how Irvine will eventually be found. I do believe he will be found up there, some day. An elbow or a knee or a boot will work it's way into a line of sight from the scree. As for the camera, I doubt it will yield the mystery-ending evidence, and will instead likely lead to another piece of mystery ala the DB Cooper money find. I don't believe that the Chinese removed his body for the simple fact that so very few have ever reported seeing his body. Clearly, he was not very obvious like some of the other souls like, say, green boots. He is likely hard to get to, tucked away, and at least somewhat covered by sliding scree. Irvine is up there still, there's something indescribable in me (I'm no authority here) that believes that to be true. Could be a hunch, as the coppers like to say. His spirit seems to still be there, you can kind of oddly feel his "spirit" in the documentary you all recently produced. I'm not much for supernatural happenings, conspiracies, ghosts, etcetera. I don't believe in things like that, but I do sometimes believe in "feelings" derived from the heart and the energy they produce. Thom, you may know what I mean here, and I think if you felt 'vibes' in your soul (even through the frustration) that Sandy Irvine was somewhere nearby, then he likely is. There's some kind of weird intuition I believe that we as humans have as it relates to those kinds of things. I could be totally wrong, and simply going toe-deep into hocus pocus land, but I feel like even from here, far removed watching it through a tiny screen, Irvine's body is up there, still lost and sleeping on the cold, inhospitable terrain. Considering how deep Mallory was in the scree, I think it's reasonable to theorize that poor Andrew Irvine may have been partially buried (or entirely buried) in loose rock sliding down the hill over the last 100 years. It's unlikely that his entire body is covered, but even if he's 25% covered in scree, he would be exceptionally difficult to spot, even in foot. Conrad Anker almost missed Mallory's body on the ground, it was only his eagle eye that spotted him. Mallory was nearly camouflaged by the loose rock and patchy snow. Now it has been 25 more years (almost) that Irvine has been up there, so even more rock may have collected around his body. To add to the issue, they were wearing standard olive drab, greenish-brown jackets and pants, rather than a poofy bright red, bright orange, bright blue or green jacket/pants/boots, etcetera. Those natural clothing fibers would make Irvine's body even more difficult to spot. I believe it's reasonable to believe that Andrew is partially--possibly even mostly--consumed by the loose collecting scree. If he was on his side as he was described by the Chinese climber, oof, even more difficult to spot. The hope is that perhaps his larger feet or boot may be protruding from the rocks, or something. It's also possible that Irvine's body may be further along in the decomposition process, which would make finding him even more difficult yet! If his body is considerably decomposed or skeletonized, (already in poor shape in 1960), he would be very difficult to find.

[@samsanjeevan2096]

Love how you presented both of your expeditions. You are absolutely right. There is no proof that Mallory and Irvine made it to the top of Everest, nor any proof they did not make it.... Looking forward to watching your other videos. Amazing job to you and your colleagues....

[@EverestMystery]

Thanks for watching! I really appreciate it!

[@coryCuc]

Just came across this video and have to say how amazingly you tell a story. The slides, video, narration all fit perfectly. I also want to say how enjoyable it's been and how refreshing it is to read all of your responses to peoples' comments on this video. Not many youtubers do that and as someone who is fascinated with M&I, Everest, etc...(yet have never climbed anything higher than my stairs) it is much appreciated.

[@EverestMystery]

@Cory thank you so much. I appreciate your words, and am super happy that you enjoyed the video. I do think it's important to respond to people who have taken the time to visit...even the occasional person who endeavors to cause a ruckus. Being a fan of the M&I Mystery, you will surely enjoy some of the episodes I've posted on my podcast, which is very Everest-centric. Please check it out: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happiness-quotient/id1457211236 - Thanks again Cory!

[@coryCuc]

@@EverestMystery Goldmine. Thanks so much for this!

[@EverestMystery]

@@coryCuc you're so welcome....have fun! There is some good stuff in there for sure!

[@obifuntoknowme]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video, thanks so much for putting it on. I too am fascinated with Everest and the Mallory Irvine mystery. I really hope that in my lifetime Irvine’s body will be discovered. If, as you suggested, the Chinese did send a team in and they removed the body that would be so so disappointing. We can only hope Irvine is still there, somewhere and I for one still wait with baited breath about his discovery. I loved the Lost on Everest National Geographic documentary about Mallory and Irvine so finding this video on KZbin was an added bonus. I could listen to Tom for hours! Loved the video, many thanks. RIP M&I.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you very much! I appreciate it, and really happy that you enjoyed it.

[@talesfromanoldmanpatoneal6372]

That was outstanding! Tom did a fabulous job of narrating that I thoroughly enjoyed that very entertaining and informative. I could listen to him speak all day.

[@EverestMystery]

Pat, I truly appreciate the kind words. Be sure to subscribe and share this wherever you think someone might have an interest.... THANK YOU!

[@jerrylopez1810]

@@EverestMystery y E s

[@claytonalspaw1994]

Man. These are truly awesome videos. I will most likely never see Everest, much less climb it. Your videos and others have made me appreciate Mallory and Irvine and just mountaineering in general. I love the mindset of "Because its there" and all it represents. Thanks for laying out all the facts. I hope they are found but at the end of the day they are legends regardless! Thanks again for all the information and being so kind and informative.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you so much for watching, I'm really glad that you enjoy the channel! Take care and thanks again!

[@OvelNick]

6x summiting... Not just an experience but more like a habit. Lol. Great telling of the story. I was hooked all the way through! Thanks!

[@EverestMystery]

Quite a habit at that! Lol....thank you for watching, I truly appreciate the kind words.

[@neilrankin4133]

I've read the Third Pole and can't get enough of this mystery. Thank you Thom for your immense contributions. As an aside I find it interesting that some have dismissed Mallory and Irvine's ability to climb the 2nd Step, particularly Mallory. Those crazy Brits were climbing E1 as early as 1915, and with shoulder stands and stein pulls, who really knows? As you've said the decent of the 2nd Step would have almost certainly required a rappel but I still want to believe. My wife is convinced they made it because you guys never found the photo of Mallory's wife. "Isn't it pretty to think so."

[@EverestMystery]

Neil, thank you....yes, the one good thing about us not knowing the truth about the mystery is that we can always keep in our head the image of them standing on the summit...your wife nailed it. Cheers

[@abbynormal206]

GREATGREAT documentary----thanks!!!!!!!

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you Abby! I truly appreciate it and am happy that you enjoyed it.

[@abbynormal206]

@@EverestMystery and I have watched EVERY ONE available. 5 stars to you.

[@kpd3308]

In my heart, Mallory reached the summit. That is sufficient.

[@EverestMystery]

Very cool....thanks for watching

[@robinengland5799]

Amazing place, amazing people!!

[@EverestMystery]

Truly!

[@Peaceshiet812]

I really believe they made it, having got that far . Fascinating,Thankyou so much for sharing your experience x

[@EverestMystery]

Rachel, thank you for watching, super happy to have you here!

[@Peaceshiet812]

@@EverestMystery so does this mean I’ve exchanged words with a man whose looked in the face of George Mallory !!! WOW ! just started reading The Wildest Dream , find it all absolutely enthralling!!

[@johnwantling]

If the weather came in, which is what they say happened, it's likely that they would not be able to see where they were going. If that was the case, they would not have reached the summit.

[@JamesWylde]

Great video

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@rickhensley-buzzell761]

Hi Thom!!! Rick Hensley-Buzzell here!! I worked at MWV Psychological Services in Conway... taught your son drums :) I've recently got sucked into the Everest vortex and lo and behold... there you are. Fantastic presentation, I truly enjoyed this!! I hope you are well... Namaste :)

[@EverestMystery]

Rick, it's great hearing from you! I hope you're doing well.... If Everest is your thing, check out some of the other videos on this KZbin channel....I have more for your indulgence LOL. Be well and stay in touch!

[@corazoncubano5372]

This was an excellent talk and presentation on your experience during your search. A possible TIA is one of the most frightening medical diagnosis one can receive while on a climb. I'm looking forward to watching "Lost On Everest"

[@EverestMystery]

So far I've been cleared....I have a few more tests to do to conclusively say that it was not a TIA. Thank you and thank you for the kind words.

[@dindu551]

Jake was a stud one year on an expedition to Annapurna. Jake you are a sick climber

[@johnalden4605]

I believe that they made the summit. I would not put is past the Chinese to hid the fact that someone made to the top before they did. Good job on the presentation.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you very much John! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@jennyharper6232]

Hello from New Zealand. Thank you Tom & Tatiana for a great video post. My question is, What happened to their oxygen carrying apparatus? Has any of it ever been found ( other than the 1 cylinder previously found in 1930s) Was there any part of the harness on or near Mallory's body when found ? If not, what does that mean in terms of where he might have discarded his oxygen equipment, and whether he/they were climbing to the summit, or descending when he fell. The Great Mystery, always more questions than answers.

[@EverestMystery]

Hi Jenny, thank you! There was no sign of a backpack of the likes that held M&I's oxygen bottles when he was discovered in 1999. However, in 1991 on his summit day, Eric Simonson remembered seeing an 'old' O2 bottle somewhere in the vicinity of the First Step. When we went in 1999 on the Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition, Eric was expedition leader. He drew a diagram as to the general location of that bottle. On their return from an unsuccessful summit bid, Jake Norton and Tap Richards found that same O2 bottle. It was from the 1924 expedition. All signs point to that being either Mallory or Irvine's bottle. Thing is, Jake has a shady memory of precisely where that bottle was recovered....meaning, he couldn't quite remember if it was at the First Step or down lower toward High Camp. So, therefore, we can't say absolutely that M&I were at the First Step. I personally believe that Mallory was returning from his attempt when he fell, given the proximity to the steps (First, Second and Third). His body was well east (left) of them, indicating to me he was looking for his camp. You are spot on when you say that there are more questions than answers! I hope this helps, Jenny.

[@jennyharper6232]

@@EverestMystery Thank you for that reply. Do you have any theories on how or why Mallory would have lost the boot off his foot ?

[@EverestMystery]

@@jennyharper6232 Hard to say, other than that in accidents with considerable force or violence, shoes and boots are known to be pulled off of feet. But, honestly, it's hard to say....

[@jennyharper6232]

@@EverestMystery Thank you for your replies. Much appreciated. Merry Christmas & all the best for 2022

[@obinghimire6664]

What a presentation! Hats off to sir Pollard, It reflects how enormously you all were involved in the search for sandy Irvine. There are many theories and speculations about Mallory and Irvine summiting the mighty Everest and is the topic of much debate and research, but the truth probably lies with the Kodak camera, and it seems long gone. Nevertheless, the question remains the same, where the hell is Sandy Irvine's body? If the Chinese removed it, what was their purpose? Mallory carried a photograph of his wife with the intention of leaving it on the summit, and the photograph was not found with him, did he actually leave it on the top? Or maybe he gave it to Irvine to do the job. I often tell this mysterious story to my 5-year-old daughter, and she told me "baba (dad) maybe we need to wait until the snow meltdown to find Irvine". :) If he is up in there, he will surely be found, it's just a matter of time or maybe a matter of efforts like sir Pollard and team manifested. Really enjoyed this.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you for the kind comments. Your daughter may very well be of the generation that finally finds Sandy and solves the mystery once and for all. Godspeed and thank you.

[@normanbfifteen3468]

I think the challenge will always be the infinite number of places a body could be and the fact that there is no bright coloured clothing and that there have been 100 years in between. When Mallory was found it was because the finder saw the brightness of the bleached skin. Had no skin been exposed, would he even have been found? Time and conditions limit the usfullness of the search. Irvings body could be flattened, partially buried, or balled up so tight that you'd have to be on top of it looking from 6 feet way just to identify it as being different from the rocks. When you are looking for something blending into its surroundings such as a needle in a hay, the needle is so easy to see and distinguish once you lock eyes on it. But before that point in time, you may scan over it a thousand times, walk on it, kick it, and still see only hay.

[@EverestMystery]

So true, thank you for watching and for sharing your thoughts....much appreciated

[@javierst7474]

Tatiana...... waauuu!

[@EverestMystery]

Yep, she gets that a lot! :)

[@jtaylor9562]

You would have to feel for Hillary and Tenzing if it was ever revealed that Mallory and Irvine summited first. I know Hillary, when asked that question said the they will always be the first to SUCCESSFULLY summit and descend. But it would upset their descendants to know they weren't the first to summit after all

[@EverestMystery]

I would imagine that Sir Edmund and Tenzing would have been very happy to learn that M&I summited. Their lives were rich with fame and with the adoration of the world. Sir Edmund especially became a symbol of giving back to the community of where he gained his fame. He was an amazing man. I know less so about Tenzing, but understand him to be as filled with humility as his climbing partner. Now, that's just my take. You may very well be correct. Thank you for watching!

[@RedSox4JC]

Thom, I'm ABSOLUTELY in awe of your videos and adventures. I've known who you were since 2003 when I first found out about the Mallory and Irvine story but this is the first that I've seen your videos! I've chatted online with Conrad about the discovery, but it would be amazing to speak with you too at some point. What an honor it is to see these!

[@EverestMystery]

Wow, thank you, I truly appreciate it. Stay tuned for some more good stuff. Thank you Mike. It means a lot. Cheers

[@RedSox4JC]

@@EverestMystery you're very welcome! Thank you for your hard work in this. I can't wait for the upcoming videos! Also, is there going to be something planned to commemorate Mallory and Irvine on June 8th, 2024? It would be AMAZING to be a part of that! Cheers to you, Thom!

[@EverestMystery]

@@RedSox4JC there is a group that will be building a cairn in 2024 at Everest Base Camp. I'll get some more information on this and share is asap. Cheers.

[@RedSox4JC]

@@EverestMystery thank you Thom! I hope they can do a live stream of that event.

[@lumberlikwidator8863]

WARNING: GRUESOME THEORY. Mallory fell and the rope broke as it was getting dark. Irvine located him and realized that his friend would never make it down with his broken leg, shoulder and ribs. If Mallory was conscious he begged Irvine to kill him and spare him a slow, agonizing death. If Mallory was unconscious Irvine assessed his injuries and realized his friend was as good as dead. Making a very tough decision, Irvine killed Mallory with his ice axe so Mallory would not suffer should he regain consciousness. This would explain the deep wound in Mallory's head. Irvine, descending alone in darkness, perished from exposure, a stroke or a fall. (If you read this and are horrified, remember I warned you.)

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

It not very credible. They would have been roped together, as Irving wasn't a very skilled or experienced climber. When Mallory chose Irvine as his climbing partner everyone was surprised on the expedition due Irvine's inexperience. The only things Sandy had going for him was he was very strong - he was an Oxford representative rower (as was Mallory at Cambridge) plus he knew how to work the oxygen bottles the best, which being virtually a new tech were extremely prone to problems. What we know from discovering Mallory's body in 1999 is it relatively few major injuries, compared to a number of modern climbers who had fallen the full distance from the NE Ridge and who were found very broken up. Suggesting he had survived this initial fall, and suffered a further accident, which speculation that an injured Mallory was descending in a self-arrest "glissade", sliding down the slope while dragging his ice-axe in the snow to control the speed of his descent, and that his ice-axe may have struck a rock and bounced off, striking him fatally. As Malory had remains of rope around him, and this displayed sign of having been snapped, plus he exhibited serious haemorrhaging, indicative of a strong rope-jerk injury, indicating Irvine fell while they were still roped together, further underlined by the supposed location of Irvine's body being much lower than where Mallory was found tend to show Irvine fell first and not vice versa.

[@ajoybaksi3654]

Usual question. Whose body was that at ~ 8100 m that Wang saw in 1975, and was also seen by another climber later? If you doubt Wang's story, remember that it was this story that basically drove Tom Holzel for many decades, and really jumpstarted the search for Mallory and Irvine's bodies.

[@claysimerly8739]

Thom , Hello got crazy question s 1 why don't they cut down old ropes ? 2 Do you loose your money if get so sick you can't finish the summit? Keep up the great job! Your doing a great job on your site ! I really enjoy your videos and all you teach us in them ! Thank you GOD BLESS YOU FOR all your TIME. Clay

[@RedSox4JC]

I've been obsessed with the Mallory and Irvine mystery since 2003 and have tried to read, watch and research everything I can about it. There are some conclusions I've come to on my own but yet there are some I've come to thanks to Mt Everest climbers themselves. After having looked at everything, I had concluded that M & I didn't reach the summit due to the late hour Odell saw them climbing the 2nd step, the unfamiliar terrain that probably caused them to have to backtrack and because of the awkwardness and weight of the oxygen tanks they had been messing with the morning of June 8th. I also came to this conclusion because I read an interview of Tenzing Norgay who heard about M & I when he was a kid and when he and Hillary reached the summit, he looked for physical evidence of M & I and didn't see anything. I would have thought that if one or both had summited that something like an empty oxygen tank or piece of clothing would have been left behind. But thanks to Jake Norton and his summary of what he believes happened, he's caused me to question my conclusion that it was at least possible for them to summit. One thing I didn't come up with myself abkut three years ago is the belief that the Chinese took the camera from Irvine. I do NOT think that the Chinese took Irvine's body off the mountain because there was no benefit to do so. I believe they buried his body because it was easier. Why take a while body down when you can just take the vital things off him such as his camera? And I hadn't thought of this until Jochen Hemmleb suggested it, but the Chinese may have wanted to destroy evidence that M & I were the first to summit from the north. After hearing that report, I don't know if I believe that the Chinese couldn't develop the film. I think it was developed successfully but was either hidden or destroyed.

[@EverestMystery]

Mike thank you for the really thorough and thoughtful comment, I appreciate it. Honestly, I feel fortunate enough to have played a minor role in some of the efforts on the mountain to solve the mystery. Detectives such as yourself pour through the details and help bring about a clearer picture of the events of June 1924. Guys like Jochen do the forensics, then others read or hear what he says and sift through it looking for any new clues. It's pretty awesome actually! I like that last comment, the thought had entered my mind! Cheers and glad to have you take the time to share your thoughts.

[@RedSox4JC]

@@EverestMystery you're very welcome Thom! And thank YOU for the very thorough reply! Don't diminish or downplay your role in finding Mallory and the ongoing investigation. You were asked to go on two different expeditions for a reason. You have amazing intelligence, gifts, talents and expertise, and that's why I'm so honored that a man of your status would reply to a lay researcher like myself, so thank you Thom. It would be an ABSOLUTE dream of mine to be able to go to Everest ABC to do research and help with the expeditions to find Irvine, but not go on the expedition itself. But since I can't go to Everest, that's why I appreciate videos like yours so much because I live vicariously through you and others like Jochen who probably knows Mt. Everest more than anyone. If you feel so inclined and have the time, I would love and be honored to discuss this subject with you further. My email address is [e-mail] .

[@RedSox4JC]

Sorry Thom, another question. How old are Tom Holzel's photos where he spotted the item he thought may have been a sleeping bag?

[@markpurdy9860]

Odell say them at the third step not the second step, and commented that they were moving quickly. They never intended to climb the second step but took the traverse route scouted out by Norton .

[@WellyCoaster]

@@markpurdy9860 Hi Mark wondering where did he say the he saw them at the third step? I've seen this said by people before but cant find Odells source. Accounts of Odell I've read are the second or maybe first step. His very first diary entry wrote he saw them on the ridge nearing the base of the final pyramid. In the 1920s expeditions the third step wasn't named, it was the base of the pryamid. Cheers

[@ThePb150]

Great and fascinating video as always Thom, thank you for sharing and your even handed portrayal of information. While recognising the not unimportant topic pinned below and with respect to your potential view that the body of SI was moved, do you think it would perhaps be better for any new resources to be directed at engaging with the CTMA instead of renewed search efforts on the mountain itself?

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you for the great comment....to the question of directing engagement with the CTMA, the short answer is yes. The longer answer is that elaborating on it might hamper efforts to move this thing forward. Many thanks for watching, I truly appreciate it!

[@huligancho]

Thank you for the presentation ! You mentioned the high rez pics, can we see them anyhow ?

[@EverestMystery]

I've been remiss in not putting some of the high res photos up for people to see. I'm guessing you're referring to the drone shots of the north face?

[@WellyCoaster]

@@EverestMystery I think that's what he means. It would be great to see high res photos of the north face and mountain. Personally I'd love to see high res photos of the areas around and above the Great Couloir.

[@thomdharma]

@@WellyCoaster Cool, thank you.... Technically I'll have to defer to Renan and/or National Geographic...the original plan was to put them out there for all to see....in the highest resolution possible. I'm not sure what the status of that is, but will aim to find out.

[@taotoo2]

Maybe the missing boot is in a small rock crevice, with a few shards of leg bone nearby.

[@olsinho]

hi, great video. particularly intriguing are the drone shots of the yellow band. are there any plans to release more drone material as you describe it as a pretty extensive mapping exercise? that would be phenomenal. thanks!

[@jamisbillson4872]

I've worked out where the camera is. It's not far from the ice axe. A few dozen meters down and a similar distance to the right toward the first step. It's lodged almost generate a slayed rock formation.

[@EverestMystery]

Let's get a metal detector up there.....do a sweep of that area....

[@VanishedPNW]

Mr. Pollard, I love your content and admire all the work you've done these last 25 years toward furthering the appreciation for the compelling mystery of these two pioneers, Mallory and Irvine. This critique I'm about to volley across the bow is NOT aimed at you, but rather Mark Synnet and especially Tom Holzell, who I do not especially care for as a researcher. The biggest mistake made by the 2019 expedition is strictly going off the word of Tom Holzell, who seems like a bit of an egomaniacal guy. I say this because he has for many decades positioned himself as one of the leading authorities on the M&I topic and has never once been humble enough to admit that he could not possibly know any one thing about the fate of Mallory and Irvine factually. Everything in this mystery is conjecture, yet Holzell presents his ever-morphing hypotheses on how they died and where they died as empirical fact. He makes normative and declarative statements as if he is presenting information that is not debatable or disputed. His "slot" theory was based on nothing empirical, yet one would never know this if they listened to him. He's also not big enough (it seems) to admit when he is wrong about something, just quickly pivots to another theory without ever doubling back to express regret over presenting information as factual when it is actually just a theory that he has made up in his own head. Now, rather than state "Wow, I guess I was wrong about where Irvine is," he is implicating the Chinese in a ludicrous, nonsensical international conspiracy, one with no motive or logic at all. All he simply needs to say is, "Sorry, I guess my theory was wrong," as any honest researcher has no problem doing. He cannot seem to do this, which leads me conclude that he is an irrational person who does not objectively view information. You didn't need to go to Everest to find out Irvine wasn't in "Holzell's ego hole," all you had to do was ask me! Kidding. But for real, Holzell does not appear to be the most objective person. Also, the audacity of Synnet to check one 10 foot area and then declare "elaborate Chinese conspiracy," is just confounding to me. He did not even search for Irvine. He summited, then hastily checked a random spot that some egomaniac claimed he knew "for a fact" was Irvine's body. Wang Hongbau told his companion that he buried Irvine with snow when he found him back in 1975. If true, this would have taken a bit of time. If he was gone for 20 minutes only, then Irvine is actually quite a bit closer to that Chinese camp than previously thought, and likely in a spot where a body could lay against a rock and be obfuscated by snow. I read that Hungbao told his companion this in an interview conducted in 2004.

[@EverestMystery]

Truly appreciate your comment, thank you for taking the time to write. It took me ages to get to the comment, apologies on that. While I do very much believe there is a reason that the authorities would hold back on information relating to the discovery of Irvine, the camera and the like, I was quite taken in by Tom Holzel's theory....insomuch as it was very close to the location of another sighting there in the 1990's. The 'slot' was something to go on, to get the ball rolling. One circumstance led to another, our expedition nearly got shut down, and to avert a full-on mutiny we opted to go for the summit and not straight to the search, which was our intention from the genesis of the expedition right until we left Advanced Base Camp. Our hands were tied. The naysayers say we were selfish to go for the summit. It was literally the only thing that saved our expedition from being shut down on the spot. Nonetheless, I am for the most part in agreement with Mark about the theories of various sightings. I personally have always associated Wang's sighting with George Mallory, not Sandy Irvine. Just my gut. I am in alignment with the other sightings of Irvine, and now that Mark visited the slot identified by Holzel, I'm satisfied that if he was there, he was moved. Was he moved? I feel close to 100% that Irvine's remains are not where they were when he originally perished. I'm not sure if I'm answering all the questions that you asked. I have a ton of respect for Tom, and Mark is one of my closest friends in the mountains. I agree that we all should be open to correction and admit it when we're wrong. Hell, I'm wrong a lot. Further, my belief about what happened to M&I on 8 June 1924 constantly changes like the tides...evolving, reverting, updating, reconsidering....by the time I get my thoughts on paper for all to see, I guess I'll have to finally settle on something! Thanks for your keen insight and thoughts on the topic. I appreciate it very much. Yours, -Thom

[@myredeemerlives0923]

I believe when the storm hit ,they had no chance to summit and be came lost and met their demise. You have to keep in mind they where in the jet stream lair . 150 mile an hr winds can blow any climber away. But that is another question how bad was the storm that hit

[@vukasinsibinovic8137]

Hey Thom.. First od all I hope u are okey with the health.. I saw a movie where are u and Mark going to Everest in 2019… I read and saw everything that can be found on internet about M&I. In this video and also in movie you showing a map where “eyewitness” saw a dead English body.. The body can be also around that area.Maybe lowe or more to the left/right.I think is very hard to point and say that is a exactly location od Irvine. And what you think about their climbing route..? There is a lot people that think Mallory would go via ridge /secon step. In a movie “The wildest dream “ Mallory wrote that climbing via ridge is very much impossible. Maybe there is a chance going below ridge and to break out on third step,where Odell see them at 12:50.. This is such a mystery… Really amazing. Cheers and all the best!!

[@EverestMystery]

Great hearing from you and thank you so much for your thoughts and comments! I'm doing well, no residual effects of the TIA in 2019. I truly wish we had more of an opportunity to look around up there. I know that people are interested in returning to look in places that haven't been checked yet. I had always believed the Second Step was their chosen route, and honestly still do. However, there is a very good chance they took the couloir....strong possibility. I do, however, think that Norton gave Mallory some intel the night before he and Sandy left for the summit that confirmed his suspicions....and I think he could have kept the plan to climb the ridge to himself. Not sure if you've seen this video about the routes and research done by my guest who makes a case for the ridge route: kzbin.info/www/bejne/joq6p6mBjNJqh6c Really happy to have you here, thanks again and say in touch!

[@mac1975]

I wish we could find Sandy

[@EverestMystery]

How amazing that would be....

[@mac1975]

One day perhaps.

[@cs-mh2dh]

Considering where they were last seen and where Mallory was found, I am sure they made the summit; however, the climb to the summit is not successful if you cannot make it back down alive. Summit fever makes too many look for the summit while ignoring the descend. Getting to the summit is the first half of the journey: Getting back down is the last half and hardest part of the journey. The only reason I would like to see Irvine found is to compare the areas he and Mallory found their last resting spots. Keep in mine: Over many years, I am sure the mountain has shifted them farther down (possibly over due to high winds) from where they actually died. I do not believe the Chinese fount Irvine, but if they did I am sure they wanted to keep secrets to better their own climbers claim to victory.

[@alexk2652]

Hi there Thanks for the video on the search. What is the evidence that the Chinese took irvines body from the mtn? It seems like a very odd thing to do. Thanks Alex

[@EverestMystery]

Hey Alex, there is evidence that the Chinese removed bodies from the mountain. Mark Synnott's book The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest is a great way to dive into the mystery.

[@alexk2652]

@@EverestMystery ok thanks for the heads up. Alex

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

@@alexk2652 Alex, I told you this a while back in another thread for another video, man… I spoke with Jake about it… as a forensic psychologist i study behavior, motivation, also used to work law enforcement, was in the mil for several years….

[@WWIIPacificHistory]

That was excellent and much appreciated! I have to admit when I first watched the documentary based on this expedition I was quite annoyed and I gave it a bad review. I was annoyed that the team seemingly wasted their energy with a summit push instead of putting a full effort into the search for Irvine. At the time it just seemed to me that you all suckered the financing for an Everest summit climb behind a false pretense of searching for Irvine. Now that I know the geopolitical environment you had to work under I now know that impression of mine was completely wrong. It’s really unfortunate that the Chinese Government would not allow a full on search for Irvine expedition and IMO it lends credence that they have intentionally done something to hide what happened in 1924.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you, much appreciated. I found it amusing to think that someone would have the energy or capacity to orchestrate an intricately detailed song and dance about looking for Sandy Irvine in order to get to the summit. All one needs to do is join an outfit....going to the summit. In a one-hour documentary only a sliver of a story can really be told. As always, but even more so in the last decade or so, anything Everest-related is held under a microscope. Comes with the terrain. The unkind reviews and criticisms, wherever they are, are mostly misinformed, or at least coming from a place of judgment along with an undertone of moral superiority. Thanks so much for your comment and for watching. I truly appreciate it and happy that you took the time to comment. It means a lot. -Thom

[@jcksn1317]

Just thinking and you would know. Mallory was last seen at 12:50pm and his watch was broke and stopped at 1:30. Is that enough time to get to where they were last seen and straight up to a place he may have fallen?

[@emmacahill5502]

I believe that M&I took the Norton Coulior. No way he would have took the 2nd step. I believe Mallory most certainly summited. There was no stopping him . I also think the camera was destroyed purposely. Doesn't make sense that it was not found on Mallory if he was the one to summit . Some say I'm a Romantic for thinking this way. But there is every possibility that he reached the top.

[@EverestMystery]

Many think the Norton Couloir was his route. Someone should definitely attempt to do that route sometime in the future, just to add credence to this field of thought. That route is not as straightforward as one might think.It's terrifyingly steep. Getting up it is one thing. Getting down it and all the way back to where Mallory was discovered seems a superhuman feat. I love that there are so many angles to this story. The camera, indeed. It's out there somewhere.... Thank you for watching! I really appreciate it.

[@Moishe555]

@@EverestMystery true, Many people say Norton Couloir like it's a shortcut, while someone like Messner stated in his opinion even that route was beyond the capabilities of the 24' team. He stated he was lucky to stumble on a snow field leading to the right of the Couloir which he climbed with modern ice axes. Mallory may have gotten to the top, but he would have been really pressed for time coming down. Hence a late fall at night possibly.

[@robertg.arbuckle6838]

Irvine had enough foresight to reload the Somerville camera that couldn't easily be reloaded with gloves. After the last photo of Mallory taking off, Irvine reloaded the camera and put it in His pocket! Everyone says "The proof of all time would be a photo of Mallory on the Summit". Everyone was correct in that Irvine being interested in the camera would use it!

[@kch7051]

With all the efforts to find Sandy, are there still other searchable places?

[@EverestMystery]

I'd venture to say that diehard sleuths feel it's always worth looking in other places. A good deal of the upper north face has been covered, except over to the left (east) of the shoulder. That might reveal something...but I wouldn't put it on the top of my list. Also, perhaps a look over in the Norton Couloir would be worth a visit, although it would be an extremely steep and difficult venture. Another thought would be to search lower on the mountain, below the established search areas. This would again be treacherous at best, which explains why few have tried it.

[@cindyr8986]

Hi Tom, What I find very curious is how did his left boot come off his foot? We have to pull our boots off to remove, and his toe is to the ground. I just don't see how the wind could have done that?? It seems to me some other mountaineer came across his body some time ago and took it as a souvenir. Any thoughts???

[@EverestMystery]

It's very possible....truly.....upon my first impression, it didn't even occur to me as odd that a boot was missing. Given the incredible trauma to his leg, it's possible that it was pulled off during that fall. But, the more I learn about other people having encountered the remains of both Mallory and Irvine, I would not be surprised if perhaps someone took the boot. I don't think it's likely...however, it's surely possible. Thank you Cindy for watching and for commenting.

[@cindyr8986]

@@EverestMystery Tom, I was watching your film "Lost on Everest" where you and the others were searching for Irvine's camera. You stated that you feel the camera is up there somewhere...If you really think about it most likely the camera has been smashed by now and the film which is made of plastic had to withstand -30 degree temps or more for over 75 yrs. The film would not have held up, would be broken into lots of tiny pieces...It would be great but you have to be realistic here...There's really no chance of it being intact after all these years under such harsh conditions. No point in risking lives searching for it. Just my thoughts. Cheers.

[@EverestMystery]

@@cindyr8986 Highly possible that what you say is true. We wouldn't have done this expedition without the use of drones. That was the key to the effectiveness of our search methods. Also, keep in mind that everything in Mallory's pockets (between his body and the surface, was in perfect condition.) Had that camera been in a front pocket in a coat pocket, it's likely that the camera would have survived and the film intact for developing. When we went in 1999 and again in 2019 we consulted with Kodak experts who assured us that the film, if undamaged, could be developed. On the danger thing, if we didn't do things that had a level of risk there would be no first ascents, or we'd never have seen the Titanic discovered, or never would have seen a girl sail solo around the world at the age of 14. The element of risk is one of the reasons that this becomes more intriguing (to people with a little tiny screw loose somewhere 😂).

[@EverestMystery]

One add-on. We are totally aware that the camera was an even longer shot at being discovered as was the chance of finding Sandy. And, seeing that Mallory's boot had been ripped off by the sheer force of a fall, it seems more unlikely that an object the size of the camera wouldn't come flying out of a pocket. So, yeah....long shot....that's part of the draw. Thank you!

[@A55Hol3_Actual]

You ain't hitting no Piper Cub at 27,000'+ with a DJI Drone. 😂

[@jsa2001]

Surely if they summited Everest they'd have left something at the summit like a flag or something. My opinion is they turned around due to the weather or had issues with oxygen and died on the way back down.

[@EverestMystery]

For sure, I agree.... The summit is constantly being hammered by winds. Imagine the summit flume as if it's a slow-motion wave, reaching a high point, then curling over the other side. Anything planted at the top is either blown off or slowly moving away from the wind, down the opposite side. There have been tripods, bronze Buddhas, you name it, anchored at the top...nothing lasts too long, unfortunately.

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

@Genovese 23 He fell,. Its speculation what happened to personal effects He was also missing a spare set of googles, an ice axe and the 2 climbers had two camera - neither have been found. If the made it wouldn't hey have kept a camera each on their persons?. As every indication tends to show Irvine fell first while being roped to Mallory, who was injured but likely survived this first accident, only to fall again. It entirely possible, knowing he would likely die, Mallory removed the photo to look at his wife one time and lost it in the second fatal accident. There's a lot of wishful thinking about Mallory and Irvine, with people interpreting every piece of information to think they made it, while the leaving out the stuff which indicates they didn't.

[@spaceman8839]

@@user-uy6uc5ey5q where did you learn both men had cameras? I have only heard that Sandy had a camera.

[@wgisgr8]

I can’t believe he went down that slope at the top-- that took some nerve

[@EverestMystery]

For sure, it reminded me to an extent of our 1999 search....it was a no-man's land out there....one misstep and....

[@b.w.22]

Gosh, so much is being discussed here about a forensic account of Mallory and his clothing that just didn’t happen because the guys in ‘99 weren’t entirely prepared for the reality that they’d just actually found Mallory’s body. But also, at 27,000 feet “CSI Everest” isn’t a thing and we’re lucky to have learned what we have, even if elements are contested. I find the parts about the Chinese so curious, to include it being palpable that they weren’t cool with looking for Irvine. BUT, to respond to your query, I always felt Messner’s reasoning for Mallory not summiting persuasive: that the crux climb was probably too difficult given their gear, that there was no evidence beyond it that he could see, but specifically no gear placed to allow a rappel down the crux climb (I don’t recall the name of the feature). Had a piton been removed, there would still be scoring in the place it had been. Then again, as the comments here have shown me, there may be a good reason for that sort of evidence to be gone lest it invalidate certain claims....

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you, you have excellent insight. I appreciate your thoughts and agree.

[@julianwood6625]

Hi, the Chinese sightings and rumours are indeed very curious. Regarding Messner's theory, I believe that the feature you are referring to is the second step. As far as I am aware, all of the available evidence has Mallory and Irvine going for the Norton Couloir, not the second step. I believe that there is not a shred of evidence to show that they went for the second step instead. I'm sure Thom will correct me if I am wrong here. Presumably, this could explain why there was no gear found on the second step. Further, I think the Chinese were the first ones to actually try the second step after 1924. Hence, if gear had (or had not) been placed there in 1924, it would mean us all relying on the official information supplied to us by the Chinese Government.

[@EverestMystery]

@@julianwood6625 great comment, thank you. I have always assumed they went via the Second Step. In 1999 when I was hired to film the expedition we were all focused on the Second Step....from the PBS Nova team to the BBC producers. I defer to Jochen Hemmleb and Tom Holzel and now Mark Synnott for the best guess on what route they attempted. Bradford Washburn told me one time many moons ago that he met with Noel Odell and had a long conversation about the 1924 expedition. He asked Odell to point on a topo and photograph exactly where he saw Mallory & Irvine on that fateful day in June of '24. Another video or chapter for another day.... What I would absolutely love to see would be an expedition that climbs to the summit via the Norton Couloir, to basically document how that looks.Good luck getting the Chinese to acquiesce on that one. Mark Synnott's book wraps up at the end with a report by the Chinese written in 1960 stating that they found Irvine's body. It's worth reading, as it could be revelatory. Thanks for your comment and to all the commenters. I am amazed at how thoroughly studied so many are about this story....

[@julianwood6625]

@@EverestMystery Hi Thom and thanks for your reply. Think it is best to refer to the evidence that we actually have from the 1924 expedition. Norton went for the Norton Couloir. He then proceeded to inform Mallory that it would go, albeit on very steep slabs. Further, Mallory told John Noel where to look for him on his summit attempt and John Noel's camera was pointing directly at the top section of the Norton Couloir, as well as to the right of it. Furthermore, Mallory's own note sent the day before his attempt says, "It won't be too early to start looking out for us either crossing the neckband under the pyramid or going up skyline at 8.0p.m.". Presumably, he meant 8.0a.m. Only going up the Norton Couloir would give Mallory the choice of these two options. I think it is worth pointing out that all of the British Expeditions from that side of the mountain before 1960, attempted the Norton Couloir route and not the second step (I think one party had a brief look at it and quickly decided against it), which kind of creates the impression that the Couloir looked a better bet than the ridge. As a first ascent attempt, it would seem to be highly logical and normal to choose the line of least resistance. Is there any evidence from the 1924 expedition to indicate that Mallory went for the second step instead?

[@b.w.22]

@@julianwood6625 - You know, that’s really interesting. I’ve not read Messner’s books that might speak to this and only saw a portion of an interview where he discusses it. One wonders whether this influenced Messner’s route up the Norton Couloir on his solo ascent? In the interview, he suggests that the nail-boots of the time just weren’t up to the task and the piece was centered on the second-step when cutting to his comments, but now I wonder if it wasn’t poor context and what he was really discussing was their nail-boots and the climb up the couloir. Thank you for this comment, as this route would also better explain Irvine being below the ridge in that nook the “Englishman” was said to be. It seems like just the place to drop down to traverse over to that feature and maybe just the sort of place one might try to shelter when waiting for a companion. Such a fascinating mystery and I appreciate your insight. As ever, all respect to those brave men.

[@kencusick6311]

Couldn’t you determine if Mallory and Irvine had summitted if we found summit rocks on them? Mallory stated multiple times that was one reason for climbing to the summit. Hillary and other climbers brought back rock samples.

[@EverestMystery]

Hi Ken, yes, the existence of rocks could put him closer to the summit. I brought down all of the contents in his pockets that were located on the front of his body, and unfortunately I found none. (At the same time, there aren't rocks located on the actual summit.) All that said, the absence of rocks also doesn't tell us that he didn't make it to the summit. Additionally, there was no camera, nor was there the backpack he wore to carry oxygen bottles, no ice axe, gloves, even a boot was missing from his left foot, as were his spare pair of glacier glasses. Were I given a time machine to go back to 1999 with all the information I've learned since that day I might do things a bit differently. However, Andy and I were meticulous in our search. The end result would probably be the same: there were no rocks in his pockets. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it and glad that you took the time to comment! Cheers, Thom Pollard

[@patrickrodgers4298]

Question for Thom (not sure if this has been answered) back in 99 once Mallory was found why didn't the search continued for Irvine considering the lack of snow on the mountain at the time?

[@EverestMystery]

Patrick, great question. The original plan was that the next search was going to be for Sandy Irvine. On May 8th the mountain received a legitimate amount of snow up high, changing all the conditions on the mountain. Then, during the storm we sat out at Camp 5 (modern day Camp 2) the mountain got pummeled. During that storm we decided it would be extremely difficult to find anything new, given the snow conditions. So, we determined that returned to the Mallory site (with a metal detector) would be a better use of the time. Thanks for watching!

[@patrickrodgers4298]

@@EverestMystery thanks, definitely much more snow around when you and Andy visited the site the second time around.

[@kitcanyon658]

That's interesting about the Chinese supposedly removing a body from that area. Does it beg the question of them removing evidence, such as the camera if it were Irvine and he had retained the camera? I'm not sure what motive it would serve but an interesting idea.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, absolutely...Mark covers this in his book. Near the end he discusses a 1960 official report written after the Chinese Everest expedition. In 1960 climbers encountered a body...presumably Irvine's.... I'd imagine that they would have every reason to destroy anything that might point to M&I successfully reaching the summit.

[@kitcanyon658]

@@EverestMystery Thanks Thom. I appreciate the response. I'll look for Mark's book - always need a good read.

[@EverestMystery]

@@kitcanyon658 It's a good read.... The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest. Thanks for watching the video, much appreciated!

[@kitcanyon658]

@@EverestMystery I just realized how the discovery of Mallory’s could have really been an embarrassment to the Chinese if enough evidence had been discovered with it.

[@EverestMystery]

@@kitcanyon658 100%...they would not have been too pleased to have their first ascent wiped from the books (of the north side, that is).

[@alexmartins5286]

Do you think team job trying to find summit rocks at pockets were done properly? Tks

[@EverestMystery]

I think the team did a commendable job. Further, one does not need to be specifically looking for an object in order to find it, ie the watch that was in his pocket.

[@HighCarbDiabeticV]

Hi Thom, is it possible the Chinese removed Andrew's remains as they were worried there was sufficient evidence that Mallory & Irvine were successful and that would have ruined their record of having been the first to successfully climb it a certain way?

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you for your question. I feel that the Chinese definitely don't want history changed by learning if someone from another country were the first to summit from the north. Whether there was/is sufficient evidence on Irvine's body is hard to say. However, given what we've learned about them moving the body, I'd imagine they'd leave nothing to chance and make it impossible to ever find his remains.

[@HighCarbDiabeticV]

@@EverestMystery Hi Thom, thanks for taking the time to reply. Since learning of the Chinese moving of Irvine, which seems very reliable based upon the different guys in your community who all learnt about it from people in the government, it kind of confirms in my own mind that Mallory & Irvine did make it. My logic being, have you ever heard of anyone recovering a body that old & from that high on the mountain? It must have taken a tremendous effort by the Chinese with great risk to their own climbers. Perhaps they found summit rocks, cameras with pictures etc that proved they were second, else they would just leave it up there. I'm not a climber, I've just relatively recently caught the Mallory & Irvine bug and have been trying to watch as many videos as I can. I really like your content.

[@HighCarbDiabeticV]

@@EverestMystery I don’t understand why there isn’t more outrage about them moving Andrew’s body, why hasn’t his family spoken out, why haven’t climbers been more outspoken, why hasn’t it sparked a diplomatic incident etc. Is everyone scared of the Chinese and what they might to do people who speak out?

[@geewizz5311]

Is it possible that Irvine fell over the ridge and down the east face of the mountain?

[@EverestMystery]

Absolutely....however, there have been sightings that lead us to believe the body was not Mallory, therefore Irvine. Such a mystery!

[@kiwicory100]

Do you guys know the names of the two climbers bodies found by Konrad? It almost seems like a climber fall line and perhaps their falls circumstances, if known, might shed light on Irvine/Mallory. On another note are we ever going to see more drone footage, or is that being reserved for a 100 yr anniversary film deal and release?

[@EverestMystery]

Hi Jake, I'm not familiar with anyone other than G Mallory that Conrad found. The drone footage....I believe any perceived delays in releasing it are more due to people being too busy to put it out there than waiting for the anniversary. I'll try to keep the fire lit for a release of some sort. Thanks as always for watching!

[@kiwicory100]

@@EverestMystery Hey Tom. Thanks for your reply. In the film, Lost on Everest,- BBC learning which someone has put on KZbin In 5 parts has Conrad stating he found the body of a modern climber, and reasoned that if this was a fall line he, reasoned Irvine might be nearby where the North Face cliffs out. He also mentions having something which was blue and yellow catching his attention, which was apparently another climber, which he doesn’t elaborate on but then realizes something else catches his attention-Mallory. This “version” of Lost On Everest: The Search for Mallory & Irvine by Peter Firstbook and narrated by John Scrapnel . Different from yours I guess , but given the end credits I guess you were there but not on the mountain at the time of the discovery. Thanks again.

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

oh shoot!!! Hey, sir, I didn’t realize it was you!!!!LOL!!!! Hey I have some questions regarding the 99 search. Hey did you take photos of the skull? I was talking to Jay and he said you and Andy were the only two to see the anterior. Specifically, the hole… above the R eye? that’s what I wanted to see - My theory is that both bodies were found by the Chinese and both were tampered with - prior to the summit of ‘53! That’s important….and I have several reasons why. I also think that Andy’s body WAS where the porter said, but not after the 70s. Interesting you had also posted that below and I’ve never read mark’s book nor heard him say that. Ok, I’ve got tons of questions

[@EverestMystery]

Greetings, great hearing from you. I agree with the last statement....I've learned so much since talking with Mark about the official Chinese report about the 1960 Chinese expedition finding Irvine on the ridge. They were not kind to the body, that is clear. It very well may provide a reason for the hole in the skull over Mallory's left eye.

[@EverestMystery]

On a further note, his book The Third Pole is a must read for anyone interested in the Mallory & Irvine Mystery.

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

@@EverestMystery Hey, Thom! Ok, so it was above the L eye, not the R. Ok, I was previously told it was the right, but as Jay told me, you and Andy were the ones to see the anterior and take photos, I trust you guys’ accounts - did you post the photos, by chance? My interest was the quality of the wound itself: were the edges jagged? Smooth? Was the surrounding skull also fractured but not fragmented? I’m not sure if you’d ever observed a medical examination where the victim died of a head wound, but there is a type of injury we denote as a ‘depressed sinus fracture’. These can be both maxillary and frontal and are considered ‘partial thickness fractures’, so *not necessarily* fatal. Or was it full thickness? While I’m not an MD, or forensic pathologist, I’ve been around enough wounds enough wounds in the military and law enforcement to give pretty good estimates guesses as to MOIs/significant&fatalMOIs. Yeah, anyway, when I heard this further info after watching the videos of the ‘99 exped years ago, I just thought ‘wow, no way, most likely - this has been tampered with; and, therefore, Irvine’s body most likely was, as well’. Then again, my ‘remains could have fallen off into a crevasse’ theory could also have occurred - and if so…do they DNA test those remains spit out year after year from the glaciers? They usually come out in pieces. I know, it’s grim, but that’s the identification process.

[@EverestMystery]

@@pugilemoltobene3708 Great insight. I'll never release all of the photos but will share the full accounting of what I experienced in a book that I'm writing...might take awhile to get it completed. I've shared all of this with only a few, including Mark Synnott who is not only a very close friend but also for the purposes of his book. The hole above the eye went completely through the skull. It wasn't a depression, it was a full-on hole. I resist going into detail here.... In '99 we found some of the remains of Maurice Wilson, who lost his life in 1933 above what is now Advanced Base Camp, somewhere below the North Col. It was a part of his arm, along with fabric from layers that he was wearing. We did not, unfortunately, take any DNA samples from him.

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

@@EverestMystery Hey, Thom! I completely understand and have great respect the process bc, among all the other junk I’ve done, I have (scholarly) academic pubs, as well…and working on a book - forensic psych, though, completely different genre than adventuring/mountaineering/alpinist exploits LOL. That the hole was through-and-through disturbs me… DEFINITELY tampering. Ughhh…and I’m standing my ground on pre-1953. The motivation was just so high: world first, top of the world… well, that certainly answers that, don’t even have to go into fragmentation/clean vs jagged edges. Dammit, they F$&@‘d with the bodies, Thom!!! My whole thing was, motive-wise, that (prior to 1953) if they found them, take the camera(if they found it), perhaps even tamper with the bodies, they could make the summit and, if Mallory had summited, steal any evidence to claim it for themselves, even though they didn’t, tho they got the first summit from n col route in ‘60. Hmmmm🤔 So, in my opinion, IF Mallory and Irvine HAD summited, they’d have been willing to steal any evidence by way of tampering.

[@tamaticassidy3775]

I think it could have been a Sherpa who first climbed Everest. Stands to reason, They of all people know the place best of all, they do all of the lifting and their bodies are made for that mountian so it makes sense to me. and anyway, 1953 Norgay Tenzing, a Sherpa along Sir Edmond Hillary did it. It, maybe, could have been done by Irvine and Mallory. The fact about it is The mountain has been climbed and the mountain knows exactly who was first to the summit

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

Sherpa were/are deeply religious about Chomolungma- their name for Everest. Its considered a goddess and the name means Mother of the World and they would never have considered climbing it without western values being introduced via the various climbing expeditions coming into the Solu-Khumbu. Even now Sherpa wont stand on the very top, but a step down and will always make a offering while up there In fact the recent high number of Sherpa deaths in last few years has been seen as punishment for climbing the mother goddess. When combined with the specialist skills and physical requirements needed to climb to the summit on either side (Tenzing, even with the skills didn't have the stature to get up the Hillary step, Hillary literally had to use his height and immense strength to haul himself up) it very likely no Sherpa climbed prior to modern mountaineering.

[@paulharper6464]

They didn’t know the place at all and nor did they have any culture of mountaineering. On the 1921 Everest reconnaissance expedition, the locals didn’t even know how to get to the mountain let alone climb it.

[@Adamgreen735]

I have only been watching Everest based movies and docs for about 2 weeks, found it so interesting and seeing these absolute beast of men and woman that started up that mountain in 1924... That's just unbelievable really, in little more than basic woollen clothes. But i just watched a doc stating that Thom pollard was not on the expedition that originally found Mallory, he was up there 2 weeks after, and it was 5 other guys that found him first, no disrespect, just dont want to get my facts muddled. I mean it doesnt matter who found him, its the fact he has been found. And irvine is still missing if im not mistaken.

[@EverestMystery]

I was on the expedition. I returned to the Mallory site about two weeks after the original instead of filming the attempt at freeing the Second Step. In total, six people were at the site where GLM lay. I became the only person to see his face and found his watch.

[@randomprecisionmotors3130]

Totally off topic, but nice Telecaster...

[@EverestMystery]

Lol, I want that thing within arm's reach every hour of the day.... Thx man!

[@randomprecisionmotors3130]

@@EverestMystery yeah I have a Strat and a Les Paul I feel the exact same way about...

[@EverestMystery]

@@randomprecisionmotors3130 I have some cash down on my first Les Paul....I can't wait to bring it home: 1991 Standard, Candy Apple Red with double binding....a beaut

[@randomprecisionmotors3130]

@@EverestMystery the one I have now I built myself. I'd like to say from scratch, but it was a set-neck kit, but I put it together as close to a '59 as I could get it, and quite by accident the finish came out looking almost exactly like the Peter Green/Gary Moore Les Paul, and because I used Tung Oil to finish it it has a very old look to it...I get a lot of compliments on it, and it was my first whack at anything like that as far as building a guitar...

[@VTPSTTU]

That the Chinese may have found and erased this bit of history is tragic. I don't doubt that they might have done so. Bureaucrats and even non-bureaucrats in positions of power are prone to that kind of ugly action. Even so, history should condemn them for denying the world knowledge of a feat that should be part of all human history. I'm not an expert in mountaineering, but I did some causal analysis in my career. I understand evaluating evidence. I understand when evidence is simply lacking. As Tom said, we just don't have enough real evidence to say for certain whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit. I can respect those who hold either opinion. I can't respect those who can't respect the opposite opinion. I hope that someday the evidence will be revealed to the world. If the Chinese have moved that body somewhere else, I hope that they will reveal the body to the world. If they simply pushed the body further down the mountain, I hope that someday people will be able to search and find the body. I realize that finding a body thrown off the mountain that way may be impossible. Even so, this history belongs not just to Britain but to all of humanity. I wish we could find this history.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you so much for watching and for taking the time to share your thoughts!

[@DavidJmason5552]

Agreed. The fact that it’s Nepal they disrespected it and were just like nah F that we’ll be the first ones on top of the mountain, let’s go and destroy this camera. It’s not right bro. Irvine and Mallory were tampered with postmortem, and it’s not even debatable

[@alexkalish8288]

Well done, Sandy will be found on the fall line of Mallory in my opinion - he could be under 50 feet of ice by this time, who knows ? They should no longer allow ascents of Everest with oxygen - only for use in emergencies. The crowds on the ridge are the worst of us, not the best - wealthy trill seekers ...it's obscene

[@EverestMystery]

If he is in the fall line, he will be possibly thousands of feet below. Maybe a dozen feet below GLM was a sharp drop, where tiny pebbles and stones tumbled completely into the abyss. Thank you for watching!

[@mcmurtryfan]

I notice you refer to him as "Sandy Irvine"... Wasn't his first name Andrew?

[@BackstageMusicChannel]

Hi Paul, he was called Sandy by friends and family. I've always used Sandy when referring to him, primarily because when we were on the mountain in 1999, that's what he was called. Thank you for watching :)

[@EverestMystery]

Paul, I answered from my other account. Please subscribe, as more Mystery of Mallory and Irvine will be forthcoming....

[@stevenedwards4470]

I have a question. My interest in this is pretty recent so forgive me if it's basic. Is it reasonable to assume that countless people from the area, Sherpas and such, had reached the summit before 1924?

[@EverestMystery]

Hi Steven, before 1924 the mountain was considered the Abode of the Gods...and no one tried to climb it. I suppose there is a chance, but infinitesimal.

[@fastwalker2]

Hello layds and gents. May i ask why would the chinese remove the body of Irvine? What would they gain by doing that? Thanks for an answer

[@chuckmclaughlin9490]

Is it possible Irvine fell higher up and Mallory later as he was making his way down? It seems the assumption is they both fell at or near the same time at the same point in their descent.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, absolutely that is possible. I believe that the rope between the two was cut or broken before either of them died.

[@tomholzel251]

People who have fallen down he Yellow Band are horribly mangled. Mallory was not.

[@EverestMystery]

@@tomholzel251 world expert on the Mystery of Mallory & Irvine, Tom thank you!

[@nicknolte6420]

​@@tomholzel251 Is it possible that Irvine hit the skull of Mallory as an act of mercy since Mallory had a tangled foot and that also will explain the hole in Mallory skull and the luck of any marks of frostbites in the body..After that Irvine tried to go again and find the return route,but was allready late and night(Mallorys glasses inside the pocket )and Irvine found a little higher a final resting spot.The chinese probable found the camera ,took also Mallory axe and a few years before perhaps around 2010 took the body of Irvine to hide the evidence that they were not the first to summit from the north.

[@ihcman9130]

If the Chinese really did remove his body it would be nice if one of their team would break the silence and tell the story. Maybe we could offer a reward if they could prove that it really took place and where the body and camera really are today. I know its a very unlikely thing to ever happen as they'd probably face a firing squad for devulging state secrets.

[@kristoffersmith8289]

It's far more likely the search location "guess" was wrong rather than that the Chinese removed him. Strikes me the ego investment of the researcher is larger than Everest

[@jimbobjim2310]

Has anyone found mezzner?

[@kch7051]

Can someone help me determine what i am looking at. I'm trying to understand the climb on this mountain, not a climber in the slightest, just another hack who has been devouring mountaineering vids from the Himalayan peaks. I'm completely fascinated by the history, heroic and tragic...but at the 30:00 mark he shows the map of the ice axe, Mallorys body etc etc.....is this the backside of the climb? where would the lhotse face be in relation to the digital map- in other words, would the climbers be coming from the other side, or do they come up this face to the ridge and the steps?

[@EverestMystery]

The image at 30:00 is an aerial photograph, looking pretty much straight down on the north ridge of Everest, including the upper face. The orientation of the photograph, basically, would be that the top of the photo is south, the bottom is north. It is confusing to make sense of. Mallory & Irvine made their attempt on the mountain from Tibet, the north side. The Lhotse face would not be seen here until one essentially gains the ridge, then especially from the summit, when they can turn their attention to the south. Lhotse, technically, would be well to the right of this image, up and over the summit. On the final approach to the summit, people coming up the Southeast Ridge (Hillary and Tenzing's route from 1953) and the Northeast Ridge (where this video is concentrated) can see each other once above about 28,000 feet, albeit intermittently. In terms of this photograph that you refer to, the climbers on the Northeast ridge would follow the black line on the left of the screen, and move to the right. Even though it looks flat, the fact that there is no snow below that black line is an indication that it is very, very steep there. Hope this helps a little bit.

[@kch7051]

@@EverestMystery Helps alot...thank you

[@kch7051]

@@EverestMystery i was wrong though..i meant the image at 30:58

[@user-or4hs7xq9u]

With respect, there has been question marks over the "body" of Mallory as portrayed in photos and video used in the (well funded) documentary given that there are credits for special effect professionals. What you say to someone asking questions over the legitimacy of the photos and video?

[@czarcastic1458]

A video by Conrad shows Noel being interviewed and him pointing to where he last saw Mallory at it was east of the first step, around the area where the axe was found. They never even made it past the first step. Sandy was suffering from altitude sickness and in those days they took Laudanum for everything. Sick ,stoned , a late start , bad O2 problems , no head lamps. Realists know they didn't make it to the summit but romantics will claim they did.

[@EverestMystery]

My mentor, the late Bradford Washburn, had this same conversation with Mr. Odell. Odell insisted that he indeed saw M&I east of the Second Step. I agree with your take, thank you for watching and for sharing your thoughts.

[@emmacahill5502]

Or skeptics believe they didn't

[@EverestMystery]

@@emmacahill5502 anything is possible right? It's simply incredible what a human being can do when s/he puts heart and soul into it. You might enjoy this short clip of my talk with Mark Synnott about this exact topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJC3oaJvgZJgqdU

[@czarcastic1458]

@@emmacahill5502 Skeptics = Critical thinkers

[@user-uy6uc5ey5q]

@@EverestMystery You obviously know Odell gave conflicting accounts throughout his life of what he saw. Human eyesight and perception are highly subjective at the best of times. It often said eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable, as it often subject to subconscious bias, conscious bias and just plain mistakes. In one statement he made on sighting "At 12.50, just after I had emerged from a state of jubilation at finding the first definite fossils on Everest, there was a sudden clearing of the atmosphere, and the entire summit ridge and final peak of Everest were unveiled. My eyes became fixed on one tiny black spot silhouetted on a small snow-crest beneath a rock-step in the ridge; the black spot moved. Another black spot became apparent and moved up the snow to join the other on the crest. The first then approached the great rock-step and shortly emerged at the top; the second did likewise. Then the whole fascinating vision vanished, enveloped in cloud once more." he gives indication he was in an emotional state - the whole 'state of jubilation' which we know from human psychology studies can give rise to incorrect perceptions. Many people have insisted they saw something which objective outside evidence shows they couldn't have. Remember he is describing 'tiny black spot' s- which the human eye, even the most clearsighted can incorrectly see. As other have pointed out his description doesn't really match any of the steps, and the details indicating a quick accent, which I understand even top climbers with modern training and skills can't achieve on the 2nd step. Washburn and Odell were both giants in mountaineering (and other fields) and I have nothing but respect for them. But they were human beings and they wouldn't be the first old men discussing events from many many years prior whose recall and discussion wasn't completely accurate to how events happened in reality. Enjoyed your presentation and think you made some good calls about coming down out of the 'problematic part of Everest' for the sake of your family.

[@jayeengland]

Did they thoroughly search Mallory. If his wife's photo is missing he MUST of submitted?

[@ianrice7326]

How about the immensely strong evidence that Mallory didn't have a camera and that Irvine didn't have a kodak camera. And that Mallory (himself) says that he knocked the cooker down from camp 5 not camp 6 like Conrad says in his book?

[@EverestMystery]

Check out my interview with Jochen about the cameras....pretty cool stuff!

[@ianrice7326]

I think I will. Been very interesting learning about all of this.

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

Michael Tracy is saying all kinds of interesting things on his comment section, about how Mallory was found, and then dug up a second time, about stomping a hole in the skull of George Mallory with a crampons? Something about , should if looked or summit rocks on the body, and that Mark Synnott , was told that the Chinese ripped up Irvine body along time ago? Does any of this sound familiar?

[@EverestMystery]

That's very funny. I'd never heard that one. If one is interested in legitimate, fact-based, well-researched answers (written from direct experience or using interviews & conversations with the participants of the 1999 expedition), one need only read two books: Mark Synnott's The Third Pole; Jochen Hemmleb's Ghosts of Everest.

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

@@EverestMystery in fact, josh gets on there and says quite a few things back to him, it's like his second last video he uploaded, I'll send a link,

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

I'm sorry jake norton, not josh, it's his 3rd last video he uploaded

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

@@EverestMystery look into his comments on his third to last video he uploaded, you'll have to dig a little bit, or ask jake, he got on there and responded back, michael tracy

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

@@EverestMystery jake norton calls his hand, this tracy guy rants all kinds of stuff you guys did wrong, and then went back and dug him up again

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

Hello sir. Have watched your videos and am enthralled by your presentation. I must ask you, with no hostility or sarcasm whatsoever, why do you reject the conclusions that Conrad Anker made based on the evidence in his chapter "Apotheosis" in his book _The Lost Explorer_ ?

[@EverestMystery]

Great hearing from you, thank you for watching. It's been quite some time since I read the book by Conrad and David Roberts. To be honest, I may need refreshing as to what his conclusion was about the fate of M&I. All that said, there is little that I summarily reject in regards to the mystery, purely because I truly feel that just about anything could have happened that day. I can't say they didn't make the summit. I can't say they did. The route they took? I lean toward the Second Step, but feel there is also a strong possibility they used the couloir route. Hopefully that answers it. (I'm not notified of replies to my comments, but will endeavor to check back here to see any replies.). Yours, -Thom

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@EverestMystery You do great work!

[@Gundus1000]

The drone footage. Will you ever give it up for the public? It is one thing to revisit the footage for yourself, for a few years. Because it was your effort. But if you really care for the solution of the project and it's goals, you should come to the conclusion, that you now have better chances of finding Irvine, by shareing the footage, no matter what. It is always about money and nothing more...

[@EverestMystery]

If I had the right to share it I would. Your last statement about the money couldn't be further from the truth....it has never been about the money for me (just ask my ex wife).

[@Chasstful]

I don't really think its much of a mystery with all do respect. According to Conrad Anker, who was up there and found Mallory's body, its quite unlikely that Malory summited. Other prominent mountaineering historians concur. There is a cult that believes Mallory definitely summited, but yeah, their beliefs require a leap of faith.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes....however, given that they disappeared on their way up and primarily because they would have been the first, there is a mystery in not knowing what happened, their fate. To me, I don't expect they made it (I'd be ecstatic to be proven wrong, mind you). Mallory was a bigger than life figure of his time. The mystery is not knowing the details and specifics of what happened to these men.

[@Chasstful]

@@EverestMystery Yes, There's something that makes one want to believe they made it, given the primitive gear, inadequate clothing, lack of Sherpas, etc., but what we want to believe and what's real are usually two different things, Personally I think its quite a wonderful thing that a Sherpa, Tenzig Norgay is credited with the first ascent.

[@alexk2652]

The counter argument from the Michael Tracy youtube video is that because they fell and died on the mtn, its likely they pushed onto or very near the summit and returned at night, totally exhausted and then fell at axe site. If they had turned around at second or third step they would likely have returned safely with plenty of time and oxygen. Climbers who have sensibly turned around generally make it back ok.

[@Chasstful]

@@alexk2652 Its still based on pure speculation. There are countless unknown variables to that equation. Anker said they probably wouldn't have been able to climb the technically difficult feature at the top of the 2nd step, especially with primitive equipment with inadequate clothing in a whiteout. That's an expert opinion based upon first hand observation. I'll go with that over some fanatic's KZbin speculation.

[@alexk2652]

@@Chasstful Tracy makes a good case that they climbed via the couloir and avoided second step entirely, as it was too difficult.

[@tarawaukeri8928]

I'm out. All that gliters is not gold.

[@EverestMystery]

One of my favorite sayings....(the second one, that is)

[@nolslifegren]

Way too high up . Mallory didnt fall far so Irvine cant be that far from Mallory

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you so much for watching. I really appreciate it. So many people know much more than me about the Mystery of M&I. My good fortune is merely having been a bit player in two eventful expeditions that attempted to shed new light on the mystery. It would be foolhardy for me to cast doubt on someone's theory. I love that so many people take an interest in it. Probably the truest thing that everyone can agree on is that no one knows for sure what happened on June 8, 1924. One thing I often wonder about is if they were even roped together when Mallory fell to his final resting spot. The end of Mark Synnott's book discusses a Chinese government report from 1961 that places Irvine very high on the mountain.

[@turdeaugottago114]

obtuse comment!

[@EverestMystery]

Not sure what you are referring to....

[@bjrollick5262]

I get so confused listening to this guys story’s. He says 6 man team when I’ve seen other stuff there were 5 guys on that team searching. I see a comment on this video saying he was hired as the high altitudes cameraman but I thought it was Dave Hahn was the high altitude cameraman. I seen an interview he did with Andy Politz where I thought he said he was on a second expedition a couple months later. I’m not suggesting anyone is being untruthful because I’m a nobody that doesn’t know anything but it gets confusing listening to was seems like conflicting story’s from the same group of people.

[@EverestMystery]

Six men left Camp 5 on the morning of May 1, 1999. As high altitude cameraman for PBS Nova, I filmed until all the team left camp. 30 minutes later there was a problem with my O2 system. I turned back to Camp 5 shortly before Mallory was discovered. Dave Hahn was on the payroll of the BBC, the other entity co-producing the film about the search. Fifteen days after the discovery our search team of six returned, the decision made that Andy Politz and I would return to the site of GLM, which we did on the afternoon of May 16, 1999. Conrad Anker and Dave Hahn went to the summit and Jake Norton and Tap Richards turned around at Mushroom Rock.