Every Search of Everest in the Search for Mallory & Irvine - Jake Norton

Note: in the video I mention the '1938' expedition. My bad: my brain said 1933, my mouth was not in synch and uttered 1938. Thus, I leave it to the experts like Jake to throw the dates around :)
- Cheers and thank you!
Everest Searches: 1999-2019 by JAKE NORTON:
jakenorton.com/everest-search...
This interview is a rare look into the greatest mystery in all of adventure, Did Mallory and Irvine make it to the summit of Everest in 1924? Jake himself has been on five search expeditions for Mallory and Irvine, and personally has more boots on the ground experience than any human being alive or otherwise in the search for clues to the mystery of their disappearance.
In 1999 Jake found the first clue DURING OUR HISTORIC EXPEDITION, an O2 bottle from the 1975 Chinese expedition, during which Wang Hung-bao found Mallory's remains. ON THAT SAME DAY, After an hour and 45 minutes, Conrad ANKER hopped on the radio, calling a mandatory team meeting. In a 2012 interview with outside Online, Jake said about the discovery, Conrad “was about 50 meters away from me, frantically waving his ice ax above his head. I walked over and happened by proximity to get there first, and there was Conrad, standing silently above the remains of a fallen hero: exactly as he appears in my photo from the cover of Outside. It was the most humbling experience of my climbing career, and one that will stay with me forever.”
The Happiness Quotient podcast: thehappinessquotient.buzzspro...
Thom's Patreon for exclusive content:
/ thehappinessquotient

[@jacobrichards8359]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has become obsessed with Mallory and Irvine in the past few years. It's all so fascinating.

[@EverestMystery]

Pretty crazy, right? Stay tuned for more, my friend. Glad you dropped by!

[@mitkopenev9316]

@@chrishelton8313 Completely agree with you on that one, I believe that the Chinese just started spreading that story as propaganda to keep people from searching for Irvine on the mountain.

[@1TUFZ71]

​@Chris Helton "why on earth would they search them" Because literally the only "English Dead" that high on the mountain in 1960 are M&I. That really needs no further explanation; same for why they'd take the VPK. None of which behooves them to own up to in the modern day. As for moving the body I would agree they likely didn't focus on that in '60 or '75 but it makes total sense the '08 cleanup context Thom mentioned. Either way I think the difficulty of pushing the body further down is overemphasized by modern private climbing- governments have sent men on equally or more dubious & perilous missions for little more than political bragging rights, it's always been that way. CCP controlled China being certainly no exception.

[@stephencopeland238]

The M&I mystery has been a fascination for me for the last 2 decades since I first learnt their disappearances on a television documentary. I am neither a qualified mountaineer nor have any experience so as the typical layman - thank you so very much for sharing your experience and expertise - it is so appreciated

[@EverestMystery]

I can't thank you enough...I'm happy that you've found the channel and hope you enjoy the other interviews here! Thanks again!

[@BigDickMark]

Thom, another great video. I also wanted to thank you for cultivating a civil but open minded forum for discussing all things M&I. Looking forward to your future content!

[@EverestMystery]

Thanks for that! I appreciate it very much.

[@lauratroxel24]

Absolutely! Some people are very arrogant and think they are always correct. Nobody really knows...yet.

[@briang4225]

This is such an amazing journey no matter the what data they eventually find. Just incredible This needs to be a Hollywood blockbuster

[@darrenwisniewski237]

Great stuff Thom. Looking forward to the next one.

[@EverestMystery]

And thank you!

[@boondocksadventures2328]

Great interview Thom! I like that you are pulling all this info together.

[@EverestMystery]

More to come! Thank you... :)

[@roberthunter5398]

i think its wonderful that you guys have put so much into this subject. Thank you all so much.

[@EverestMystery]

Glad you're enjoying it...it's fun, and not taking it too seriously is the absolute key to having fun and meeting really cool people. Cheers

[@Tser]

I really appreciate how thorough your videos are, the diverse povs, and the emphasis on evidence and historical records. I like all the different interviews, different perspectives. I really appreciate pointing out the ambiguities, contradictions, speculation versus facts, and differences in opinion. Part of what makes it interesting to me is teasing out what truth we can from all of these, and admitting there are parts we can't confirm. But that's what makes it so interesting a century on.

[@EverestMystery]

I truly appreciate your comment. It's a fascinating mystery. The thing that really gets me excited is that here we are on this KZbin channel and people from all over the world are gathering to discuss our common interest....it's amazing, actually. Thank you for dropping by!

[@westleyshirlaw8437]

Thank you for working on this project I think it is fascinating and also a very interesting mystery as to the final story of these two climbers

[@EverestMystery]

It's a pleasure....lots of fun to do. I truly enjoy keeping in touch with old friends like Jake...sharing our common interests like this. Cheers!

[@aljanecko]

I’ve watched this so many times, Love the content.

[@EverestMystery]

Truly appreciate it!

[@carolescutt2257]

George Mallory was a proper good old fashioned English daredevil movie star looks and his disappearance and subsequent discovery just adds to the intensity of the story

[@EverestMystery]

That is for sure! Thanks so much for watching

[@magnusgreel275]

Hey that interactive map looks really great and informative! I'll have to have a look. Very good interview :)

[@EverestMystery]

I'm sure you will enjoy it....see the notes of this video, it will take you right there via the link. Cheers!

[@amitypets7806]

Thank you Thom for all your great work and creating these videos. They are really interesting! Of course, we will never truly know, but the only logical conclusion to both of them not making it back seems to be that they pushed beyond the limits and made the summit (or darn close) and fell on the way back down because it was dark and they were near frozen and hypoxic. Especially since we know Mallory was so close to making it to camp. Based on what we know about Mallory and many climbers' mindsets, this seems to make total sense.

[@EverestMystery]

Many thanks to you, as well. The one thing I know for sure is that it's a tragic story...it still resonates today with so many.

[@wyomingadventures]

Jake Norton is doing a great job!

[@EverestMystery]

Jake is the man....good people he is, right down to the core....

[@TheSaxon.]

I think that regardless of differing opinions, everyone should just be happy that there are people out there that are providing information and content, which keeps this whole subject matter alive and provides the possibility that this mystery may one day be solved , or at the very least, provide us with intrigue and wonder.

[@EverestMystery]

Certainly....everyone has something to contribute. I appreciate all the work that goes into it, and enjoy sharing it here. Thank you for being a part of it.

[@ttmallard]

Great work Jake !!! ... thx o' ton, 3 beers my max 🍺🍺🍺

[@EverestMystery]

Awesome!

[@dobertjowneyrunior3023]

Michael Tracy has a great series on this. Love all the M&I conversation I can find. Thanks for continuing the discussion and intrigue into the mountain and sport.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you, it's a fascinating mystery....I love how it brings people together here on KZbin and elsewhere. I appreciate that you took time to stop by!

[@alexk2652]

Top work Thom 👏

[@EverestMystery]

Thanks 👍 Alex, I appreciate it. The next part with Jake....talking about that couloir that was named after him, er...some guy named Norton. Cheers!

[@WellyCoaster]

Hi Thom! It's been really enjoyable watching these vids where you and other researchers open and share. Stumbling onto Jakes blog a few years back got me hooked on this mystery. I'm wondering how far west did the drone take photos? Like did they take photos on the face below the second step or below the shallow scoop (the 1933 term for the open cutting just west of the second step in the limestone rockband).

[@EverestMystery]

Hi Carl, thank you so much. Glad you're here! The drone covered essentially all of what you have mentioned. We photographed any location in what we might consider a place where Sandy would theoretically be or have been. Hopefully, we can get Nat Geo to put them all out there for the world to see. Thanks again for being here!

[@RedSox4JC]

Thom, thank you for yet ANOTHER great interview!! Jake, thank you for your great information and very detailed research!! I can't WAIT to look at those images more closely on your site. I'm one of those researchers who love to come up with my own conclusions but if someone has a better conclusion or information I may not have had before, I'm not above admitting that I was wrong. Like for instance, Jake, for 15+ years I thought it was not possible for M&I to make it to the top, but after reading your three part blog about whether it was possible for them to reach the summit, you've made me doubt myself. I still think they probably didn't make it, but I now believe it's possible they made it due to your narrative. Thom, thank you for this video! Have a Blessed weekend!

[@EverestMystery]

Mike, thank you for watching. The direct link to the diagram is in the notes to the video. Love your thoughts on this, keep them coming. Cheers!

[@RedSox4JC]

@@EverestMystery Thom, you are very welcome! And thank you for the info about the maps. Blessings!!

[@dukecraig2402]

Thom, first and foremost I think it's so great the way you guy's bring the whole world in on participating in this great mystery, I'm sure you guy's have figured out by now that someone doesn't have to be a mountaineer or even be particularly interested in mountaineering to be intrigued by the Mallory and Irvine mystery, and when it comes to the mystery itself I think a lot of people let emotions cloud their thinking, I think their emotion stems from whether or not they, or at least one of them most likely Mallory if that's the case, made it to the summit, I myself don't really care about that part of it, to me solving the mystery of what happened that caused them to perish on that mountain is the great mystery, the chain of events so to speak. I honestly believe it'd help people to figure it out if people would dismiss Odell's part of the story, because after all it's not a fact it's a given, a supposition, let's try looking at thing's using only established facts, thing's that are absolutely beyond any question, and I've got a reason for that, it's because I don't think Odell saw them, I think he made it up. Now I wanna be crystal clear on something here for the sake of anyone who reads this and gets upset, in no way shape or form am I calling Odell a liar nor do I say this for the purposes of attacking his character, and like many other points to this great mystery I'm not saying I'm right and anyone who disagrees is wrong, it's just that without someone else as a witness to the event we don't know for sure, and when it comes to something like that during WW2 pilot's couldn't receive credit for an aerial victory based entirely on their word, they needed another witness, gun camera footage or an established report by ground forces of the discovery of the downed aircraft and these men were military officers whose word alone wasn't good enough, because there was too much at stake, an accurate account of those things were needed for the sake of military intelligence and them always knowing the number of aircraft the enemy had at their disposal. In solving this mystery 100% confirmable information should be the only factors included when thinking thing's through, at around 7:15 you say "...we KNOW that Odell saw them at...", no we don't, in reality we only know that Odell claims that, so not wanting to apply the word liar to Odell I'll say it this way, I think he made it up and that he believed that he had good reasons for doing it, the expeditions they went on to Everest relied in funding, when those guy's weren't climbing Everest they were raising both interest and money to do so, those two things go hand in hand, I think Odell was worried about returning with yet another failed attempt at Everest story that included even more death's being involved would kill any further interest in people with money or that controlled the money from institutions that funded endeavors like that, he had to worry about those people wanting to fund something that wasn't what would seem at the time like a lost cause, the first solo flight across the Atlantic, finding the source of the Amazon if that hadn't been done yet or the undiscovered source of one of the earth's other great river's, balloon altitude records, discovering some mythical lost tribe somewhere archeological digs in Egypt and many other endeavors are all things that those guy's who wanted to be the first to summit Everest were all thing's they were competing against for funding from those royal societies in England, Mallory wasn't in New York to see the Statue of Liberty when he told the reporter "Because it's there" when ask about why he wanted to climb Everest, he was there to raise interest, he was there because he knew if America showed interest in it then the Royal Geographic Society in England would worry about Americans doing it first, so they'd throw money at Mallory and that crew to get there first, consequently after what happened to him Odell hadcto worry about returning to England with stories about another failed attempt that included more death's and that would put an end to any interest in funding further attempts, rich people and organizations like the Royal Geographic Society don't want to be associated with failures especially one's that involve death's, if Odell returned with something as bleak as "Norton tried and came back saying there's a place that's virtually impossible to get beyond, then several days later Mallory and Irvine left camp never to be seen again", I believe that Odell figured if he returned with a story that if it wasn't for the bad luck of a storm engulfing Mallory and Irvine they'd have made it, a story that involved them climbing right on up and over seemingly effortlessly the very thing that stopped Norton then the people who he needed the money from would be much more eager to give them even more to go back the next season to take a crack at it. What makes me so confident in that belief is you guy's, all of you experienced climbers who've been there and sit around scratching your heads trying to disect Odell's claim, which is apparently problematic because of how mo one can figure out how Mallory and Irvine could have made it over the 2nd step in 5 minutes, obviously it couldn't have been done which is why you guy's spend all that time and brain power thinking about things like Odell mistaking the 2nd step for the 1st which would explain them getting up and over it so quickly, but I don't think they could have gotten over it so quickly either, I honestly believe that caught in that storm Mallory and Irvine had their accident right above where Mallory's remains are, Irvine either went down over the other side of the mountain or if he went down the same side his body has yet to be found, Mallory obviously was digging in on that rock face on the way down which is what stopped him on that more gradual slope but if Irvine lost control of his posture or was knocked unconscious at first and tumbled instead of digging in like Mallory he could be anywhere from there to the bottom of the mountain. Just about everything about Odell's claim is problematic, timeline's, his view of the ridge from where he claimed he was, especially the time in which he claimed they made it up and over any of the steps, 5 minutes? I don't believe it, Mallory and Irvine may have had oxygen but their masks didn't work right so they just had the tubes stuck in their mouths, how well could that have been working? I don't think they could have gotten over any if those steps at that speed with oxygen systems that weren't working properly, and did anyone ever consider that having the tubes stuck in their mouths could have caused the ends to freeze up and get blocked? Could be that they wouldn't have realized it causing not only weakness but bad judgment at the time, that sounds to me like a couple of guy's who'd be accident prone while being on that ridge, that also could account for the bottle that Jake found, could be if one of their tubes froze shut they could have misinterpreted it as being empty and decided to change to another one and dropping that one where Jake found it all those years later. I think you guy's should sit down together and think things through and completely forget about Odell's sighting of them, just include nothing but established facts, left with oxygen but didn't use masks and only had the tubes stuck in their mouths, oxygen bottle found here, ice ax found there, Mallory discovered there and see what kind of answers you come up with then, because i don't believe Odell's claim, between the way it has you guy's bouncing around like pinballs trying to make sense of his claim and the fact that he'd have had good reasons to make it up I just don't think it happened and all it's doing is muddying up the works when trying to solve this mystery, I think it's something that has you guys' thinking hobbled.

[@kpd3308]

I applaud people's interest and efforts in this matter. Personally, I hope they made the summit so that they would have experienced that personal satisfaction and triumph. For my own interest, it is of less concern. Either way, their desire for adventure, courage, strength and resolve displayed throughout their lives is inspirational.

[@EverestMystery]

I feel the same way, thank you for watching. I appreciate your comments!

[@draisine1609]

This is a great idea to map out the different searches. Does this include the map of where the drone searched on the 2019 expedition?

[@EverestMystery]

These are boots on the ground searches. Our drone in 2019 covered virtually the entire face. We studied the photos over the course of weeks during the expedition. Amazing to look at them!

[@russellgoulden6938]

What would be great to see would be a systematic , mathematical search grid overlaid on a map(s) Great work Thom & Jake, dont give up

[@EverestMystery]

Good call. That's essentially what Jochen Hemmleb did on all his searches, dating back to our search in 1999. But again, yes, moving forward, for sure.

[@dodpr]

Wow. I'm new here. I really enjoy your content Sir. Great job!!. Very interesting. Is Mr. Norton done searching for Andrew?

[@EverestMystery]

Greetings my friend, welcome! In terms of searching for Andrew, our first and ultimate hurdle is to gain any access whatsoever to the north face. China has closed the mountain to foreigners since 2020, with no plans to open it up anytime in the future. So, essentially, it's closed until further notice. The world is going through some flux right now. I hold only slim hope that someone can get back up for a search before we all grow too old to know what's up. For one, my hopes would be to see a team climb the mountain via the Norton Couloir route, to see how easy or difficult it truly is. Thanks for being here!

[@dodpr]

@@EverestMystery Thank you for the awesome response. Take care!

[@johnmilon866]

Hey Thom, love your channel and style of discussion. What are your thoughts on Michael tracy and his channel and approach to the this topic?

[@EverestMystery]

My overall feeling is that anyone who devotes time and energy into this mystery or any topic for that matter is contributing to the greater knowledge, thereby bringing something good into the lives of those drawn to that particular topic. I'm all for what Terrence McKenna called the Novelty Theory. Essentially, it's the idea that the Universe benefits through the process of there being a growing and limitless number of variations on something. By rallying against a said variation, let's take the idea of someone being against a particular sexual orientation of a human being, for instance, they are going against the natural order of the Universe. Kind of long winded but you caught me at a talkative moment! Thanks for your interest in the channel, I truly appreciate it!

[@WHR17]

Just an amazing story, I like to believe they did summit. Hopefully the camera will be found someday.

[@toebeans6568]

I am absolutely fascinated by this and am enjoying watching all your videos! Do you think the melting on Everest may reveal any hidden mysteries?

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, very possibly....many surmise that if Irvine fell to the bottom of the north face that he'd be revealed possibly by now. THANK YOU for being a part of the channel!

[@lifesahobby]

putting things together , the untold story.. without you guys who create/support content we wouldn'thave hundreds of hours spent imagining the whole story. Its such an inspiring theory until it is proven. well done all

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you my friend. I think one of the words in the title of Mark Synnott's book sums it up (and he readily admits is a reference to me), it's the word 'obsessed' lol gotta love it! What fund building a community of like minded individuals all meeting here virtually. Thanks for being a part of it!

[@lifesahobby]

@@EverestMystery I have the fortune to own one of these pocket camera from 1924 . I must upload a video of it . A delicate thing to try and use but it's in mint condition as it was left in its leather case for 90 years .

[@6betoman6]

I understand the 2019 drone photos of the north face will be shown as a NatGeo exhibit. Do you know when this might take place?

[@EverestMystery]

Alberto, I actually don't know...but I will endeavor to find out. Thank you

[@jimthomson6825]

Wonderful video, thanks! I will definitely be looking at the map. (I'm a long-time semi-obsessive, since about 1970 aged 14, I guess.)

[@EverestMystery]

Wonderful! So cool that you've been on it way longer than me and Jake. The link right to his map is in the notes of this video. Cheers and thank you!

[@brunoandthebee9587]

Maybe he is further down the mountain like William Holland was. Even if they were tied together they fell from different spots, Irvine was probably more tired, and maybe packing more. Is there any way to just walk all the way down from that spot? No matter what - it's amazing to see people are still looking.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you for watching! It would be almost impossible to walk straight down from the spot where Mallory was....super steep and unforgiving there for thousands of feet. In some places it's a straight fall off. I hope you enjoyed the video!

[@trcase7507]

This mystery I have been fascinated with since I first heard about it in at a young age in the 1980s - I've always wondered if there is a possibility that Irvine may have gone over the other direction onto the sw face of the NE ridge and if that possibility has ever been investigated? Has there ever been any effort to try and look over the other edge in the area the ice axe / mitten was found? Also, have lightweight drones (with larger blades to offset the altitude) been investigated for incorporation into real-time searching and then mapping with high resolution (1cm level pixel size) photogrammetric methods (Structures from Motion)?

[@pornoforgirls]

I am local to where Mallory climbed in North Wales and he has always been a legend in the climbing community here. I have studied the topic in depth since 1975 after hearing the views of Chris Bonnington. I fully concur with the sentiments expressed in this video that open source research and mutual respect for other opinions is paramount. There is no need for ad hominem attacks or questions regarding peoples' motivations. The search for the truth is above all these considerations. I do believe, however, that efforts were made to shape the narrative regarding the events of 8th June and these were begun by Edward Norton himself. I understand that some people are very critical within the Everest community and consensus is difficult. There is one researcher whose name does not get mentioned, that is Michael Tracy. A respectful debate would go a long way to clearing the confusion and allow people to form their own opinions on the evidence.

[@darrenwisniewski237]

What role do you think Norton had in shaping a narrative and what is it based on?

[@EverestMystery]

This is great insight, thank you so much. I truly appreciate it and agree 100% that mutual respect is of the utmost importance, which leads to a respectful debate, for lack of a better word. Those are the primary elements for inclusion on this channel.... Although, I'm human too and have many faults, and can hardly say my track record is spotless. So interesting that you live near where GLM climbed. I'm fascinated by that and would love to learn more. I may be doing a live event here and would love to have you share your insight and knowledge of that. Cheers!

[@TheWiffle24]

@@EverestMystery why does Micheal Tracy not get mentioned even when the question is directly asked?

[@TheWiffle24]

?

[@pornoforgirls]

@@darrenwisniewski237 If you read his account in "The Fight For Everest" you will see that Norton provided false information, fake news if you prefer, in his dispatch to the Times on June 11th 1924. In addition, his account of the meetings within the group after the disappearance, Norton refers to Odell as being the one "dissentient"(p116) for having his own opinion. We know that Odell changed his story subsequently after being pressured and accused of inaccuracy. We can have our opinions over the reasons, but it is not in doubt that if there was a rivalry between Mallory and Norton, history has been written by the victor, or the survivor in this case.

[@chrisowen2763]

At the risk of sounding snide, there’s one place that hasn’t been searched…Irvine may be located in a completely unexpected place.

[@dodpr]

Where can I find those drone images taken in 2019?

[@EverestMystery]

They are unfortunately not my property. I am hoping to gain some permission to post a few. I did post one for channel members last month....which was somewhat of a wide shot. National Geographic magazine I believe printed a couple of them, in the article that is probably easy to find online. Thank you!

[@donaldknowles9640]

Michael Tracy's investigative research on Mallory and Irvine's 1924 climb show's that they got so close to the summit that it becomes difficult if not impossible to believe they didn't summit

[@EverestMystery]

Absolutely...of course everything is conjecture, all of our theories and ideas are no based on fact, but based on our belief that something did or did not happen. No one absolutely knows where Odell saw M&I, no one, even Odell changed his story. I pray they made it. Cheers

[@redlaw8760]

I suggest you review the sources Tracy cites for yourself and not simply take his interpretation and context as fact. You may reach a different conclusion.

[@anthonybicos602]

Ok 👌, i subscribed - this stuff is fun… ps: Marty Hoey was my assistant & coworker (Snowbird UT) in the months just prior to her fall & disappearance from the Northside (near the summit in like 1981 i believe) during her valiant attempt to become the first American Woman to the summit. She was lovely & seriously impressive to a kid such as i was. That North Face was a real people eater last century…

[@EverestMystery]

Anthony, I can't quite recall if it was you who mentioned Marty in a comment a couple of weeks ago...her name has come up before here. I was just getting into the world of mountaineering in the years after that and that story always stayed with me, the sadness of it, of course....but, how our minds and bodies are dulled at altitude. I believe Jim Wickwire was only a few feet from her when she fell, standing there completely helplessly. Tragic indeed. Thank you for sharing, it's greatly appreciated.

[@anthonybicos602]

@@EverestMystery Yes Sir, you are correct on all counts - Dick Bass also has been either a full time or seasonal employer / personal friend - from 1976 right through his recent passing - even from way up here in Northwestern Montana for the last 38 years. All person’s mentioned are hero’s of mine ; mentors even. I’ve done them proud - and them, me. Carry on 🏔🚠

[@anthonybicos602]

Of course, i can’t recall if & where i might have dropped Marty’s name lately - guess i’m in charge of “the department of redundancy, department” 🙄. I’ve been on a kick to highlight her story this year - The Women coming up could get inspiration - the old documentary of that expedition (narrated by Robert Redford) is a must see, if you can survive the soundtrack. Marty was a force of nature; i worked elbow close to her for like 6 months, she was my broiler assistant at the Steak Pit; to earn extra cash for the trip i figure now. I was like 21, she like 30 - “unattainable” - but oh so humble & poised. Never knew how radically impressive her resume was until i saw the documentary‼️ Spread the word…

[@anthonybicos602]

@@EverestMystery Just remembered: Jim Whittaker was coordinating the summit push, for Marty & the summit team, from ABC or below - she was letting another member pass on the fixed rope, safety line affixed as per normal, when she tipped backwards & her harness (new & unfamiliar to her from a sponsor perhaps?) unraveled & remained secured to the line while she did not 🥺. Altitude impairment certainly may have contributed - it’s all so mysterious & tragic - climb 🧗 was immediately called off & expedition ended; as i believe was ethically correct. Amazing people, a literal expedition - not a recreational service like most today. A tram 🚋 up there, ironically enough (Mr. Bass reference) would seal that Former Wilderness’s fate - it’s practically coming to that…

[@raymorley8241]

I am not a Climber but have much many videos on this subject. Is it possible that the Ice Axe that was found was not lost on the way down but rather on the way up? It seems that most of the videos assume the Irvine and Mallory fell in the same area. Perhaps they reached the summit together and shortly after on the descent Irvine fell which means he would be closer to the summit. Later for some unknown reason Mallory fell also. It may just be a coincedence that it is assumed they both fell and ended up in the same area.

[@EverestMystery]

Very possible indeed....that's an interesting scenario. I tend to think they didn't fall together, but a fall (likely Mallory's) led to the need for cutting the rope between them.

[@joninch8286]

I had this thought if Mallory was discovered not far from the Chinese camp on the north side and Irvine's ice axe was found of the north ridge, could it be that they had fallen whilst descending the second step and whilst Mallory fell to the northside wouldn't it be reasonable that Irvine perhaps fell on the on the other side of the ridge on the south side therefore plausible why he hasn't been found apart from his iceaxe. I be interested in your thoughts Jon from Australia

[@82566]

6:03 💯 well said 👏

[@williamcurry1132]

QUESTION not to summit but can the average person make it too camp 2 or is that tough ??

[@EverestMystery]

Camp 2 in modern day terms is about 26,000' (generally speaking) which is entering the Death Zone. The old Camp 2, in the camp system used by the British in the 1920's, Camp 2 was well below, maybe 19,000 feet, a hike essentially (but still in altitude and painful as hell).

[@christopherreinsmith1401]

Thom, as I commented before, get Jake's point of view, along with Jochen , and boom! Something has to formulate! Even if it doesn't make sense on paper? Lol! Thank you!

[@EverestMystery]

Right on my friend. I have another video with Jake in the barrel, ready to be shared, regarding the Norton Couloir route....I figured I'd give this one some time to breathe first lol

[@wreckanchor]

Thom. If Mallory was climbing with oxygen why was his body found sans oxygen / bottles rig? Your thoughts?

[@EverestMystery]

I always assumed their oxygen ran out and they jettisoned the backpacks carrying the bottles....or, possibly as likely, during the violent fall it was ripped from his body.

[@aramirez8427]

It's the greatest mystery of the century.......................God it would be amazing to find that camera......It could rewrite history

[@EverestMystery]

It truly would be amazing!

[@lukeprice5402]

Hi Thom, you mentioned the 1938 expedition, was that an explicit attempt to find M&I?

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

Hey, Luke I’m gonna chime in for this one - it was not, brother. Think motivational psych here: the mountain had not yet been (known to ppl) summited.

[@EverestMystery]

Luke, I totally spaced, I had two expeditions in mind....and misspoke. In that brain of mine I was thinking 1933, when the British returned and found the ice axe we believe was Sandy Irvine's. Cheers and thank you!

[@EverestMystery]

@@pugilemoltobene3708 Thank you my friend (I was thinking 1933 but the old mouth and brain weren't in synch lol)

[@lukeprice5402]

@@EverestMystery thanks guys

[@garysmith5641]

All of you from the M and I research should be proud of your work . I think you may be the nicest kindest climbers on camera , all of you . I cant think of a better people to find Mallory .

[@EverestMystery]

Gary thank you....I do indeed think of Jake that way, as well as our colleague Jochen Hemmleb, Jamie McGuinness...incredible individuals who have made my life fuller and better because they've been a part of it. Cheers :)

[@garysmith5641]

@@EverestMystery im voting for a new phrase in the english language , `Falling down a mallory hole ` for people who have spent far to long on mysteries lol

[@schoondikah]

im no mountaineer, but seeing how hard it is to get bodies of everest, and people died while trying. i remember as example the resque of the body of hannelore, someone died trying to recover her, is it not a almost impossible task to take irvine from where he was and tip him over into the glacier. i would take tremandous effort,. than again never been to everest let alone that high.

[@EverestMystery]

So true....the article by John Branch in 2017 about the efforts to remove the bodies of the Indian climbers who passed there in 2016 shows just how difficult it is. Thanks for watching!

[@acersteel3735]

There's videos I've seen about the Chinese allegedly finding Irvine and his camera in 1975 and the camera couldn't be processed for it's pictures. Is this rumor correct?

[@EverestMystery]

Have a look at my interview with Mark Synnott posted on April 18, 2022 called Has Sandy Irvine Been Found. Thank you for your interest!

[@acersteel3735]

@@EverestMystery Thank you Sir and much respect and gratitude for your work and passion regards everything Everest.

[@drewmaxwell3532]

I am new to this investigation. Being a climber of no regard my whole life, it has been a passing fancy to muse whether Hillary and Irving made it. As a career, I work in executive support and manage finance teams. We are charged with solving very complex financial problems in creative ways. We need to be careful not to get emotionally attached to any argument or set of assumptions, as we can change our view suddenly. It occurs to me that there are a number of emotionally attached arguments in play today with limited chance of being factual or pertinent to the issue to be resolved. Considering there is no mention of any summit rocks found on Mallory's body and that the intent was that he would gather some, the camera or cameras were on Irving, couloiris on the side that the summit was not achieved. While that is not definitive proof, in a court of law, I think we can be pretty sure that the judgement would be that they did not make it, especially when considering the written and stated intentions of the climbers before they met their destiny. The last set of genuine facts we have are a definitive sighting of both climbers somewhere high on the mountain in the afternoon going up, some equipment found below their high point, and the location and contents of Mallory's body (including the fact that his goggles were off). But there is no proof where Irving met his death. It has always been assumed it was with Mallory, but that assumption has limited facts associated with it (likely but not necessarily factual). It is also possible that Irving fell elsewhere during the ascent or descent and the rope cut, causing his body to be far away from where searches have been made. Additionally, considering the snowpack that year in the fall zone of Mallory's body, it would be a logical assumption that if one body was stopped in the fall, that the other body probably would have stopped in the same general vicinity also. Considering the strong coverage of that study area, and the climbing coverage along the portion of the known route Mallory and Irving took, there is limited logic in assuming that Irving's body is in that vicinity. Even in 1933, if the body were near the found ice axe, it also would have been found, recorded, and the body searched (99% chance). Remember, people are curious, and conspiracies never simplest So if the desire to prove they made the summit is to be successful, the only definitive possibility is finding Irving's body - and the camera and summit rocks. Interpreting exiting reveallikelihoodhis pocket will forever be assumed to be fakes, unless the entire examination of his body is recorded, that is every person is recorded at all times. But in a real sense, it really doesn'tsummit But still the mystery beckons to many, including me. It would be very gratifying to be able to solve it definitively. In our minds, we all imagine being there and trying to solve our way out of their problem. Did they die of summit fever, or were they prudent but fell victim to an accident (or accidents). Where would a disinterested investigator to go from where we are today? The most likely possibilities are that the scenario they were roped and fell together but irvings body fell further occurred(If Irving died elsewhere, then Mallory suffered a subsequent fall on his own some time after the snow squall started) Lets start with a viable technology solution (as any human solution is in the "very hard" zone), another computerized detailed multi faceted drone survey of the entire north side of the mountain but down to one inch resolution could be done by an enterprising expert. that data could be analyzed (by computer program) for potential bodies that heretofore are unknown - and locate places of interest to send different drones back to investigate leads further (those drones would have expanded functionality to record and investigate). Then any finalists are visited by people. The down side of this is it requires a big purse sponsor and willingness of drone and computer experts to publish the entire works. (Who knows a billionare that would fund it!) Short of that, we have to play long shots. We could return to Mallory's body in an attempt to prove if the rope cut occurred at the place of his death. As a question of physics, would the injuries to Mallory's torso (where the rope was secured) be more substantial if he was the one that fell and was snapped in a pendulum motion before Irving'stensile can we place on the proposition that Mallory or Irving fell, and more importantly, what are the survival probabilities for both ends of the rope under reasonable scenarios in that area above Mallory. What we think we know about Mallory's body is that he self arrested after a fall that caused at least two severe injuries (leg first then head), suggesting a relatively long attempt at self arrest without an axe after a short fall that didnt kill him when the rope snapped. If he fell and arrested on snow or ice, is it likely to have seen the injuries that we observe? Alternately, what if Irving fell, either leading or following. If in the rocks, the belayer might not use an ice axe if there was a place to sit, so the found ice axe could have been the spot of the failed belay - not the fall. If Irving falls with some amount of rope out, was he killed by the snap of the rope? It is a physics and math problem to estimate the pendulum zone where the accident could have happened, and then use a 3 d model of the terrain to determine a likely impact zone on the mountain. Its not that tough for a phd to model average gradient and fall distance to start fall based on rope out and belay location. Also, how likely based on the amount of rope out between the belayer and climber would the force be enough to pull the belayer down the mountain, keeping in mind the belayer wouldn't be asleep at the wheel. Search in those areas. You might go as far as to test drop some human forms from the proposed accident zone via a powerful drone and see what happens to them. Do most of them fall to the glacier, or do they all stop? Do the bodies break up if they fall to the glacier? If lucky, if we did such an investigation, we could determine probabilities around survival scenarios and theoretical fall line limits for Irving if he in fact was present at the time of Mallory's fall. Its not as much as doing the survey, but it could direct other human searches, which probably need to be lower on the mountain. The fact remains that the fall that killed Irving doesn't have to be in the same fall that killed Mallory. Less likely - sure - but possible. And that makes it super tough to solve this becauseMalloryWhat if he fell from the ridge onto the other face? The possibilities are many. Perhaps it is why we are so interested. Two fearless explorers risking it all on the highest mountain in the world. The stuff of dreams. I look forward to genuine progress towards solving this mystery even if the solution probably will be null set.

[@EverestMystery]

Drew, this is exceptional...I honestly am not sure if I can reply to your thoughts and give it justice. I copied and pasted the reply in a document so I can ingest it a bit more. I so appreciate your time and interest in this and hope you will stick around and take a look at some of the other videos. In the meantime, I want to read this through carefully to do justice to your analysis. I'd be interested in learning more about your training and experience, how you came to your career. We're glad to have you here, thank you! -Thom

[@kippamip]

I'm coming at this from a military perspective . I'm not a mountain climber although i have walked most of the highest hills in the UK. Route selection is key obviously and you have to think that back then they were a mix of mountain walkers and rock climbers. Mallory being ex military and the more experienced of the 2 would of most likely lead the route. It doesn't matter what route they took to go up its irrelevant. It's the route they have selected to come back down that matters. As they were running late it's possible they took a hamlet moment at whatever hight they got to , and thought we'll go down via the ridge as it looked the simplest route to them up above at that point. Also if your traversing in the dark it makes it easy to keep the ridge on your right/left shoulder so you can guage where you are. You have to remember the torches and equipment were no where near the standard of today. I think that Mallory took a fall most likely between the first and second step looking where the body was found, but that's not to say the wind and ice falls over the year's have not moved his body further down the mountain. Now irvine would initially be fighting the weight of Mallory provided he could of got his feet dug in. So when the line snapped did irvine stumble and fall down the east face? Possible if he was atop the ridge. But he's most likely been pulled in the same direction as Mallory. Then it depends when the rope snapped i guess. Irvine's body could be lower down due to the force he would of been pulled down at, plus ice and rock fall over the year's. The snow and ice wouldn't have been as well trodden either as they were technically the first up there with their team mates. The mountain belongs to no one but mother nature herself. I think a team of experienced climber's and rock climbers who could Rappel and climb down the face need to go up together when there's no traffic on the mountain. Summit fever should be totally out of the question. I was very disappointed when i watched ghost's above on their decision to summit rather than conduct a search, and just doing a token break away from the fixed rope. Mallory and Irvine wouldn't have had the luxury of fixed ropes because they were explorers.

[@russellgoulden6938]

Very interesting , I often wondered how these areas had been search , especially considering the difficulty, my opinion and now reinforced by Mark Synott's recent release is that Andrew Irvine is not on the mountain ! To me it would be great just to know what actually happened to them.

[@EverestMystery]

Check out the link in the notes to the video...takes you right to the map. Cheers!

[@GasPipeJimmy]

What’s the highest resolution satellite 🛰 photography available of the summit of Mount Everest? Has anyone looked at that? What about declassified pictures taken from reconnaissance satellites from maybe 60-years-ago? That stuff should all be declassified by now, that might show something new.

[@EverestMystery]

Our drone photos from 2019 are going to be by far the clearest and highest definition images ever taken of the north face. Whether Nat Geo has plans to release them, I'm not sure of....

[@thomasloper1205]

Perhaps a stupid question from a non-climber: If you found Mallory in 1999, why wouldn't Irvine have been roped to him and you could follow the rope? Were there any fixed ropes in 1924? If Mallory fell I would think he would have taken Irvine with him. If they were not clipped together anymore, why not? Did one of them fall and the other cut that person loose? Let's say Mallory fell and hit his head and Irvine then cut him loose and continued and then he himself fell later, wouldn't there be a rope tied to Mallory? I just don't understand why finding Mallory doesn't mean you automatically find Irvine too.

[@EverestMystery]

Thanks for watching, and a good question: there was a rope around Mallory's waist, about 15 feet for five meters of rope length extended from the coils around his waist. It's hard to determine if the rope was cut or broke. The injury to GLM's midriff was bruising and rope indentations showing that the rope was being held from above. It's possible that Sandy Irvine cut the rope and let GLM fall, having been at the peril of himself falling and being pulled down.

[@thomasloper1205]

@@EverestMystery that is interesting! Thank you. Again non climber speaking here, but it seems unlikely that Mallory could fall and have enough force to break the rope without pulling Irvine down with him. So the rope must have been cut or not attached at all. If it wasn’t attached, why? Did Irvine already fall and thus no need for Mallory to use a rope? Seems unlikely for the same reason, it’s the reverse scenario. Seems to suggest that Mallory fell and Irvine was still on the mountain and above him. Irvine could then have progressed a long way down before falling and disappearing. If Irvine had died and been found above where Mallory fell, is that high enough to be on the spine or is it lower? Seems unlikely the Chinese would have carried Irvine’s body upward in order to toss it over and down the Chinese face. He would have to have died that high up for them to do that. Anyway, seems like Irvine was the last one alive.

[@bigrooster6893]

Thom I wish you would ask one of the people that found Mallory body did they look for any rocks in any of his pockets because he was a avid rock collector he would collect rocks from all of his climb’s.

[@EverestMystery]

I personally did not find any in any of GLM's front pockets. I have asked Jake and Jochen, and they have said no. Literally everything in the pockets was brought down, photographed, catalogued. If there was so much as a thread of string, it was kept. Thank you for watching, my friend!

[@10splitter]

If you look carefully at the images in the ghosts and detectives books it's pretty easy to discern where Mallory is.

[@EverestMystery]

For the most part, yes, you are correct....it's getting there that is the tough part lol

[@jeffjacobson59]

Love your work Thom. From a fellow Buddhist, love you brother. We certainly all need to be more accepting of differing opinions. Words to live by.

[@EverestMystery]

Thank you my friend, super nice of you to watch and to share. Cheers and blessings

[@augiesnyder7481]

Thanks for the information. Do you know when the North side of Everest will be open?

[@EverestMystery]

Relating to when Americans or non-Chinese climbers will be allowed, I don't know. The Chinese have been climbing it every year, including just a couple weeks ago. I hope it will open. It's truly a remarkable side of the mountain. Cheers and thank you

[@augiesnyder7481]

@@EverestMystery thank you

[@jupite1888]

Why is the Drone footage not released? That would help researchers

[@EverestMystery]

I had thought it would be out there for the general public by now....a massive photo comprised of hundreds of high res photos stitched together. I don't believe there's anything nefarious about it not being released....I think it's more along the lines of everyone got busy with other projects. I'll look into it and find out if we can make it happen. Thanks for watching

[@jupite1888]

@@EverestMystery Thanks Thom, find your channel and Subject Fantastic. Thanks

[@janeking9540]

When you talk about the Chinese, do you mean Chinese or Tibetan people?

[@michaelconvery8871]

Has anybody theorized that Irvine may have fallen down the Kangshung face? Or at least is at the bottom of the NE face, on the glacier.

[@EverestMystery]

The mapper of Everest and founder of the Boston Museum of Science Bradford Washburn always thought he was washed down the north face. I feel as though he was onto something....

[@michaelconvery8871]

@@EverestMystery yes. A hypothesis of mine, probably shared, is that maybe it was Irvine that fell and caused the rope around Mallory’s waist to break as he tried to arrest the fall. If they were traversing the skyline and Irvine slipped down the Kangshung side, would Mallory have dropped the other way in order to stop being pulled down with Irvine? When the rope snapped, Mallory would’ve tumbled further down. So many theories can be presented… we’ll never know, until he is located. Thanks for your shared passion Thom.

[@jimallen19]

right about polarization

[@EverestMystery]

Sadly....some take personally the idea that a theory might differ from their own. Thanks for watching

[@Apogee02UK]

At that high altitude, would drone technology function? It seems to be one tech area that has helped revolutionise surveillance capabilities. I understand the air must be pretty thin up there I know but I believe a helicopter has touched down, albeit very very briefly on the summit.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, you would be thrilled to see the drone footage we captured in 2019. The film is on Disney+ and is called Lost On Everest. We flew drones up to the summit and documented the entire north face, insofar as where our search was centered. Thank you for watching.

[@Apogee02UK]

@@EverestMystery Great video. Thanks for the reply, will check it out.

[@wgisgr8]

I don’t understand the satellite aspect of this photo-- it really confuses me

[@EverestMystery]

Yeah, given that it is a view straight down on the mountain from space, it's not immediately clear what one is looking at....perhaps an updated video on this. Please visit Jake's website and do a deeper dive.... Thank you for watching!

[@williamcurry1132]

was O'DELL the only person to see them ?

[@EverestMystery]

Yes....all others were well below.

[@czarcastic1458]

Killer stuff

[@EverestMystery]

Indeed, Jake brings it....

[@geewizz5311]

Perhaps on the way down they became specially disoriented and Irvine stumbled down the east face, and if so, will probably never be found

[@EverestMystery]

Very possible... Thank you!

[@ciprianoneves7246]

If the Chinese found irwin and the camera, why is there no pictures?

[@EverestMystery]

This video is a pretty detailed explanation of it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZ2whWNur9J0hpI Thanks for watching!

[@Sloth55Chunk]

Is there a way to go up from the Nepal side, look around the Tibet side for a couple days, then go back down the Nepal side? The Chinese will never know 😅😅

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, it's possible....but it would require one to go back up and over the summit to return to Nepal, and more likely to be caught and put in a holding cell until one paid the sufficient fines for breaking their rules... :) cheers!

[@dchmurciak]

Good idea, just on the way back you could go down the Kangshung face search there and then climb up to south col so you do not need to climb everest twice 😉

[@Mikebackonabike]

I think they we’re short roped and fell together?

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, very possibly....

[@kingbee17able]

I've propably been more wrong than right throughout my life, I don't believe they made to the top I think they got close damn close maybe alot closer than people have looked I feel Irvine strayed in his course either left or right and was lost, from what I have read and seen on Mallory he would of been the type of man who tried to help if possible or stay close at hand until he felt he was in peril himself but stayed to long. Once those conditions had dropped after the third steppe they both should of turned around but it is easy to judge sitting back in ones safe home one thing I will say is they were brave men and it's a pity they never got another chance, as for me I could never go where they did hell I get nervous up on the roof.

[@EverestMystery]

I tend to agree with all that you have said. I would love nothing more than to see proof that they reached the top, and certainly am not fixed in my line of thinking. Thank you for watching and stay close to the ground, let someone else clean the gutters on your house :)

[@saturn3344]

Keep searching as he might have not been found yet.

[@EverestMystery]

For sure....hopefully teams outside China will be allowed to climb there again. We were the last team in 2019. Cheers

[@ArtemisandOllie]

❤

[@EverestMystery]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

Looked everywhere *except* in an Everest museum in China. Scuttlebutt has it a Chinese team rediscovered Irvine, physically hauled his body down the mountain, and ruined the film from camera he carried by trying to develop it.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, you have probably seen my interview with Mark Synnott about this very topic! Thank you for watching, truly appreciate it

[@jonowoodgo]

Maybe we'll find out when all the snow melts otherwise it's all just he said she said and it will never end.

[@EverestMystery]

At this rate, it'll happen in a few generations...snow is melting fast....

[@jonowoodgo]

@@EverestMystery i agree and if no one has ever moved the body in the past hopefully we can work the route out too. I've accepted the unknown after years of racking my brain. If they made it or not to me it's still an awesome achievement for back then.

[@alexgordon4672]

one thing is for sure most people really want these boys to have made the summit. I really hope they did, the evidence is compelling yet not diffinitive.

[@kelrogers8480]

I have no idea how you've figured you know what "most" people hope for, but I can assure you that those I know would love them to have sumitted.

[@alexgordon4672]

@@kelrogers8480 very true i am assuming a little there arent i. it would be bloody excellent if they did though, what an achievement. Although aul hilary himself once said that it should be considered successful only if you make it down which is a fair point. Legends the lot of them

[@kelrogers8480]

@@alexgordon4672 Considering the time period, and the fact that it was uncharted territory, I still think they would, deserve the accolade. Obviously Hilary would not want to lose his covered, well-earned place in history.

[@Thescottishguyreacts]

I believe they made the summit but died on the descent! Everything points to this as at that time they were so obsessed they would have stopped at nothing to get there and as many climbers have - didn’t have enough to make it back down due to either hypoxia or falling due to fatigue and lack of oxygen

[@EverestMystery]

Truly, stopping at nothing might have been their demise. Thank you!

[@michaelbelmont5305]

to bad the crevaces surrounding the mountain cant be scanned with visuals....he could just as well be below...

[@EverestMystery]

To have a scanner that could go super deep to search crevasses, yes....that would be helpful!

[@michaelbelmont5305]

@@EverestMystery if the tech exists to search him out down below it would be worth a shot esp in the area below mallory?..most seem to think he met hisn demise close by?...i know mystery has a certain allure but me personally id rather him be found..but who am i to say?..plus its not looking so well....obviously time may or may not tell...

[@TheSmashingDoc1]

if i only knew because i found an old camera at the summit. i kicked it like a football down the mountain. it was next to a body with the name of malroy or something. dont ask what i did with the body but it was flying like an eagle. sorry

[@EverestMystery]

The truth is now in the wind! :)

[@williamcurry1132]

I would like to THINK they made it

[@EverestMystery]

Me too!

[@bolshoefeodor6536]

I think I have become convinced that them making it to the summit was ENTIRELY and fully plausible. It is as plausible to me that a freak accident could have occurred at the outset. Unlikely, but plausible. I take the North Wall of the Eiger as an example of the kinds of crazy coincident accidents that COULD occur with an outside chance, as early climbing parties forge routes up open and unsolved climbing problems of the day. If they DID make it, I am utterly unsurprised that they perished on the return from the summit. Making it to the summit in 1924 seems a virtually certain death sentence!!! The sheer exhaustion, the lack of support climbers, the less-than-ideal clothing (fine for as ending while fresh, lousy for a fatigued descent in darkness and exhaustion?) contributing to accelerating hypothermia and disorientation, numb feet and hands, descending in the dark in gathering winds ... Fighting dehydration, accumulation of acidosis, ... like an ironman on steroids ...

[@woodworkingoutdoorsman1660]

Has anyone considered that Irvin could of fallen further down than Mallory? Maybe the Chinese story of finding an English body up higher isn't accurate.

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, absolutely, for many years that was my belief that Irvine fell down the mountain. The story of the Chinese finding him I feel is almost certain to be true. There is an interview with a member of the expeditions about this, unfortunately I don't own the rights to it.

[@scottnelson2384]

well there'as at least one place they haven't looked

[@EverestMystery]

There are a'plenty :-) and hopefully when that day comes it'll turn something up ;) thank you for watching!

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

They may have been characterized as ‘Ridge Climbers’ but there’s no way they went today’s route. George would have taken that path of least resistance, LOL, no doubt! I still think the body was pitched, as Mallory was mutilated. Thom, I still believe that hole that was observed in the frontal bone was post mortem and caused by human tampering 👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸good discussion and thanks, Jake!

[@EverestMystery]

Love your thoughts.... You will love the next video with Jake, which talks about lines of resistance on the mountain and the Norton Couloir... CheerS!

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

@@EverestMystery Thanks, Thom!👍

[@annnee6818]

He fell of a mountain. Why wouldn't he have a hole in his head? No one wss there to "finish him off". He wasn't mutilated, he had a broken leg and head wound which is fair enough after that massive fall. You probably believe in aliens too. They maybe finished Mallory off😂

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

@@annnee6818 Hi, Anne. This was quite a while ago, about two years; talked briefly to Andy, Jake and Thom, wanted to talk to Dave, who I’d done a Denali W Buttress route summit with many years ago (and a hell of a lot of time on Rainier like almost 20yrs ago). I also spoke extensively with Mark and he agreed with me on most tenets. China was HIGHLY motivated to be recognized as the World First. Instead they had to settle for a Route First. Are you a climber or is this just an interest for you? I’m a former federal criminal investigator and criminal forensic psychologist, among other things. I spent many years figuring out how and why people did things, still do to some degree. I remember the exchanges and that is the reason I am convinced they screwed with Mallory (perhaps he was just too frozen into the choss) and they threw Andy’s body off the mountain. But I always thought they recovered the camera! Later, that was something Mark came out with, referring to a source formerly with the Chinese govt that he talked too. I think he wrote about it some in his latest book, as well. Hope that helped, Anne! Be well.

[@TyHudson42]

I’m no Mountaineer. I do find this stuff very interesting. So, with todays massive improvements in photo technology, has anyone taken super high resolution photos of said probable locations of Sandy Irvine?

[@EverestMystery]

Yes, in 2019 we did extensive drone flights across the entire north face and took countless high resolution photos.

[@BlitZPwnage4]

@@EverestMystery any idea when that footage will be released publicly, if at all? Would really help the community come together! Nice video, cheers.

[@insightsman196]

Mallory made it to the summit, or he would have turned around and lived, the 1960 Chinese expedition not so sure, think they turned back, as I don't see them night climbing like they say, or that they can't have the summit rocks tested to make sure they are infact summit rocks, plus I have heard different stories on the route they took, think it's more political for them, and they don't care about the history, Irvine is the main hope to prove this point, as he could have summit rocks on his person, Mallory was a great climber for his time and the equipment they used, but they where on oxygen and Irvine knew a lot about that, even tho he was not a great climber, so more things like the ice axe placement the time on the watch 1:22 most likely 130 am not pm as why would it took so long to descend if they hadn't made the summit and other things as well

[@dukecraig2402]

I think they didn't make it any further than where the ice ax was found with Mallory's body being directly below that, I honestly believe that Odell made up the claim of having seen them because he was afraid that going back with another yet failed attempt story that involved even more death's would have dried up the money and any further interest in the people who control the money for things like that, those people who give out the money for endeavors like that don't want to be associated with failures especially one's that involve death's, there was plenty of other endeavors competing for the funds, altitude records in balloons and aircraft, finding the sources of the world's great river's, the first people to poles, the first people to fly over the poles, the Atlantic hadn't been flown non stop solo yet at that point, as of the failed Mallory and Irvine attempt that was how many failures to summit Everest that involved dead people? I think Odell felt he had a much better chance of securing the funds for another try if they'd have returned with a story that Mallory and Irvine were scooting right along when suddenly a storm, the only thing that possibly could have stopped them, rose up out of nowhere and swallowed them up, I think he feared if he returned with the gloomy truth of Norton having tried only to find a seemingly impassable obstacle then several days later Mallory and Irvine left camp never to be seen again that would have doomed the funding for any other attempts, instead he fabricated a story about having personally seen Mallory and Irvine climb right on up and over what Norton couldn't and was perceived to be the last real obstacle in getting to the top and it was only a storm, the one thing that could have stopped them, blowing up out of nowhere that kept them from reaching the summit and making it back down, that way it also left open the possibility that they'd made it, he hoped that'd make funding another attempt irresistible to the people who had the money they needed for another try, teasing them with the possibility that Mallory and Irvine made it to the summit only to have an accident on the way down Odell hoped would be irresistible to them. There's too many things about Odell's claim that don't add up, people having gone to the very spot he said he was at that say you can't see where he claimed he saw them, the speed at which he said they made it over the 2nd step, I don't think they could have made it over the 1st step that fast, they had oxygen but what people forget or don't know is the masks didn't work right so they just had the tubes stuck in their mouths, what do you suppose the chances are the tubes froze shut trying to do that with them? Or at least not giving them enough oxygen to prevent clouded thinking along with exhaustion, I can't see them making the progress Odell claimed they were, I'm not calling him a liar because I think with everything considered him making up that story was justified to keep the effort going, there were death's several years before and his friends Mallory and Irvine died trying and he didn't want it to be in vain, he didn't want everyone just walking away from it after all that.

[@insightsman196]

@@dukecraig2402 I think Odell changed his story because The British wanted someone alive and returned to be the first summit, Norton may have something to do with it as well, About the Oxygen Irvine was good with it and even modified the tanks, that's one of the reasons Mallory took him, his knowledge about the oxygen so not convinced about them freezing up, Mallory was an experienced climber , and he had a plan to avoid the 2nd step, form what Odell first said it sounds like they were under the Pyramid and if so they most likely did summit as that would be above the 2nd step

[@tohaz]

Yeah, the guy that sounds like Mr. Smithers from "The Simpsons" seems to insult the Hell out of everyone that thinks that they made it close to the summit.

[@EverestMystery]

Haha, love the idea of Mr. Smithers' voice in there! Agreed....thank you

[@tohaz]

I admire the man's passion for the subject--but he seems to throw around insults. I have worked in TV and radio since 1992--so I might be a little critical when it comes to certain things... but when you do a series of videos like his, you would think that you would want them to sound as good as you can. His lack of inflection makes his videos almost unwatchable. He gives good information--but the drab voice with no music bed or natural sound is boring as all get-go.

[@TheWiffle24]

@@tohaz who are you referring to in this comment? thanks

[@tohaz]

@@TheWiffle24 To be honest with you, I don't know his name off hand. He does GREAT research, but his monotone delivery matched with the lack of natural sound and music beds really takes away from what he does. I will let youtube play in the background while I work. There have been a couple of times when I have dozed off during his videos--not because they weren't interesting... but because of the presentation.

[@ericastier1646]

The chinese made sure nobody would find the body of irvine after they stole the camera in the 1970's. The reason is pure nationalism if irvine and mallory summited from the North route then it would relegate them to second position for climbing from that route.. They could have pushed the body over to fall further down where no expedition would venture.

[@user-lz3mb7bj6v]

Китайцы в 1960 году не покорили эверест, доказательств нет.

[@johnrflinn]

I would work with remote viewers to find out what really happened. It worked for the military. I sense China is holding back some important information.

[@EverestMystery]

John, indeed! We flew drones extensively on the north face. I am working to gain permission to share some of that footage here. Cheers!

[@thomridgeway1438]

There is no great paradox, no unsolved enigma - this puzzle was solved in 1999 when the body of G.I. Mallory was discovered. This is about circumstantial evidence. And that circumstantial evidence is very simple, and in a court of law enough. There are no ifs and buts or maybes. Just what is the most likely scenario based on the available data so far. As Michael Tracy has so aptly and ably described, they made it to the top. The likelihood is very high. They cached oxygen. They went through the Norton Couloir. The difficulty was great and too time consuming.They were late to the top and had to perilously descend the ridge in darkness. They almost made it to Camp 6, but Mallory lost his footing. This is all proven by the way he fell; the time on the watch, and the goggles in pocket and lack of a photo of wife. That photo, and letters still lies somewhere under a pile of rocks just below the summit, if it hasn't long rotted away. George would not have placed it at the top where it could have been blown away, he would have secured that bundle somewhere where it could be found.

[@EverestMystery]

Thom, many thanks....honestly, no one knows. No matter how convincing of an argument, no one knows anything at all about it. All that said, there are a couple points you made that need a bit of clarification: no one has found cached oxygen and until someone searches the Norton Couloir it's purely a theory; Norton got his arse kicked in the Great Couloir two days before M&I departed for the summit, and he didn't even get close, spent the night in a tent with Mallory and told him so; his watch was broken (no crystal) so the time on his watch means probably only that it was said time when it broke; Mallory had two pair of goggles and therefore a pair in his pocket means nothing; a 30-lb bronze statue of the Buddha blew off the summit, so a photo under rocks would have no chance. All that said, I still think the theory is strong. Cheers and thanks so much for watching, it's an amazing mystery. Super pleased that you are here!

[@jonathanclegg1595]

Is there any evidence that Mallory took the ridge? All previous attempts were to traverse werent they@@EverestMystery ? Seems unlikely they would suddenly start to try the ridge on their attempt

[@tulski2]

People want to see fieldwork, not theoretical reasoning. I can make them too. I just can't afford to do an investigation on the ground. Irvine should be sought in the field, not in front of the computer.

[@EverestMystery]

For sure, boots on the ground (and drones) are the key....however, knowing where people have already done the searches makes Jake's map helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@adolfvonpanzer9521]

Jake Do you have Mallory’s gloves……

[@EverestMystery]

Gotta love the conspiracy theories. There was only one glove. Cheers my friend!