A CLOSER LOOK 24.2
Mallory and lrvine – Did They Reach the Summit?
In the 1924 Everest exoedution. Two of the climbers, Nort and Somervell, left camp at B220 m (27,000 feet) to challenge the summit without supplemental oxygen. Somervell had to stop due to the cold air aggravating his frostbitten throat, but Norton continued on until he reached 8580 m (28,314 feet) a record for those not using supplemental oxygen that lasted for 54 years. A few days later, George L. Mallory and Andrew C. Irvine made an attempt with oxygen, but they never returned. Given that they were last seen on the way to the summit, questions were raised about whether they had made it and died on the way down. The 1999 Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition attempted to answer this question by finding their remains, and perhaps, some evidence that they might have achieved their goal. They knew that both climbers had cameras, and they were hoping to find photographic evidence to put this question to rest. The team did find Mallory’s body at 27,000 feet, but unfortunately, could not find a camera.