The Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine Book

It is one of the most famous and powerful stories of humanity pitting itself tragically against the elements. In 1924, when Mallory and Irvine set out to make history by reaching of the summit of Everest and become the first men to stand on the world's tallest mountain, their place in the history books was already assured. But then Odell, also climbing with them, saw the two vanish within 800 feet of the summit--and they were never seen again. Ever since, many have wondered what really took place in the rarefied air at 28,000 feet. Did they in fact reach the summit and perish on the way down? Or were Hilary and Norgay the first men to reach the summit three decades later? In April 1999, the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition team set out to retrace the steps of the 1924 expedition. Their aim was to find out the truth behind the many theories about what happened on that fateful first climb. The Ghosts of Everest describes in carefully researched detail the two expeditions, weaving together both climbs with blow- by-blow accounts of the challenges and dangers encountered. Combining a lucid text with archive photographs of the original expedition and breathtaking colour shots of the new climb, this is a fascinating book of considerable power. --Barry ForshawRead More