Mallory and Irvine The Final Chapter 2005:

Did George Leigh Mallory Summit Mt Everest?

Updates 2005

In 2005 EverestNews.com will support several climbers who will try to find evidence up high on Everest. In the past climbers have searched Everest all the way to the Summit, nothing appears to have been found by these previous efforts to search the upper portions of the North Face of Everest. How will these climbers in 2005 differ? They plan to travel off the beaten path, attempt routes, investigate possible Mallory routes and investigate areas of the mountains that has not been searched before. Our research tells us this is necessary if we are to move forward with the story of George Mallory. This is not about finding dead bodies or a camera anymore.

This is about whether or not George Mallory reached the summit of Mt Everest.

Last year, we looked for evidence of Sandy Irvine above 8400 meters. This year these climbers/expeditions will look for evidence of George Mallory above the Second Step of Mt Everest.

Finding "proof" that George Mallory reached the Summit of Everest will be almost impossible, unless an object could be found on the summit. That seems extremely remote since we now have 2249 summits and counting. The naysayers will always say he could have turned around a few steps away from the top. If objects are found above the Second Step, or in the Couloir, the question of whether Mallory reached the summit of Mt Everest will be greater.

As most of you know, the mountaineering community has no official source of records. Summits are recorded in general without proof. In some cases climbers have been given credit for summits they did not achieve. Today, the burden of proof is usually to show someone did not summit. In George Mallory's case the burden of proof will be on evidence; evidence we believe, that needs to be found high on Everest, not in the form of a picture from a camera that Sandy may or may not have been carrying. Several Everest Summiters, believe George Mallory summited Mt Everest, but a belief is not evidence.

In 2006 EverestNews.com will again embark upon our own journey to the mountain. In many ways, 2005 will be a reconnaissance expedition for the 2006 expeditions. We fully expect this to be a long and hard journey. We are committed to exploring high on Everest for the next two years. Why plan ahead? Because these expeditions take time and significant funding.

The spirit of our expeditions are rooted in historical curiosity. They are born out of a sense of honor and respect to those who have ventured before us. Our objectives are to re-construct the final events and attempt to learn if the summit was gained.

We will attempt to treat the subject with the utmost respect. We won't be perfect, but we will try very hard. We will again go very quietly and very slowly.

We will stay focused and small. We need to stay on task, without complex agendas. No reporters, no cameramen, no interviews on the mountain. Our names are not important. This is not about us. We feel each and everyone one of the climbers we are supporting this spring are doing this for "the cause", not for their own personal gain.

There are many theories about what happened on that fateful day of June 8th, 1924. Ours is unique, who knows if it is right. No one owns his mystery, except George and Sandy. This mystery is not about anyone else. These two men gave not their money, but their lives for the quest to summit Mt Everest.

We believe the "truth" about what happened to George and Sandy has progressed far in the last year. We would like to thank many for their encouragement. The costs of the expeditions are significant. EverestNews.com and EverestGear.com are helping to support  these M&I expeditions in 2005 and 2006. Other Sponsors are welcomed and encouraged to help!

To those who want to search and have other theories, we encourage them to concentrate on their theories and to get their checkbooks out of their pockets too and return to Everest.

We ask for your prayers for the climbers as the journey begins. Prayers for their health, safety, and the freedom to make the expedition a complete success.

With our kindest regards and thanks, The Staff at EverestNews.com

We return to Mount Everest in search of an answer.

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