Originally posted by Fixey
I know nothing about climbing, bar Hillary and Tensing where the first to summit Everest. thats it, my knowledge of the subject finishes there, no idea what else he tried/failed except I know he did other exploring, what it was I dont know.
Just caught the end of a program about Mallory/Irvine (1924 British expedition to climb Everest).
It is widely speculated that Mallory/Irvine may have climbed Everest in 1924 (wearing primitive climbing clothing - improvised
oxygen developed by Sandy Irvine).
Irvine and Mallory brought a kodak camera with them - if they did climb Everest, they would have taken a photo of their achievement.
Irvine/Mallory never made it back down the mountain.
In 1999, Mallory's body was found - but there was no camera.
Kodak have said that if they took a photo - due to the low temperatures, they would be able to develope whatever film
might be in the camera (80 odd years later !).
Hillary was interviewed and he said that he would have no
qualms vacating the title of being the first man to climb Everest
if they did in fact gain proof of Mallory/Irvine success.
Hillary spoke warmly of both climbers - mentioning how great their effort was to get to the top (they were spotted 1000 ft below Everest's apex climbing upward).
Hillary said that he would never have been able to climb to within
even 1000 ft of the top in the clothes and with the equipment they had.
A true gentleman !