Mallory George and his sinister secret

60 years ago, at the highest point of the globe, found in the XVIII century by topographers from Britain, first appeared human footprints, although before that, many unsuccessful attempts were made to conquer the summit. The mountain was named Everest in honor of the geodesic researcher, not knowing that the local monks living in Tibet have long called it Jomolungma.

Prehistory

As soon as the information about the highest mountain of the globe appeared, a person constantly dreamed of making an ascent to it. Some plans did not have to be realized, because the government of Nepal did not give permission to climb the sacred mountain, revered by the indigenous population. And it was only at the beginning of the 20th century that mountaineering expeditions were undertaken, but on the part of Tibet. With every attempt to rise higher, new records are set, and in 1953, after overcoming heavy obstacles, the summit finally yields to human courage.

Who climbed Mount Everest?

However, not everyone agrees with the version that New Zealand and Nepal climbers conquered the dangerous mountain, which took about 200 human lives. There were good reasons that the area of death was first overcome and stood at its extreme point Mallory George, who disappeared in 1924 during the 3 expeditions to Everest. Consider a version covered by mystery, which to this day excites the minds of all people who are not indifferent.

The main passion of all life

Mallory was born into a priest's family. Adored the history of the young man after graduation Cambridge arranged teacher in school. But the main passion of his life is still mountaineering. My relatives told me that Mallory was training so hard, as if he knew that he was facing some incredibly difficult climb. Fanatically devoted to his work, he writes a short essay in which he explains his position. Answering the question about what attracts fans to risk their lives, he confesses without reserve: "Overcoming mountain peaks is just as much an art as writing poetry and composing music. It all comes from the heart, because it is built on disinterestedness. "

The first expeditions

Of course, Mallory George longed to overcome the difficult and still inaccessible to anyone the way to the summit of Mount Everest. As soon as he finds out about the beginning of the preparation for the ascent, without hesitation, he leaves school and goes headfirst into tedious training. The dream of being the first person to safely overcome the height, incredibly heated his interest. When asked about what goal he still pursues, why is going to Everest, George Mallory answered very briefly: "Just because he is."

For 3 years before the fateful tragedy, it rises with local conductors to a height of about 7 thousand meters, on which the expedition is completed. Using compiled accurate maps, the man plans to reach the summit the next year. Having abandoned oxygen bottles and special equipment, the climbing group begins to rise to the altitude. Despite the 50-degree frost and piercing wind, the expedition does the impossible: it improves the previous result by 1200 meters. People who suffered from oxygen starvation and cold made a real feat.

Fatal climbing

37-year-old Mallory George, who dreams of defeating himself, in 1924 again as part of a large expedition begins the ascent, which became his last. Having reached an altitude of about 8 thousand meters, the group breaks camp. So that the reader can understand what the highest point of the earth is, let us quote the words of Peter Habeler, an alpinist and mountain guide, who spoke very harshly about the mountains. "Everest is a real monster that can easily kill me, as well as kill before others. These are not romantic heights - a frightening pile of stones creates a completely unfriendly atmosphere. "

Repeatedly visited on expeditions George Mallory and Andrew Irwin, a young and inexperienced student, go in a bunch in a way that lies beyond their capabilities. Up to the top there were some 150 meters, and Habeler's words were exactly about the same, hostile to the person height. Nobody knows what the two climbers thought, going to the deadly zone. It is known that a group followed them, observing how two small spots crawl very slowly along the rock. At some point, the eyes of the climbers stopped distinguishing the black figures ahead of themselves, they just disappeared into the cloud. Those who went to search for the expedition could not find the body and find out the cause of the accident. Equipped much better Mallory climbers walking along the same path stopped when the last 100 meters remained to the top, saying that there was simply no way up.

The Mystery of George Mallory

For Everest, 150 m is a lot. Therefore, even now there are disputes about whether Mallory George passed ill-fated meters. Those who believe that the mountaineer was not on top, reconstructed the events that took place. Mallory, discovering that there is no direct way to the top, most likely decides to bypass the mountain to find at least some passage. It is likely that men spent a lot of time looking for a nonexistent path, and they just ran out of oxygen in the tanks. Realizing that descent to tents will be a difficult test, climbers try to return to darkness, but do not have time. George Mallory, whose body was discovered only 75 years later, fell from a cliff that he could not conquer. The remains of Irwin were never found. It is assumed that his frozen body just dropped down the Chinese expeditions that cleared the way of the corpses.

However, experts from England, investigating the mysterious disappearance, are sure that the climber still visited the summit, leaving there the British flag and a photo of his beloved wife, who was not found in his pockets. But the wallet and all the documents remained in place.

Now no one can say with certainty which version is correct. Whatever it was, but Mallory, going into the unknown, challenged the impossible, and his victory over himself deserves admiration.