A recent discovery on Mount Everest has reignited interest in one of mountaineering’s most enduring mysteries. In September, a team led by renowned adventurer Jimmy Chin, filming for National Geographic, found a preserved boot on the Central Rongbuk Glacier below Everest’s North Face. This boot is believed to belong to Andrew Comyn “Sandy” Irvine, who disappeared with George Mallory during their 1924 Everest expedition.
The Discovery
The team found the boot, containing a foot, as they descended the glacier. A sock inside the boot bore a name tag with “A.C. Irvine” stitched into it, strongly suggesting it belonged to the lost climber. This discovery came after the team found an oxygen bottle dated 1933, from an expedition that had previously found an item belonging to Irvine.
Historical Context
Irvine, just 22 years old at the time, and Mallory were last seen alive on June 8, 1924, as they attempted to reach Everest’s summit. Their disappearance has intrigued the mountaineering world for a century, with Mallory’s body only found in 1999 by an American climber.
Potential Implications
The discovery of Irvine’s remains could potentially answer whether he and Mallory reached the summit, which would predate the official first ascent by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by 29 years. Of particular interest is a camera Irvine was believed to be carrying, which might contain photographic evidence of their summit attempt.
Family Reaction
Irvine’s descendants, including his great-niece Julie Summers, have been emotional about the discovery, especially since it coincides with the centenary of his disappearance. Summers expressed surprise and a sense of extraordinary feeling, having given up hope of finding any trace of her great-uncle.
Next Steps
The family has provided a DNA sample to confirm the remains’ identity. Meanwhile, the foot has been removed from the mountain due to concerns about wildlife disturbance and handed over to Chinese mountaineering authorities.
Ongoing Mystery
While the boot’s discovery is significant, it doesn’t definitively answer whether Irvine and Mallory reached the summit. Summers acknowledges that proving their success would dramatically alter mountaineering history but maintains that the family values the mystery and the story of the climbers’ bravery more than potential accolades.
As the search potentially continues for Irvine’s camera, this discovery serves as a reminder of a young adventurer who lived life to the fullest. For the older generation of Irvine’s family, Everest has long been considered his final resting place, adding a poignant note to this remarkable find.
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