In recent years I've become obsessed with Everest!
If you have anything more than a passing interest in the mountain, you will find some interest in two things going on at Mt. Everest right now.
1.) Jordan Romero. Jordan is a 13 year old kid from California. He's already an incredibly accomplished climber... He has accomplished 6 of the fabled 7 summits (the highest points on each of the continents). Only a handful of people have ever accomplished this goal. He's certainly testament to the fact that kids develop at different ages.. this kid could pass for an 18 year old from a physical perspective.. Anyhow, Jordan is significantly younger than anyone to have ever climbed Everest in the past. The prior record holder is a sherpa from the local region who was 16 years old. Other than him, I don't think anyone younger than 18 has ever made the summit. I've been following Jordan's attempt for a month now. They have been in the region acclimating and training and waiting for the weather to break so that they can make an attempt.
The attempt is underway now!
http://www.jordanromero.com and on facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Jord ... 4734?ref=t
They made it to the North Col yesterday (camp 1). Today they will climb to camp 2. They are hoping to make a summit attempt on the 22nd if the weather holds.
2.) This year, Everest might finally give up one of it's greatest secrets. Who actually made the top first!?!?! Clearly the world knows the names of Hillary and Norgay who made the summit in 1953. But, many people believe that in fact, the mountain was summited in 1924 by George Mallory and Sandy Irvine, two English climbers. They were seen through a telescope at a point just a few hundred feet from the top (just above the 2nd step marked in the picture above) before being obscured by clouds. The two men always carried a camera with them, and of course photographic record was always taken upon reaching the top of any mountain. Unfortunately, Mallory and Irvine didn't make it down alive. Mallory's body was finally found in 1999. There are couple of clues that lead one to believe that they did in fact make the summit -
* Firstly, Mallory's daughter has always said that Mallory carried a photograph of his wife on his person with the intention of leaving it on the summit when he reached it. This photo was not found on the body when it was discovered. Given the excellent state of preservation of the body and its garments, the absence of the photo suggests that he may have reached the summit and deposited the photo there. * Secondly, Mallory's snow goggles were in his pocket when the body was found, indicating that he died at night. This implies that he and Irvine had made a push for the summit and were descending very late in the day. Given their known departure time and movements, had they not made the summit, it is unlikely that they would have still been out by nightfall.
However, no proof!.. The proof would be from the camera. The camera should be on the body of Irvine!
So what makes this pertinent...
This year has been unusually windy and not very snowy... great drifts that have held firm on the mountain for years are much diminished this spring. Some experts believe that this is the year that Irvine's body will finally be found. In May 2010 Australian mountaineer Duncan Chessell set out for the North Col with the intention of climbing Mount Everest (for the third time) and finding the body of Irvine. He said, "There is now bare rock exposed which has been deeply covered for decades in the most likely areas where Andrew Irvine's body may be. It is my intention to search those areas en route to the summit and take this rare opportunity to find him [Irvine] and, perhaps, the missing camera."
The weather window is coming now for the next few days to a week... If it holds, Romero might have a good shot at the summit. Also, Chessell might have a great opportunity to find Irvine's body. Both would be significant news stories for anyone with any interest in mountaineering.
