Well, I Like It

This has been a Public Service Announcement

The last photo of George Herbert Leigh Mallory (left) and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine at Camp 4 on 6th June 1924. After a breakfast of tinned sardines, ship’s biscuits and tea (of course), they set off on the ill-fated third attempt on the summit of the 1924 British Everest expedition, aiming to summit on the 8th but instead adding to the earlier deaths of Gurkhas Shamsher and Man Bhadur. This ascent attempt was late in the normal climbing window. The mystery remains but I hope they did it and at least died knowing they were the first and best.

Given that this shot from Soviet propaganda film “The Cranes are Flying” dates from 1957, you have to admit, it’s quite a feat.