George Mallory's Final Everest Attempt: 1924

George Mallory made three Everest expeditions (1921, 1922, 1924). His last climb was the 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition.

Timeline

• June 4, 1924: Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine depart Advanced Base Camp (6,400 m)
• June 6: Establish Camp VI at 8,168 m (26,800 ft)
• June 8, ~08:00: Noel Odell spots them "going strong" near the Second Step (8,570 m)
• June 8, afternoon: Clouds close in. They never return.

Discovery

May 1, 1999: Mallory's body found at 8,155 m by Conrad Anker's team. Preserved by cold. Evidence: unbroken snow goggles (suggests descent/night), no photo of wife (meant for summit), severe rope-jerk injury (fall while roped).

Summit Question

Unknown. Odell's sighting near Second Step fuels debate. Modern consensus: unlikely they surmounted the Second Step (technical crux) in 1924 gear/time. But no proof either way.

Mallory's famous reply to "Why climb Everest?": "Because it's there." His disappearance cemented the mountain's mythology.