A recent discovery by a National Geographic documentary team suggests they may have uncovered part of the footprints of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, the renowned climber who went missing on Mount Everest a century ago.
During a climbing expedition in late September, climbers stumbled upon a foot inside what appeared to be a remarkably preserved, albeit old, boot.
Mark Fisher, one of the filmmakers who found the shoe, recounted the shock of finding a legible nameplate engraved with “AC Irvine” on the sock. The revelation took everyone by surprise, leaving them awestruck.
Irvine and his climbing companion George Mallory were last seen by their expedition team on June 8, 1924. Whether they reached the summit remains a mystery, making it a significant enigma not only for mountaineers but also for historians. If they had, it would have predated the confirmed first ascent by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953 by nearly three decades.
While Mallory’s body was discovered in 1999, Irvine’s remains remain elusive. Attempts to locate the camera he reportedly carried have also been unsuccessful. This camera could hold the key to confirming whether Irvine and Mallory reached the summit.
The documentary team, led by photographer and director Jimmy Chin and filmmaker Eric Roepke, found the boots while exploring the Central Rongbuk Glacier on the north side of Mount Everest.
The Irvine family has offered DNA samples to confirm the identity of the partial remains. National Geographic reports that if verified, this foot would provide the first conclusive evidence of Irvine’s fate since his disappearance.
While Irvine’s exact fate remains a mystery, the discovery of his foot could shed light on the events that unfolded on the mountain. This revelation may lead to new questions about his demise and the circumstances surrounding it.
Fisher, an experienced mountaineer and owner of an Idaho-based production company, expressed their team’s astonishment at potentially unraveling Mallory and Irvine’s mystery, a story that has fascinated them for years.
Exploring the Rongbuk Glacier, the team often came across artifacts left behind by climbers over the years, ranging from mundane items like tin cans and clothing scraps to more significant finds like an oxygen bottle dated 1933, the same year Irvine’s ice ax was discovered during a failed British expedition to Everest.
Speculations and theories surrounding Irvine’s disappearance loomed large as the team discovered the boots. Their subsequent return to the site hinted at the possibility of uncovering more clues relating to Irvine’s fate.
While DNA testing is pending, Fisher emphasized the undeniable nature of the find, with the nameplate on the boots resembling Mallory’s. Still, conclusive evidence awaits further analysis.
There is no set timeline for the DNA testing process. The team believes the boots likely thawed from the glacier within a week of discovery, given their remarkably preserved condition.
Collaborating with authorities, the team is working towards releasing the boots to Irvine’s family, marking a significant step in a century-old Everest mystery.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
