Mallory’s published statements show that he never intended to climb the entire crest of the North-East Arete. Instead, he planned on following a route below the ridge in order to bypass the obstacles on the crest. Mallory did not consider climbing the Second Step. Indeed, in all his expedition journals, letters home, and documented conversations, the phrase “second step” is never used. Mallory discussed nearly every other problem of the climb, but he never mentioned the “first step,” nor the “second step.” His only published statement on the “obstacles” on the ridge was that he intended to bypass them below the ridge. (See Pete Poston‘s take on a possible couloir approach. And Gareth Thomas‘ couloir theory).
The published description of his intended route is found in Through Tibet to Everest and the America version The Story of Everest, by John Noel.
There are minor difference between the two, but here I will focus on the America version:
“Mallory told me himself, when he talked to me of his possible routes up the final pyramid and told me where to watch for him, that he expected to go up the northeast of the final pyramid, but if he found the Gully particularly difficult, or if the west wind were particularly bad, he would take the eastern ridge, missing the Gully by passing across the head of it and gaining better protection from the west wind. Such a route would bring him along the knife-edge of the eastern ridge. This ridge is corniced by the continual action of the west wind.” (Story of Everest p. 227).
In looking at this area, I would like to thank Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson for permission to use his photo. As with all the people who contribute photos, ideas, or time, it is greatly appreciated. Of course, this does not imply that any of the contributors share any of the ideas presented here. Here is a photo taken from the “top” of the First Step along the standard route. I say “top” because, the actual top of the First Step, along the ridge, is not climbed and the highest point along the modern route goes below the main tower.
This photo shows the “ridge” that Noel mentions in Through Tibet to Everest. Here, the North-North-East shoulder/ridge is clearly visible, as is the subsidiary gully leading up to its crest — the route on the right. This is approximately the route climbed by Messner in 1980. In his description of the route, Messner writes, “I continue somewhat further along the rib, where the least of the snow lies. For an hour. Until a dark vertical rock wall bars the way above me. Something draws me to the left, I pass the obstacle, and continue still keeping to the right.” (The Crystal Horizon, p. 243). Update: I have a better determination of Messner’s route in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhAycFdONg . It has Messner exiting lower on the North shoulder and was worked out after breaking down Messner’s climb times and statements in The Crystal Horizon.
I also note the “Smythe/Norton” high point. It is generally accepted that the 1933 expeditions achieved roughly the same point that Norton achieved in 1924. Fortunately, Smythe took a picture (Page 18) and put an “X” on it, which allows me to place the spot precisely — hence I name it the “Smythe/Norton” point. Norton may actually have been a little higher, but he was still stuck below the ledge at the top of the couloir.
Zooming on on the Smythe/Norton point, I put in a possible “zig-zag” route to illustrate that the “zig-zag” route is not reachable once you enter the couloir. The rock ledges that make up the top of the couloir are not passable straight up. The route climbed by Norton, Wyn-Harris, and Smythe is not the best route, as it has you bumping up against the top ledges of the couloir and you have to traverse across the entire couloir to the west along difficult slabs. As Norton and Smythe both noted, it is much easier to traverse the couloir lower and climb out along the subsidiary couloir to the west (right). Although this route was clearly identified prior to 1933, it is not clear why all of the 1933 climbers did the exact same thing — entered the couloir and then tried to climb directly out its top. All failed at exactly the same spot.
The two potential routes match up with the note that Mallory wrote to John Noel:
“Dear Noel,We’ll probably start early to-morrow (8th) in order to have clear weather. It won’t be too early to start looking out for us either crossing the rockband under the pyramid or going up skyline at 8.0 p.m.Yours ever G Mallory”
Looking at a frame from Epic of Everest (for which “fair use” is claimed), we can see both the “skyline” and “rockband” 
From this angle, the route likely taken by Mallory looks fairly easy: (Note, the leg out to the right is put in because the rocks at the top of that ledge are very smooth. It doesn’t really show in this B&W image, but climbing a straight route would be difficult because there is no traction on the rocks at that section, while moving to the right is less steep and has a line to follow.)
As discussed in the Odell video, this matches up with Odell’s sighting on the “last step but one” from the final pyramid.
The “skyline” is the large snow triangle in the image. Mallory specifically called this snow triangle the “skyline” in his 1921 expedition report.
In terms of the “rockband,” there are several different “rockbands” that make up the section view-able in this photo. It is not clear which of these “rockbands” Mallory was referring to, and it does not make any difference. Mallory was simply stating that he would go to the left (skyline) or right (rockband). In terms of exactly which “rockband,” the only certainty is that Mallory was not referring to The Beatles.
In this color photo, the various “rockbands” are more distinct, and this possible route bypasses the “dark vertical wall” to the right, as opposed to Messner’s route. The point is that there is no one “route.” There are several viable options. Messner climbed one variation in 1980. The Australians climbed a similar variation in 1984.
The only thing left to do is to climb a route to the east of the couloir and determine whether the route would have been climbable by Mallory and Irvine within a reasonable amount of time.
Brilliant and historic analysis, hope you get more pics and illustrations, this deserves a book.
This, along with a couple of the videos on Youtube, is the most logical and fact-based perspective on (a) where Mallory and Irvine hiked and (b) where Irvine likely lies. It deserves a full investigation, as it’s very possible that they summitted Everest and their efforts deserve further appreciation.
Everything i have read previously pointed to a no summit theory and I accepted this. This work puts everything in a new perspective and I am not sure what to think. a successful summit at least seems plausible now. If malloryand irvine were on third step at 1250pm I suppose there was nothing stopping them from summitting.
Superb analysis, truly fascinating. I hope you will be able to provide an update soon.
Great analysis and a completely valid and rational conclusions posited.
Great work, definately deserves a book!
Great read. Makes sense. I believe they made it and had a accident coming down. What amazing adventures in th 1920s
So when George Mallory erroneously wrote 8pm in his note to John Noel, which people have often taken to mean 8am, is it likely he meant 3pm? And I don’t wish to wander into the realms of conspiracy theories here, but is it possible the note might have been altered by somebody? A 3 could easily be changed into an 8, and Norton completely changed the time and location of Noel Odell’s sighting of Mallory and Irvine at what was obviously the 3rd Step at 12:50pm for an unknown reason.
Michael,
Something occurred to me recently, something about the Second Step, and the embattled attempts to prove that M&I might have climbed it. Those like myself who believe that M&I (or at least Mallory) reached the summit by a traverse of rtathe North Face have sound reasons for thinking so. But any ¨planned route¨ can be changed on site, and still no one knows which route was taken.Others believe that the NE Ridge and Steps may have been M&I´s preferred route. They may be right. Odell described the two figures appearing at the base of one of the Steps. First one surmounted the Step ‘with alacrity’, and then the other did likewise. If this happened at the First or Third Step, or on any other rise along the Ridge except the Second Step, why didn’t they proceed roped together in single file, staying close to each other? Could it be that they climbed a ROPE to the top, which Mallory had set earlier, still obscured by clouds, having free-climbed, with his consummate rock skills, the Second Step? He then would have descended the rope to test it, to convince Irvine, and to pick up his gear, left at the base, for the final ascent. Two climbers on the rope at once would have been hazardous, so they climbed separately, as Odell reported. Odell’s confusion about the Steps and his surprise at the late hour of M&I’s location now becomes understandable, as Mallory must have taken up several hours in performing the feat (like the Chinese in 1960). The seeming ‘synchronicity’ of Odell’s sighting with the climb of the Step was due simply to the opportune break in the weather. The late summiting, and the descent across the Yellow Band after dark, and the consequent mishap now also become understandable.
[new website: https://cywelsian.wordpress.com/%5D
That web address should be: https://cywelsian.wordpress.com/
Has a team combed the zig zag route for any evidence of Mallory and Irvine? It seems this route is not commonly traveled.
No, there have been no searches of this route. I have photos of it, and it does no appear to have anything on it. There is one spot, sort of a “cave” down at the bottom that I’d like to look at, but the route is fairly steep. The oxygen bottle that was found down lower still had oxygen in it and was likely left deliberately as a “cache” — that is, they intended to pick it back up on the way down. For empty bottles, they would just drop them down the mountain — especially if they were descending the zig-zag. No reason to leave a bottle only to have it come loose and hit you on the way down. Drones could be used to search the bottom of the mountain and get an idea of where they dropped their bottles.
The changing Odell story appears to be the weak link, although all post 1924 attempts were attempting the traverse, inter war periods, the idea rests on Odells initial report
It is pretty clear what happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p40DpOI_CtM
I never heard that the O2 bottle found still had oxygen in it even after 70 years or so. Given that it was higher up than Irvine’s axe (but still rather close to the axed), wouldn’t that suggest that they couldn’t find the cached oxygen bottle on the way down due to darkness or storm conditions?
Yes, that is the logical conclusion. I am putting it all together for a new video. Why it took Jake 22 years to revel that the O2 bottle was not empty remains a mystery. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM7KqTII2HY . More problematic is that it is very unlikely that he kept the information to himself. Other people on the expedition had to know about it, and yet they all claimed it was empty.
This definitely changes what we know about their path and what happened that day. I know it is hard to determine much from the mitten and sock but they are also in the same area. I would love to hear your thoughts on that as well. Is there any reason why a climber would take off his mitten? Are both of mallory’s mittens accounted for? Was there any blood on them? I look forward to seeing your new video. I am fascinated by this mystery.
Both his mittens as well as the fingerless gloves were not on the body. He had a spare pair of fingerless gloves in his pocket — as reported by Conrad Anker, but only one was handed over to the Royal Geographic Society, so someone pilfered a glove on the 1999 expedition. I don’t think it was any of the climbers, but the problem is that none of the climbers said anything about it. Certainly, they would have a pretty good idea who did it or at least flag that an item was stolen.
And this gets to the problem with all the “evidence” they supposedly found. We don’t know anything about it. The mitten that was found further up on the mountain was not photographed and the location it was found was not photographed or even clearly identified. Thus, they are free to move its location around whenever they want to suit whatever theory they are putting forward at the time. And they did this with the oxygen bottle. The initial 1999 book places it much further down the mountain than were Jake Norton placed it this year. So, 22 years later, one of their members corrects the location of the bottle and just happens to drop the fact that it still had oxygen in it. It is not worth analyzing things like the mitten or the sock because nothing about their being found is known and certainly cannot be confirmed. If they were more important items — like oxygen bottle #9, it would be worth trying to figure out what happened.
As you look more and more into this “mystery” you are going to end up with a really bad feeling about the 1999 expedition. I don’t think it was any of the climbers, but someone on that expedition had a definite agenda that aligned with Chairman Mao’s.
I’m looking forward to seeing your latest video. One more question, has anyone ever analyzed the blood stains on Mallory’s jacket to determine if it belonged to Irvine or Mallory? It would be easy to do and it could provide insight on what happened on the descent.
The 1999 team had someone analyze the blood evidence, but like all the “evidence,” it is so incomplete. Analysis of anything like that will just be garbage-in garbage-out.
In 1999, did the team have their freedom on the mountain? Or was some kind of CTMA staff around their activities?
I was not there in 1999, but it looks like they could go where ever they wanted to. Certainly CTMA would have known they found Mallory when it was broadcast all over the news. They did not kick them off the mountain or send any staff up the mountain with them. The 2 people who dug up the body on May 16 were not accompanied by anyone.
It is difficult to believe CMA/CTMA didn’t know they were searching — and they certainly did after May 1. Similar to the 2019 Nat Geo team — which says they had approval to use the drone. Exactly what did the Chinese think the drone was looking for? And they bring the one of the camera men from 1999? Seems the Chinese will let you “search” as long as you won’t actually find anything.
some nice shots of that part of the mountain in marco siffredis descent in 2001. surely gives a perspective for the sheer size of it. he essentially snowboarded down messners 1980 route! On the zigzag, do you know if anyone plans to climb that? seems like one of the more appealing remaining routes to do on everest.
It appears to have been climbed in 2014. It is unlikely the Chinese would ever approve the route so whomever did it wishes to remain anonymous, but there are tracks in the snow.
Very sneaky evading the authorities
Interesting thoughts on the topic, i never heard that the oxygen bottle wasnt empty and also never heard that mallory named the snow triangle going skyline. On the other hand, i never believed in the first step theory. That doesnt make sense as he said “the great rock step just before the final pyramid”. The second step also didnt make sense due to the fact that they easily climbed it. But reports almost all forget the third step since they didnt see it as a step at the time. But on that altitude and sighting Odell could have easily thought otherwise. Hope they find Irvine, i always think that he is at the bottom of the mountain. A place no one ever searches since it is completely offroute from both sides and not accesible i guess. Perhaps drones will be used more often to help the search
“..appears to have been climbed in 2014.” So that’s fascinating. Where did you find pictures of these tracks in the snow, and can you share them? I imagine it might be difficult to discern with all the stretches of bare rock, but could you tell if the climber took one of the lines you identified as potential zig-zag routes? That mystery climber may have some extremely useful insight into the M+I climb.. climb times, unforeseen problems, would they return by same route etc. Would be great to get someone with a camera (or a drone) on that area.
One of the books I am reading on Mallory and Irvine commented on Andrew’s jacket pocket (s) being different from the other (1924) members of the team in that the pocket (s) had zippers. Having an engineering background, of course he would have jumped into the new invention. The perfect place to safeguard a camera or perhaps some rocks. Look at the picture of the 1924 team. Audrey Salkeld has the best, clearest picture on her book Mystery on Everest, page 45. Hilda Lopez Roberts
From June 8th thru 11th Norton was at camp III with Noel, Bruce and Hingston. The group had the opportunity to discuss the contents for The Times dispatch which must have been sent through telegraph or teletype on the 11th or even the 12th (Nepal-Tibet time.) See last page C V The Fight for Everest.
I think that many, Many, MANY people want to believe the ‘zig-zag’ route theory…. I used to want to believe that Mallory (at the least) made it to the summit.. but in the real world, physical objects like rock masses & near vertical climbing walls in incredibly thin air, and the fact that they were, literally, exploring a new route/trail to get to the top.. at least at any point above where Norton had gotten (and had described to them.. they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes until they went up there)…. This points to the inevitable conclusion that they didn’t make the summit in 1924. I DO believe Messner.. a world CLASS alpinist in anyone’s book… who managed to solo a nearby (previously un-traversed) route without oxygen… he chose to go up on the West side of the Norton/Great Couloir though… Reinhold had his high camp set up for a day just below where the ‘zig-zag’ route was supposedly used by Mallory/Irvine to get to the top of the third step.. and Messner unequivocally says the route up at that location is all rotten rock and sheer faces and is adamant that it is impassable (at that altitude/temp/etc).. and he spent time studying that very section while plotting his route up (eventually settling on the western side of the couloir near the top to continue his assent.. and Messner knows a thing or two about route selection)… The Australian team in ’84 essentially took Messner’s route too… so, yeah…. without hard Proof that someone has, in fact, conquered the ‘zig zag’ route.. and I haven’t seen it from either an individual Claiming it was They who did it, or someone with second-hand pictorial evidence that it has been done.. I don’t think Mallory/Irvine would have been able to get up that gnarly cliff.. with zig-zag walking up (& I still say that route doesn’t exist unless someone has close up HD pictures of it or a video of someone actually doing it) or free climbing it since a lot of it’s surface is obviously pretty sheer.. this while Mallory/Irvine were breaking trail in 1924 tweed overcoats and carrying overweight (by today’s comparison) gear… I just think the most logical conclusion is that they got up there around the 8,350m mark…. took too long of a time looking for a route.. backtracking dead ends or climbing back down from routes-up that they tried… or took a fall trying to get up a particularly technical vertical face.. then ran out of energy/oxygen and finally succumbed to the elements trying to make their way back down after that.. It just makes too much sense from an objective perspective.. an awful lot of things would have had to go ‘their way’ in order for either one of them to have gotten to the summit and then be found (in Mallory’s case) as low as they were.
So, the “8350 mark” is about the First Step. And Norton got to 8573m, turned around and got all the way back to North Col. So your analysis that “an awful lot of things would have to go ‘their way’ in order for either one of them to have gotten to the summit and then be found (in Mallory’s case) as low as they were’ is just inventing things so your theory works. It is not applying known facts to the analysis. You have them reaching 200 meters lower and getting back 1/10 the distance, and dying, as opposed to someone without oxygen. That is not analysis — it is wishful thinking.
And when did you talk to Messner? Or are you just repeating what other people said without providing any source for it?
And no, the Australians did not “essentially” take Messner’s route.
Thor’s Hammer
Your analysis makes more sense. Until someone climbs the zigzag and provides a description that indicates it was climbable with the gear that they had, it is just speculation to argue that they went that way. It is clearly possible, and maybe they continued on Norton’s route instead. We do know that the west side of the Great Couloir is climbable, and no one has tried the east side which would be the zigzag.
Messner has commented that the east side is much too difficult. One source I know of regarding this is Norton talking with him about it.
It is not reasonable to contort Odell’s description into the Third Step. From his vantage point, the modern Third Step (a term which I believe did not exist then) disappears into the Final Summit pyramid. You do not see it as a step. The other features also look odd from that angle. Odell’s contemporaneous notes of what he saw was incredibly brief. The narrative that we are familiar with was written months later, and after debate began about whether he saw them at the First or Second Step. In any event, his description is vague, and more consistent with the idea that he was trying to reconstruct exactly what he saw only later when his sighting became the last known sighting. People put way too much reliance on it.
It is the primary reason why so many have assumed that they took the ridge route. That and the location of Irvine’s ax, which makes no sense if they took the traverse up and back.
They did look in Mallory’s pockets when they found him. Most of the artifacts were in his pockets. No one reported seeing stones. They were not 100% rigorous regarding documenting the find, though. It should have gotten the scrutiny used in archeological digs, but no one thought about that in advance.
The internety psychology is very strange in that people believe things and even repeat them that they could not know or are false. You are just repeating things that someone else told you without doing a little investigation.
For instance, I did an entire video on Odell’s sighting. When I was on Everest in 2013 and 2018 and stood where Odell was, I thought the place was obvioulsy the 3rd step. Andy Politiz though the same thing when he was there in 1999. Joachim Hemmleb says the same.
And yet, it is not clear what year you climbed Everest on the North. Perhaps the clouds were obscuring your view. Or perhaps you never climbed Everest and you are just repeating what someone else told you.
Odell wrote down what he saw in his diary — a copy of which I have viewed in the Alpine Club archives. I am not sure why you believe he was attempting to resonstruct something he just saw. You also ignore Norton’s deliberate altering of what Odell said — moving the time and the location. I did an entire video on that — you should watch it first, and then comment as to how you think that fits into the story.
They did not look in Mallory’s pockets for rocks. They ripped up the body and the clothing as you can see from the photographs of the ripped up clothing and the account of Wade Davis who saw the video of what they did. The 1999 team knew about the summit rocks because one of them posted about it on the website back in 1999. In addition, summit rocks are now well known about and yet, the recent book “The Third Pole” does not mention them at all.
It doesn’t matter why so many people “assumed” they took the ridge. Today, we have a wealth of knowledge and yet people still insist they took the ridge when there is no reason to believe they did. Instead, they repeat the same of misinformation over and over again.
“No one reported seeing stones.” You can watch the limited video of the find and see rocks inside Mallory’s clothing. No, they are probably not summit rocks. But the idea that there were not rocks in his clothing is ridiculous and contradicted by the photos and videos that have been released. The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. And you such a good little party member.