The unsung heroes of Everest 

The Morning of May 29, 1953. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first to reach the summit of the mighty Everest successfully. But are they the first to reach the summit, or are there other names associated with conquering the world's highest peak before 1953? There is a fascinating mystery that has perplexed mountaineers and historians for over 100 years. Though Tenzing and Edmund deserve all the applause, another name deserves your attention: George Mallory, who whispered on the icy winds of Everest with his partner Andrew Sandy Irvine.

Mallory and Irvin may have stood on the top of the world way before Hillary and Norgay, black, in 1924. Yes, almost 100 years back when climbing was much more challenging, given no fancy gears and zero accurate weather forecasts. They embarked on an unpredictable journey ahead, one that no one had dared to undertake before, standing between the clouds at the top of the world.

Mallory, a British mountaineer, was also a schoolteacher. Being an experienced mountaineer, he tried to reach the summit twice before, but fate had other plans. When someone used to ask why he wanted to climb the dangerous mountain, he said, "Because it is there", showing how determined he was to mark his name as the peak of the world. Another reason he attempted the third time was that this time, he promised his wife Ruth that he would place her picture at the top of Everest if he made it. Imagine the underlying hope and zeal to step on the top of the world. 

Irvine, on the other hand, was just 22 in 1924, with limited mountaineering experience, and was proficient with oxygen equipment that was relatively new and challenging at the time. So, this duo relied on each other set for the unknown journey ahead; one had experience, whilst the other contributed technical skills.

The D-Day on June 8, 1924, finally arrived when Mallory and Irvine started their final push towards the summit. They were last seen by another teammate, Noel Odell, through his binoculars. Where were they? Just a few hundred meters from the summit. And soon, they vanished in the clouds. That was the last time Mallory and Irvine were seen alive. Nobody knows what happened to them afterwards. Did they reach the top? Did a snowstorm trap them before reaching the summit? Since there is no proof, no one can answer these questions. The world had to wait for another three decades to see Hillary and Norgay reach the summit of Everest.

For 75 long years, nobody knows what happened to them, wondering if they made it to the once-impossible. With no GPS, they couldn't track them. The only proof would be if they made it to the summit and returned or if something left behind them was found. However, it seems the mountain kept its secret.  In 1999, something incredible happened when a special team, known as the Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition, set out to find clues. On May 1, 1999, they found the intact body of George Mallory lying high up on the mountain at approximately 26,760 feet. His name was stitched to his clothes, so there were zero doubts about that. He had a broken leg and a rope injury around his waist. But one thing was missing. 

They didn't find Ruth's photo; that was a big clue. If he had reached the summit, he would have placed it there as promised. He carried that throughout the climb, but when his body was found, the photograph was gone, which made everyone question, "Did he make it to the peak and leave the photo before falling into the traps of death?" And Andrew Irvine? His body is yet to be found from the vast, unforgiving slopes of Everest. Many climbers believed that he might still be there holding a camera that could finally solve the mystery.

So, the big question is, did Mallory and Irvine reach the summit and leave that photo before they fell? And if they did, this would mean they were actually on the top of the world 29 years before Edmund and Norgay. Today, most mountaineers believe they might not have reached the summit, but they were so close to making history. Even if they didn't reach the summit, their bravery, determination, and spirit make them true legends of Mount Everest. Even though they vanished 100 years ago, people still talk about them, searching for their answer on the mighty mountain. They remind us that sometimes, the most incredible adventure ends in mystery, not in victory. 

The writer can be found at rahmanmegh1234@gmail.com