Reinhold Messner

I would have loved to have attended that lecture. Mountaineers have my utmost respect, especially someone like Reinhold Messner. It was the achievements of the early mountaineers that beggars belief. I've just finished reading "Ghosts of Everest" which details the first serious British attempt on Everest, and the subsequent loss of Mallory & Irvine on their summit bid in 1924.It would be nice to believe that they topped out but it is certainly very thought provoking stuff.

Hi greycat,

Messner put a view on the Mallory/Irvine attempt. Mallory had been seen through the cloud by an observer. His body, when it was found, had fallen from a higher point. Higher still, there was a 25 metre sheer wall, that in Messner's view was of the highest difficulty for modern equipped climbers. Indeed most climbers had used the Chinese-installed ladders.

The point that Messner put was that the equipment used by Mallory was of it's time, and included Tweed jacket, and more importantly, nailed boots.

Since the presentation, my son has pursued the point, and it would appear that the general view among the climbing fraternity, is that if you don't get back safely, it doesn't count. Seems a trifle harsh, but that is the view.

Messner did say that Mallory and Irvine had made one of the greatest strides in climbing, in that they were the first of the high alpine climbers.

I mentioned Messner setting up a series of climbing museums. He recently bought at auction the binoculars belonging to Mallory, they were found besde the body.

As a final point, Kodak have said that in the event that the Kodak camera is found, they would be able to retrieve evidence of reaching the summit, should it be there.

Dave Mac wrote:
Since the presentation, my son has pursued the point, and it would appear that the general view among the climbing fraternity, is that if you don't get back safely, it doesn't count. Seems a trifle harsh, but that is the view.

Mortlock talks about this in his book "The Adventure Alternative", he distinguishes between adventure and misadventure and talks about outcomes but preparation is equally important. It's recognised that not being suitably equipped or prepared can lead to misadventure and a number of inquiries following incidents have highlighted the need to ensure your group is suitably equipped and prepared for the challenge. Generally those who ignore this and take themselves or others into the mountains without suitable preparation or equipment are recognised for the reckless behaviour they exhibit.

45 = Coma
28 = Dead

:lol:

Gadzooks!

I have a resting rate of 52 but then again I am training for my next marathon.

Hirsty wrote:45 = Coma
28 = Dead

:lol:

Don't matter diddly
When,where,
Or how
You die.
Important thing is,
Don't take it personal.

Jim Dodge

Hirsty, what time you looking at running?

Hi Dave, the circumstantial info (gleened from the items found on Mallory's body) suggests that he and Irvine were descending when Mallory fell, most likely in the dark.(his glasses were found in his pocket) The conspiracy theorists claim that the abscence of the foto of his wife meant that he placed it on the summit as he stated he would.

Irvines body (thought to be Mallorys, was allegedly sighted on 2 seperate occassions some 200m higher on the mountain.

Whatever actually happened, it's still a awe-inspiring and tragic storey of human endeavour.

Maybe one day the Kodak camera will be found and it's storey revealed.