Did George Mallory Summit Mt. Everest First?

The ending to this story has yet to be written

British explorer George Mallory disappeared in an attempt on the summit of Mount Everest in June of 1924. He was presumed dead and it would be another thirty years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay completed the first documented ascent and return, in 1954.

There were always a few, however, who wondered whether Mallory had successfully summited Everest, only to disappear on his way down the mountain after dark, presumably from a fall.

The mystery endured for decades and there were a number of reports from other climbers who thought they had spotted a body in areas where Mallory could likely have fallen.

In a dramatic moment for explorers everywhere, George Mallory’s frozen body was found in 1999.

The discoverers noted Mallory’s snow goggles were in his pocket, which to some suggests he summited Everest and attempted to descend after dark and had put his goggles away.