Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory & Irvine

One superlative comment that needs to be made is related to the book, and those who put it together. I don't believe that a more dignified, respectful documentation could have been done.What/who was found, and the conduct of those who accomplished this trek is beyond reproach. This easily could have been a sensationalist, tabloid bit of exploitation, but there is none at all. The respect extended to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, not once was a word uttered that detracted from them as people, nor what they accomplished.The book itself is extremely well finished, photography is superb, and this book deserves to be displayed, not just consigned to a shelf.I don't know how Mr. Mallory and Mr. Irvine even made it 10% of the way up Everest. There are few, if any persons, who would venture outside to ski or shovel the driveway wearing only what these men wore. I have read of many contemporary climbs, and the contrast to what is used today as compared to what was used in 1924, makes these climbers all the more remarkable.I have read all the books on Everest I have come across. This book is without peer, it stands as a memorial to two of the bravest of men, and a testament to those who sought to solve the mystery of their deaths, and did so in a manner that defines true professionals, and for lack of a better word, class.

This is a wonderful look back in time to the amazing geographic curiosity of the British in the 1920s. Coupled with it is the incredible and true story of another group of curious American explorers who set out in 1999 to accomplish the impossible by attempting to find traces of the 1920s expedition. That all these characters are mountain climbers is only part of the story. That the 1999 team DID find the body of a member of the 1924 expedition is also only part of the story. The real story is the human drama of both eras. The 1999 team does a great job in this book of paying their tribute to heroes of a by-gone era of exploration, while demonstrating that the will to seek and find new truth and explore new horizons is still alive and well in some of us. The rest of us can live it vicariously through great books like this one!

I thought it had all been said about this expedition and Everest in general until I read this book. The accounts published by the authors in magazines such as National Geographic, and Outside are good but pale in comparison to the quality of the presentation of this book. The photos of the primitive equipment Mallory, Irvine and their colleagues used almost 100 years ago tell a compelling story. I cannot imagine achieving the heights they achieved with the hobnail boots. I had never seen a pair up close. The photos of the mountain from each expedition are remarkable and unique. This book is more than just a climbing tale. The author does a superb job of portraying the people on the 1924 and 1999 expeditions, and the cultures in which they immersed themselves. Mountaineers Books also did an outstanding job of producing the best quality Everest book I have seen to date. It is beautifully designed and executed. It is one of those rare books that I hated to finish and will no doubt refer to and savor again. You will want a quality hardback copy for your library or coffee table.

The 1999 Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition is already becoming known as one of the great mountaineering events of this century. This official team account is a library must for Everest fans and climbers. The photography is respectful and beautiful. Plus, it's a good mystery and a grand adventure story. I strongly recommend it.

The authors of Ghosts of Everest manage to gracefully pull off the telling of two fascinating stories at the same time: one about the historic 1924 expedition of Mallory and Irvine, and the other about the authors' own expedition in 1999 to search for clues and pay homage to the 1924 climbers. The two stories work wonderfully together and are set within the context of interesting and appropriate photos and poignant quotes from Mallory himself. The whole work flows flawlessly and is not only a "must read" for Everest afficionados, but also for the broader reading public sharing admiration and interest in the human spirit of adventure. The spirit of risk and adventure and human grit demonstrated within this book is truly compelling. Of special note also is the tasteful way in which the authors present a few photos of the body of Mallory as found on Everest 75 years after his disappearance. Despite early public criticisms for the publishing of these photos, I saw them as a deeply moving, almost breathtaking, but absolutely necessary part of the story. Without them, the impact of the team's find, the sights and the moments they shared upon the discovery, would be lost to the reader. No words can begin to tell us what those men experienced with Mallory up there that day. The reverence toward Mallory has been well documented, and the photos of Mallory's final resting pose do him justice. All in all, a research job well done, a book well written, a story well told!