When Frank Smythe - an Everest pioneer - died in 1949, his wife burned all of his photographs and records. So, when his son Tom came to write a book about his dad's adventures, imagine his surprise when he came across an old diary. However, the diary was to reveal more secrets than anyone could ever have imagined!
In the back was a letter addressed to Edward Norton, leader of the infamous 1924 Everest expedition, the expedition on which George Mallory and 'Sandy' Irvine disappeared. The letter reported a sighting Frank had made with his telescope from Everest basecamp...
"I saw something queer in a gully below the scree shelf. Of course it was a long way away and very small, but I've a six/six eyesight and do not believe it was a rock. This object was at precisely the point where Mallory and Irvine would have fallen had they rolled on over the scree slopes."
Given the discovery of Irvine's body in 1999, could this have been the final resting place of George Mallory?
What is intriguing is that Frank decided not to tell anyone of his finding, as he didn't want unsavoury media interest, and we suppose, due to the respect Frank had for his fellow mountaineers.
Read more in this great Article by Ed Douglas Lifelong secret of Everest pioneer: I discovered George Mallory's body in 1936 | World news | The Observer
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