A Question That Refuses to Fade
For almost one hundred years, climbers and historians have asked the same question: did George Mallory and Andrew “Sandy” Irvine stand on the summit of Mount Everest in 1924—decades before Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s celebrated ascent? The mystery has fueled books, films, and countless expeditions, but the mountain has kept its secrets. Now, a single discovery may bring us closer to the answer than ever before.

The Startling Find on the Central Rongbuk Glacier
In September 2024, a National Geographic expedition led by award-winning climber and filmmaker Jimmy Chin uncovered something extraordinary. Hidden deep in the shifting ice of the Central Rongbuk Glacier lay a weathered boot. Inside was a wool sock stitched with the initials “A.C. Irvine”—and a partial human foot. Early evidence points to Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, who vanished alongside Mallory during their daring summit attempt.

This artifact was found at a lower altitude than the spot where Mallory’s body was discovered back in 1999. That detail alone reshapes theories about their final hours. Did Irvine fall first? Were they descending from the summit when tragedy struck? The location of the boot is a clue that could rewrite the story of their climb.

A Family’s Century-Long Wait for Closure
For Irvine’s descendants, this discovery is more than a historical curiosity—it’s a personal turning point. National Geographic has offered his family the chance to receive the artifact, giving them a tangible connection to a relative who became legend at only twenty-two. DNA testing is underway to confirm the identity, and if the results match, it will bring long-awaited closure to a family that has wondered for generations.

Video : Everest mystery: Sandy Irvine’s remains found 100 years later

The Missing Camera That Could Change History
Even more tantalizing than the boot is what might still be hidden with Irvine’s remains: the small VPK pocket camera he was known to carry. If preserved, the film inside could show whether Mallory and Irvine actually reached the top of the world. A single photograph could shift the official timeline of mountaineering, proving that the mountain’s first conquerors stood there nearly thirty years before history says they did. Can you imagine the headlines if that camera surfaces intact?

Clues in the Ice and the Challenge of Time
Everest’s glaciers are a natural archive, but one that reveals its secrets slowly. Bodies and artifacts, locked in ice for decades, emerge only as glaciers melt and shift. The boot’s reappearance is not just a climber’s clue; it’s a reminder of the brutal environment that preserves what humans leave behind. Each object that surfaces speaks of both triumph and tragedy, of ambition and the heavy price of exploration.

Reigniting the Debate Among Explorers and Historians
The find has already sparked heated debates in climbing circles. Was the lower-altitude location proof they never made it to the summit? Or could it mean they were on their way down, mission accomplished? Every new theory breathes fresh life into a mystery that has captivated adventurers for nearly a century. One thing is certain: this single piece of gear has transformed speculation into a new wave of curiosity.

Why This Story Still Captures Our Imagination
What is it about Mallory and Irvine’s journey that continues to fascinate? Perhaps it’s the timeless draw of chasing the impossible, or the haunting idea of two men disappearing into thin air while reaching for the sky. Their story blends courage and tragedy like few others, reminding us that exploration is as much about heart as it is about conquering heights.

Video : What National Geographic Won’t Tell You About Irvine’s Remains on Everest

Conclusion
The emergence of Irvine’s boot is more than a historical footnote—it’s a sign that Everest is not done telling its story. Whether the missing camera will one day reveal the truth remains unknown, but each discovery pulls us closer to understanding what happened on that fateful climb. A century later, the mountain still whispers its secrets, and we can’t help but listen.