The Lost Explorer : Finding Mallory On Mount Everest

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating High Altitude Tale
Review: Anker's account of the discovery of Mallory's remains and the search team's subsequent activities on Everest are fascinating. The story-telling is a bit disjointed, I'd have rather seen Mallory's bio, then the expedition account, however I sense no egotism here beyond that which is merited by achievements, and no axes being ground. Anker's opinion is based on experience. A very good read.

Rating:
Summary: Tiresome adventure
Review: Gave perfect comparison-contrast of '20's climning to 90's climbing. This book was not the most riveting adventure tale but enjoyable to say the least. To say that Anker, coauthor of the book along with David Roberts who has also teamed up with Krakauer, was vain in this book is a bit harsh. Anker accounts for the find of Mallory and his personal climb to the top of the world. Roberts condenses the info on Mallory into pure-meat information.

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Summary: Mallory's Legend Preserved
Review: I became interested in finding out more about George Mallory after watching a television documentary describing the discovery of his body in May,1999. When I learned that one of the climbers on that expedition had co-authored a book describing the historical find I knew I wanted to read it.

By reading it, a lot can be learned about climbing, even by a "grounded" reader like myself. Being a non-climber, I really wasn't aware of the mystique and high regard in which Mallory is held within the community of men and women who challenge themselves to the extremes of mental, emotional and physical endurance by pitting themselves against the unforgiving mountains "because they are there".

The book provides extensive insight into the psyche of Mallory and Conrad Anker, the man who found his body. The talent to climb, the courage to confront the ultimate challenges and the respect and awe held for the mountains, especially Everest, seem to be shared by both.

In my estimation the book accomplished what it set out to do. Most importantly, it preserved Mallory's legend. He was treated with reverance and his feats and accomplishments become more mind boggling when you consider the technological limitations with which he worked.

It helped provide insight into why people climb mountains. Mountaineering taps into the competitive nature of man; Everest is seen as an opponent that needs to be conquered. It is the proving ground that measures a person's mettle and stimulates the instinct for self survival.

The book spends time desribing Andrew Irvine, incredible in his own right, and sheds light on why he was chosen as Mallory's partner for that fateful climb.

The book also addresses the question on most readers' minds, "Did Mallory summit?". Anker followed in Mallory's footsteps and attempted to duplicate the climb. That helped him theorize that Mallory did not make it to the top. He explains clearly why he reached that conclusion and identifies several points that justify his conclusion. He even hypothesizes how Mallory and Irvine died and where Irvine's body might be located.

Finally, this illuminating book offers several anecdotes that both entertain and educate about the most dangerous and exhilirating sport known to man.

Rating:
Summary: Ego trips to Everest
Review: I read this book after getting interested in Everest by reading Jon Krakauer's excellent tale "Into Thin Air". This book explores the search and subsequent find of George Mallory who disappeared on Everest in 1924. The book is told from two perspectives: Conrad Anker's who was the climber that found Mallory's body, and David Roberts who gives historical background on Mallory and his expedition. I was most impressed by Roberts' descriptions of Mallory and the information he provides on the man and his trips to Everest. The comparisons between the folks of Mallory's time and the self-aggrandizing climbers of today's generation was especially interesting. I found Anker's descriptions of his trip to be very egocentric and off-putting when compared to Mallory and his quest for exploration. A telling example was Anker's recount of the rescue they performed for a Ukrainian team caught in a storm. This coupled with the photos they took of Mallory's body for what seems to me to be pure sensationalism only confirmed my lack of respect for these Everest glory hounds of today. All in all I enjoyed the historical accounts of Mallory by Roberts but could have done without Anker's ego trips.

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Story
Review: I really enjoyed the history in this book. It's a fast read and is pretty well written, yet I wish Conrad had written it all by himself. Even though his analysis of the fate of Mallory and Irvine is rational and well-argued, I'm not convinced. I still tend to think that Odell, being the last person to see the pair alive and believing they topped the second step, is to be trusted.

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Summary: The best of the Mallory books
Review: If you thought "Oh no, not another Mallory book!" then think again. For me this one is the best.

Like the other reviewers I noted the flashes of ego in Conrad Anker's account, but what a story he has to tell: HE found the body, HE climbed the second step, and HE was the clear driving force in reaching the summit. He relects on all these events with a calm and fascinating intelligence, and crucially, with the insight that comes from actually being there doing it, not looking at it through a telescope from Base Camp.

As Anker and Hahn make their way up the mountain one even has the tingling sensation of walking a few paces behind Mallory in 1924. Could he have negotiated this terrain? There's an oxygen bottle! What other clues lie ahead? There's lots of detail here that you won't find in the other books. The action on the mountain is interspersed with background and supporting chapters by Dave Roberts which serve to give a welcome breather.

All the Mallory books have their pluses and minuses. The photographs in "Ghosts of Everest" are difficult to beat. "The Lost Explorer" gives the most persuasive account of what really happened to Mallory and Irvine.

Rating:
Summary: Even better to HEAR Anker tell it...
Review: Quite recently I picked up a book titled "Ghosts of Everest: The Search for Mallory and Irvine." A fascinating book, extensively documented, the story Mallory's final attempt upon Everest caught my imagination, as did the man himself.

While "Lost Explorer" may not have all of the details about the 1924 expedition, or lengthy lists of sponsors for the expeditions, it has something that I found lacking in "Ghosts of Everest." Anker, while maybe not the most eloquent of writers, provides readers with an intensely personal view of his experiences. His version of the story seems altogether more truthful and honest than "Ghosts of Everest" which takes a more picturesque view of the events. Anker goes on to tell about a harrowing, high-altitude rescue and his own summit of Everest. Also, "Lost Explorer", though David Roberts's writing, provides the reader with a more intimate view of Mallory's life.

"Lost Explorer" is a passionate, fascinating, and, most importantly, personal story about extraordinary men (both past and present) and their journey on the same mountain.

Rating:
Summary: Even better to HEAR Anker tell it...
Review: They found George Mallory's body on Everest. I had the pleasure of hearing this story- before I read the book- from Conrad Anker himself at a Wilderness Medical Conference this past year. What an amazing story. Some have been critical of the handling of the remains and possessions but there is no doubt in my mind after meeting the man that the intention was to 'do the right thing'. It's just that the right thing isn't so clear in this situation. What do you do when you find the remains of a legend in an environment as inhospitable as Mt. Everest? The profits or a portion thereof of book sales at the conference were donated to charity-the Alex Lowe foundation and the possessions recovered, as I recall, were turned over to family members or historical societies- it's not like Anker is selling them on Ebay. Also, maybe there is some pride or ego in the discovery but rightfully so. I think it would be hard to accurately describe the events without sounding a little boastful, although again, Mr. Anker seems like quite an unassuming man and I didn't get that impression in person. The book is interesting and a quick easy read to gain historical perspective about George Mallory, Sandy Irvine and company and the early exploration of Everest and about the discovery of Mallory's body which is monumental in mountaineering circles. In fact, I think I'm going to go read it again.
...just some thoughts, not a full review of the book...

Rating:
Summary: Grave Robbers In Thin Air
Review: This book has 2 distinct stories. The story by David Roberts is that of Mallory the person...his life, times, and accomplishments. Sure Irvine is presented here, but it is always as a supporting and replaceable character. Roberts does an excellent job of showing the 3 Everest expeditions that Mallory undertook and how each was monumental in its own way.

Conrad Anker's story of the discovery of Mallory's body is appalling. You soon realize that these people had no idea what they were going to do if they did find Mallory or Irvine's body. When they found Mallory's body (they were looking for Irvine's) they immediately took to removing anything of even the remotest value they could from the corpse. I can understand taking some tissue samples and a few personal items (perhaps the letters and scarf), but why a knife? Why beef lozenges or a safety pin or pieces of twine? There were very few items that could show if the duo summited or lend a clue as to when they died (camera, altimeter, watch), so why steal the other items to put on display in a museum in Washington state? At least they had the decency to cover up the corpse. But they came back a few days later, unearthed the corpse, used a metal detector to find more items, then pried Mallory's face out of the ground for no reason other than that they could. Then Anker has the gall to complain endlessly about who had the rights to broadcast news of the discovery. If Irvine's body is ever found, we can only hope it will be treated with more respect than what these grave robbers showed to Mallory.

Anker goes on to talk of his summit attempt and other expeditions on the mountain. This is typical Everest fare with people doing stupid things and needing rescued. Conrad makes the summit and since he wasn't able to free climb the 2nd step assumes that Mallory couldn't either.

If there's anything to learn from this book, it's to fall all the way off the mountain or into a deep crevasse. Anything less risks being found by buffoons and picked clean.

Rating:
Summary: If you enjoy mountianeering adventure tales try this one
Review: This was an enjoyable book. Well written by both authors each with their own tale to tell. Dave Roberts told historical facts and Conrad Anker the actual discovery of Mallory.

Ankers depiction of the finding of Mallory was enticing and then the further explanation he thought or didn't think Mallory made it to the top of Mount Everest.

Roberts portrail of Mallory and his family was interesting.

The book is well worth a read.