CHAPTER MARKERS 00:00 - Intro to100th anniversary 5:44 - Welcome to Wade Davis 6:59 - Wade Davis on the fascination with Everest and the early expeditions of the 1920’s and as a symbol of the British Empire 8:23 - Everest in the wake of WWI 11:01 - There had to be a hero after the war, Mallory & his image as Sir Gallahad - And the ironic origins of Mallory’s quote ‘Because it’s there’ 12:40 -commercialization of Everest 13:50 - David Breashears 14:19 - how did Wade Davis get involved with Everest and travels across Tibet in 1996 and 1997 16:10 - interested in all those from 1924, and not whether they made it to the summit or not 17:23 - what do these climbs tell us about that generation who went through the agony of the western front of WWI 18:30 - social background of men on 1924 expedition, education, war 20:46 - thesis for book Into The Silence showing horror of war as a key backdrop of the 1924 expedition 22:27 - depth of research, largest book advance in history of mountaineering 23:07 - Mallory’s alleged homosexual affair and interest of other men & devotion to Ruth and his children 24:10 - generation destroyed in the trenches, climbers from Cambridge and dreaming of a modern century 25:56 - unsung hero of 1921 was Canadian Oliver Wheeler who found the opening of East Rongbuk Glacier 26:51 - Mallory and Bullock not seeing East Rongbuk 27:59 - the key to 1921 and key to finding the North Col, Wheeler's finding of route to Col 28:45 - Mallory lied twice about not knowing of Wheeler's finding East Rongbuk Glacier 29:21 - Mallory's famous dislike of Canadians and of Wheeler, and his insecurities 29:36 - on Mallory being a snob, mercurial personality of Mallory 30:41 - they never spoke of war, these men we’ll never know again, scions of another era 32:49- so much to be learned from them

A huge thank you and respect to Wade Davis sharing his insights thanks to his meticulous research. I very much enjoyed listening to his presentation. Thank you.

Beyond fascinating interview!! Love Wades storytelling!! I for sure am going to buy his book and will also listen to the full interview. Thanks Thom! Very fitting interview for this historic day.

Could listen to Wade Davis forever. Such a broad ranging interview. I love how he includes the background of the obsession of reaching the top of Everest for Britain.

A 100 years...how is that possible? Many thanks Thom for all that you continue to do on this subject and so many others. It has all made such a meaningful impact on my life, to the point my health has greatly improved by setting out for physical adventures to so many of the perspectives you continue to present. I am embracing this passage of time with new adventures, pushing myself to explore and embrace life to the fullest. I think that would make George and Sandy happy that one cares to do such after all this time....let alone remembering the entire 1920's teams. Thank you for your honestly, kindness in this medium and knowledge that you share. I will have to have you on my radio show some time talking about this. Your thankful neighbor in Vermont. Hope to talk more soon.

This was very interesting! If I still purchased books I would definitely buy and read this one... This guy fascinated me with his story telling

Thank you Thom! Ever since you made that presentation to OMG in 1997, 1998 ??? I been hooked on Everest!! One day I hope to Trek to base camp ❤😊🎉!!!

Thank you again Thom!

I’m telling you Thom, these interviews are very appealing. As you say, Wade Davis is a wind-up toy/talking machine. Quite interesting.

George Mallory had a connection to D- Day. His brother Trafford Leigh-Mallory was a British air marshal who "commanded the Allied air forces in the Normandy Invasion..." He was killed in a 1944 plane crash en route to a new appointment in Celon.

I really enjoyed the interview. I’m now a member on patreon.

Great interview Thom,even if they didn't make it to the top,to get as far as they did with the gear they had was an unbelievable achievement.lts just a great mystery, love the videos,and the great work you do.Hi from Ireland.

That was quite an interesting interview, thank you!

Thanks Thom ❤

Thanks for the help I'm doing a presentation at work about Mallory and Irvine.

Excellent video as usual. Even if they did find the bodies somewhere up there, these gentlemen would probably already be deceased anyway. Rip the pioneers

Thanks for this, really appreciate it. Just press go on Wade, could listen to him all day. There's some profound lessons just bubbling beneath the surface here, it seems in the intervening years we have lost as much as we have become. "Into the Silence' remains in a select few of the best books I've ever read, to anyone even half interested - do thyself a favour and absorb it.

Thank you for this exceptional response from Wade Davis. I’m reading Into The Silence now and have found it to be excellent in that he has taken the time to explain what these men were exposed to before the efforts of finding their way to just begin the conquest of Everest. I’ve enjoyed your chanel for a while now and obtained his book because of your insight. Look forward to more from your reporting.

That was very interesting … one of my themes at present is how people now are so obsessed with themselves that they consistently underestimate what people were capable of doing back before the ME plague overwhelmed us. If you read enough about Mallory, I do think a fair minded person would be aware of his flaws and weaknesses. But you would also have to respect his ability and determination. Lastly, I would contest something that was said and that was that Mallory was a poor writer. Not only did he get a book properly published in his early 20s (‘Boswell the Biographer’ - I have a copy but haven’t yet read it) but his limited climbing orientated pieces are good! Thanks Thom for providing this content

Thom is a awesome and positive commentator! I watch all his shows!

What an amazingly precise and dense speaker. I could listen to him for days. And I agree: how can anyone hate Canadians?

Fantastic by Wade Davis. I was away on holiday when this was posted up so only seeing now. Worth the wait.

George Mallory is a fascinating eccentric character, and I love that so much of his life and character is known. It makes me admire him even more. That said, those intimate details have been known for years.

Thanks. Great book and great and insightful commentary.

Thx Thom . Im getting Into the Silence and more by Wade Davis.

I have held Sandy Irvine's climbing pick in my hands - found in 1933 by another expedition where it was dropped before his fatal plunge that likely pulled Mallory off with him as they were roped up - we can presume this because Irvine was the far weaker and less experienced climber and would no doubt have been the one who suffered the mishap leading to his fall and subsequently dragging Mallory with him to his death ... the climbing pick was surprisingly lightweight made of hickory wood with a well-balanced adze - it is quite long and would certainly be an excellent implement for climbing - in your hand it feels light and v. sturdy - you could certainly have confidence in its strength - the weight was so well-balanced in your hand as you carry it I can imagine it would not be burdensome at all - the reason they claim it is Irvine's and not Mallory's is that it has 3-notches cut into it and apparently Sandy did this with all his gear to identify it over others - no doubt Mallory's climbing pick was similar or the same type and quality - was something I never expected to have in my hands given its history - it was a spine-tingling moment - as for Wade Davis - have read his tome - it is exceptionally well written and researched and the definitive edition for those interested in the first THREE British Expeditions in 1921 1922 and last of the decade in 1924 - I had vague interest prior to reading his text and you truly feel like you are along for the travels and climbs with his exposition - a MUST read for all Everest and high alpine enthusiasts

Very interesting video from beginning to end

Your channel is getting better and better!!!! Interesting, knowledgeable, full of facts. Thanks, amazing job!

Well I've downloaded the audiobook version, I'm gonna listen to it as I hike around the mountains in Southern Ireland.

Hey Thom can you do a story about Marco Siffredi, I just read his book See you tomorrow!

Brilliant

Mallory is an interesting man. Obviously a man of a different generation

Currently reading the book. So captivating. Only found out about these early British attempts earlier this year - been fascinated ever since.

"These men were our grandfathers." Yes! I understand! My grandfather was a South Dakota cattle rancher with a homestead he settled in 1919, right after WWI. I am certain he did not go past high school, if even that, yet in his personal library were many books on the Civil War, other American history, poetry and "Collected Works" of various types. I doubt his sons - and certainly not his grandsons - had interest in those dusty books. His handwriting was beautiful. Well, thank you for this interview. If I had my old eyesight back I know I would be reading many books by Wade Davis.

Great video! More, more, more....cant get enough of this story

Fantastic video well made very informative.thankyou

I was wondering what you were going to do for the 100th anniversary of Mallory and Irvine's disappearance, this was a thoughtful choice. I had no idea Mallory was bisexual, that's fascinating (I'm bi too, though I'm a 32y.o. woman). Mallory was a fairly privileged you man, he had the ability to study, go to uni _and_ to choose what he wanted to study, which was initially maths but had changed to history (even today, many people can't afford such a privilege). And through his contacts (again, lucky to be in the privileged circles of academics/writers), was able to get a job as a school teacher, but then he went to France for the War. Perhaps this is when he realised he wanted to find a purpose in his life that wasn't being met with the schoolmaster job, hence Everest in 1921. Finding purpose in the absurdity of life and death in the Somme, the meaninglessness of our existence, the pain of it all, the suffering. So he decides the 3rd Pole it is. It makes sense, really, at least from an absursist perspective. Sacrifice, pain, endurance, but it's offset by finding meaning and beauty in the natural world and yourself. Would love to hear about Sandy's psychology too, he seemed like such a sweetheart.

Assuming the sighting of Mallory and Irvine on the second step was factual, I cannot see any reason why they would not have summitted. There were no route impositions at the time, and they would not have been forced to take a route involving ladders. From what I understand, there are other (slightly longer) routes from the second step. Plus, Mallory was a combat veteran - he would not have stopped when he was that close. He was trained differently. I am 99% convinced Mallory and Irvine were the first to summit. We would know for sure if Mallory had taken Odell instead of Irvine - they would have returned alive.

When you say Mallory was at loose ends, are you really so certain? Are you aware Mallory was conflicted about a third Everest expedition largely because he'd only months before had taken a position with Cambridge University's extramural program -- a position, that by all accounts, he loved? Moreover, he'd taken a 60-year lease in Cambridge and moved his family there.

Very interesting. That generation was special that's forsure

This was another very interesting video. As a side-note, today I stumbled about an animated movie about mountaineering, Mount Everest and...... well, actually about a certain camera. It is called "The Summit of the Gods" from 2021. I think you may want to look that one up. It should be right up your alley.

Hey Thom ... please post part 2 of this interview on this channel. At least consider it please. Thanks❤

Everybody has flaws!! Nobody is perfect! God made us all different we are all different and come with our own flaws and appeals! Of course Mallory wasn’t perfect but Mallory was an extraordinary mountaineer we all know that! NO ONE IS PERFECT!

has this channel covered maurice wilsons excentric attempt on the summit? just prior to mallories era

Wheres the extended podcast?

Into the Silence is probably the best book I have ever read.............

Are there any descendants or relatives left by Irvine and Mallory?

Great lecture. Does he write about Mallory's passionate letter to a 19-year-old university student.

I have an interviewee suggestion for your Happiness Quotient, how can I contact you? Would prefer not to discuss in public. Interviewee has own channel and is an inspiration to many. Alister 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Mallory also hated George Finch, no doubt in part because he was a colonial.

👍🍻✌

Good to see you without the parka and winter hat on inside the house..... Way to go Thom! 🎉