BY RICHARD RENTFRO
n June 8, 1924, George Leigh Mallory and his companion, Andrew "Sandy" Irvine, disappeared into the fog near the summit of Mount Everest and seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Since then hundreds of people have climbed Everest-men, women, experts, novices, even solo climbers (some without oxygen)-by many routes. But until a couple years ago, none of them found a trace of Mallory and Irvine.
The story of these early climbers continues to fascinate people after more than three quarters of a century. Mallory chose to ascend Everest's north face, a feat requiring prodigious effort and willpower, placing him and Irvine higher on the mountain than any other humans before them. They built not only base camp, but camps two to six, each one higher than the other. Mallory is alleged to have told a New York Times reporter when asked why he wanted to climb earth's highest mountain, "Because it is there." The statement sounds more like a snappy New York journalist's quip than it does Mallory.
On another occasion a newspaper reported a more characteristic reply: "If one would ask me what use there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I would be compelled to answer none. There is no scientific end to be served; simply the gratification of the impulse of achievement, the indomitable desire to see what lies beyond that ever beats within the heart of man. With both poles conquered, the mighty peak of the Himalayas remains as the greatest conquest available to the explorer."*
After All This Time
In the spring of 1999 Jochen Hemmleb, Larry A. Johnson, and Eric R. Simonson, along with their fellow climbers and porters, set out on an expedition up Mount Everest that discovered George Mallory's body. Mallory's remains had clung to the treacherous side of Everest since 1924.
Climbers in 1924 didn't have the insulated clothing and trouble-free oxygen equipment that today's adventurers have. One of Mallory's friends said recently, "I dress warmer now just stepping out of my house in Seattle."
While we can't be absolutely sure the two men reached the summit of 29,028 feet, a spent bottle of oxygen was found high on the mountain, and letters from Mallory's wife were found on his body. It had been his purpose to leave her photograph at the summit, and because the picture was not found on his body, I like to think they made it.
As I studied the photographs of Mallory's body lying on the mountain, I noticed that much of his clothing had been blown off or torn by the fall. His head still faced the mountain and he clung to the rocks, looking like a marble statue. One leg had been broken above his boot.
In the photographs, letters from his wife appeared as if they had been mailed yesterday. I was fascinated to see his altimeter, pencils, scissors, a safety pin, matchbox (with still-usable matches), a tin of meat, lozenges, a monogrammed handkerchief, goggles, a spare left glove, pocketknife, watch, and a bit of climbing rope-all intact.
Many climbers on Everest died in avalanches, from exposure, or from lack of oxygen. Others gave up from exhaustion and sat down to die, but Mallory fell.
They thought it couldn't happen to Mallory-he seemed immortal. Adventurous, young, a calculating dreamer with the determination to reach his goal. His disappearance with Irvine ended that legend. But still in England, at least, Mallory and Irvine are seminal figures for all that defines courage.
Everest cut Mallory down in the bloom of his youth, but he did not fail-whether he reached the summit or not. He symbolizes a daring pioneer; a man of courage. Disappointments would not stop him.
What of Us?
When a Christian reaches 80 years of age (as I did not long ago), he or she looks back and sees defeats, joys, and sorrows. I think of wrenching disappointment, such as losing my wife. Frankly, there were times I was angry at God and jealous of those married longer than our 53 years.
But these human thoughts were replaced with the solid hope that while such things happen, we press on "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). We press on with hope and faith in God's promises, that He does all things well and wants our happiness. We are like the little lamb sheltered in the loving arms of the Good Shepherd. God wants all of us to take hope in His soon return and be comforted.
In these last wonderful and challenging days, we hang on to the stuff of hope and journey upward in our daily spiritual life. Let's not hang onto the negative stuff of life and the unhappy things that come our way. Let's look toward the happy future when we will embrace our loved ones who will be immortal, vibrant, and tingling with a joy that never ends.
The devil cuts down some in their youth or as babies, but I am learning that God will one day show us how He made such tragedies turn out well. At my age, this could be my last day to live, so I want to live it with all the excitement and joy possible.
I dislike hearing people continuously talking about negative things-saying what's wrong with this and gossiping about that. Our churches should be sanctuaries where people can escape, for a time, the heartache and criticism so rampant in today's society. I'm thrilled to see people at church, even if they smell of tobacco or have their bodies pierced in odd places. Anyone off the street ought to feel perfectly accepted and loved in a Seventh-day Adventist church. I enjoy thinking about what's good about church and everybody in it. When I hear negative talk that puts people down, I think, Get over it!
The parent of a 2-year-old would doubtless treat them the way our loving God deals with us as we fall and get up again. God is loving, gracious, and patient with us. He helps us grow more like Him each day in our Christian climb. He sees our motives, and He knows if it is our purpose to please Him as we climb the ropes of grace.
Whether Mallory and Irvine made it to the top of Everest in 1924 or not, they still climbed higher than any human being had climbed before them. Making it to the top was not as important as their desire to climb.
It's the indomitable desire in the Christian heart that counts with God. Mallory and Irvine gave their climb up Everest their best human effort. God's grace and power drive us ever upward. Even if we don't reach the very top, we will still receive our sure reward. We will fly!
* Jochen Hemmleb et al., Ghosts of Everest, The Search for Mallory and Irvine (Mountaineers Books, 1999).
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Richard Rentfro is a retired pastor who lives in Ellensburg, Washington.
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