Famed Alpinist George Mallory was once asked: "Why do you climb this mountain?" His answer has been the climbers' answer ever since: "Because it's there."
The message that flashed from the foot of Everest on coronation-eve sounded heartbroken: "BAD SNOW CONDITIONS.
EXPEDITION ABANDONED BASE CAMP
TWENTYNINTH . . ." But the cable was a ruse, coded to prevent a leakage of the great news that the British Ambassador to Nepal was relaying to London. Decoded, the message ran: HILLARY & TENZING
CLIMBED MAY 29TH . . .
Thus, with laconic drama, the ninth British Everest...
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