The Third Pole

'The best Everest book I've read since Into Thin Air. Synnott's climbing skills take you places few will ever dare to tread, but it's his writing that will keep you turning pages well past bedtime.' - Mark Adams

In The Third Pole, veteran climber and acclaimed author Mark Synnott embarks on an extraordinary journey to solve one of mountaineering's greatest mysteries. This compelling narrative takes readers on an expedition to the treacherous slopes of Mount Everest, driven by a century-old enigma involving the legendary climbers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine. With elements of thrilling adventure, poignant tragedy, and boundless human aspiration, Synnott paints a vivid portrait of those who dare to push their limits in the world's most extreme environment.

In 1924, Mallory and Irvine were last seen only eight hundred feet from Everest's summit. Almost a hundred years later, the question remains: did they reach the top before they met their doom? Irvine was known to carry a camera intended to document their historic feat, but both he and the camera have never been found. This unresolved mystery propels Synnott on a daring quest up the infamous North Face of Everest, determined to uncover the truth.

During what would come to be termed as 'the season that broke Everest,' Synnott's expedition encountered a harrowing traffic jam of climbers at the summit, leading to a series of tragic deaths. Confronted with the perils and chaos of the climb, his mission evolves from seeking physical evidence to comprehending the profound allure and relentless danger of the mountain.

Synnott delves into the interplay of science, business, and politics that shapes who attempts to conquer Everest today. Through meticulous research and firsthand accounts, he exposes how these factors have transformed the nature of the climb itself.

The Third Pole is not just a gripping adventure story; it's a deep exploration into the human spirit, the lengths to which people go in the face of insurmountable odds, and the timeless allure of one of Earth's most formidable natural wonders. Synnott's narrative is both thrilling and reflective, offering a comprehensive account that spans a century of Everest's beguiling and perilous history.