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Q&A
with Riley Morton Producer of Found
On Everest: Detectives on the Roof of the
World Part 2
Question:
I would like to know more about the photographs that
Simo purchased. What kind of detail could be seen. I
understood the pictures were taken in 1984. Was
Mallory's body visible?
Riley:
They were actually obtained by Jochen Hemmleb -- and
the detail was pretty incredible...I'm not sure of the
exact figure -- but something like 1 pixel per
meter... so lots of detail, but no, you could not see
Mallory's body on it. the photos were taken in the 80s
sometime i believe, and there might have been a bit
more snow on the mountain than in '99.
Question:
What is in this movie ? Is the search area shown? Did
Andy shot the movie or Dave Hahn ?
Riley:
Most of the high altitude footage was shot by Dave
Hahn, with some from John Race -- and I shot
everything at basecamp. Some stills from Jake, Brent,
and Andy were included as well. The film is a 91
minute documentary about the entire expedition. It
essentially follows the expedition from the planning
stages of the searching, all the way through the end
of the rescue.
The film is in a cinema verite style -- with no
narrator. The viewer is essentially a fly on the wall
-- and you follow the entire expedition through search
footage, climbing footage, and interviews of all the
climbers (including the rescued Guatemalan climber
Jaime Vinals).
Question:
What in rock climbing terms, is a '5.10'?
Riley:
Challenging at sea level, really hard at 28,000 feet.
Question:
Do you think that it would have been possible to climb
in 1920's when George Mallory attempted? If yes,
do you think Mallory actually made it?
Riley:
I certainly do think that it was possible to climb
Everest in the 20s. It is clear that Mallory and
Irvine were incredibly tough, and could sustain
extreme temperatures in their primitive gear... Just
like you, I don't know whether they made it or
not -- but it certainly is possible, and that is why
we're all so excited about this stuff.
Question:
How many layers and how thick does your clothing have
to be to stop from dying in the cold while climbing
Mount Everest?
Riley:
These days a nice down suit will do just fine. And
then you have to spend every night in a tent, in a
sleeping bag, drinking lots of water.
Question:
And finally, who do you think reached the summit
first? [Interesting !]
Riley:
I suspect that it was Sandy Irvine. Hopefully, we'll
know in a couple of years.
Question:
If you are finding other bodies besides those of
Irvine. Why can't they be identified and some analysis
of what is known about their accidents.
Riley:
I think that the team would say that if there isn't a
historical significance to that body, it is best to
leave it be. Those bodies are part of the mountain
now.
Question:
Has anybody thought of doing more forensics on Mallory
himself. I can't believe the crew in 99 could do as
well as experts could in a lab?
Riley:
This is a great question, I'll ask Simo next time I
see him!
Question:
I think if you published more pictures of the frozen
corpses of climbers who died on Everest (not trying to
be morbid or disrespectful) it might educate more
climbers and would be climbers of the reality of the
risks involved. What do you think?
Riley:
If you really want to know what I think... I feel like
if you don't know what the risks are, there isn't much
we can do for you. Real climbers know what the risks
are, and if you are climbing Mt. Everest, you have to
climb right past a number of dead bodies. it becomes
pretty clear at that point.
Question:
Why can't you show us exactly where Mallory fell? Who
at that elevation would have no class? [Not sure what
this question is, let's hope riley does...]
Riley:
The team treats this as proprietary information. They
spent a lot of time and money to answer that question,
and they aren't going to give it up easily. Turns out
that there are a number of parties interested in
Mallory and Irvine, And our team might mount another
expedition in '03, and until then, its under wraps.
