Ghosts of Everest is the story of the American-British-German "Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition, who travelled to Mount Everest in 1999 to solve the mystery.

The slidshow recaptures the mystery of Mallory and Irvine, the preparations and search on Mount Everest, the results, and the solved and unsolved questions - a thrilling detective story, which began in 1988 with the reading of a single book and ended eleven years later with a breathtaking discovery at 27.000 feet on the northern slopes of Everest...

In 1999, an American-British-German research expedition travelled to Mount Everest to solve mountaineering's greatest riddle: Were Mallory and Irvine, who disappeared near the summit of Everest in 1924, the first to climb the world's highest mountain, twenty-nine years ahead of Hillary and Tenzing

The "Mallory & Irvine Research Expedition" became a smashing success when they discovered the body of George Mallory - but it didn't solve the mystery...

Detectives on Everest tells the story of the expediton's return to Mount Everest two years later in search of further clues. There were new discoveries, further traces - not only of Mallory and Irvine, but also of other historic attempts, like the British pre-war expeditions and the secluded Chinese ascents.

But the story has a second part: During the last search effort, the expedition learned of several stranded climbers near the summit. Forsaking their own summit bid, the team succeeded in one of the most daring and difficult rescues in Everest history - and proved that, contrary to the belief of many, humanity still has a place in the 'death zone'...

Yet the adventure doesn't end there: The expedition made ist most stunning discovery about the Mallory & Irvine mystery not on the mountain - but afterwards, during a visit to the Chinese capital Beijing...

Of course not - but an Everest expedition and running a company have a lot in common! Setting goals, planning a project, chosing the right team members, taking responsibility, dealing with disappointment and defeat, the feeling of success...

"The story of Mallory and Irvine has captured the public imagination not simply because it is a good mystery, but because it has meaning - and a different meaning - for each of us".

How an idea can become a life's guideline.
How important the right choice of a team is.
How focus and commitment clear the way to success.
How attitude can define definitions of success and failure.

The experiences of the Mallory & Irvine Research Expeditions on Mount Everest are transferable - into usable skills for your team, for your company!

80 years of Everest history in 80 slides

Why Everest?

No other mountain has enthralled so many mountaineers as well as non-mountaineers. And no other mountain has been so much into public debate in recent years like Everest.

Spring 2003 has seen the 50th anniversary of Mount Everest's first ascent - a good opportunity to view the mountain and its history from different angles. Mount Everest - Mother Goddess of the World is a quick-paced, entertaining cruise through the mountaineering history of Mount Everest. On it, you will learn known and unknown facts about the mountain, dramatic as well as funny and thought-provoking tales from the past 80 years since the first expeditions:

From the mystery of Mallory and Irvine in 1924 to the first ascent by Hillary and Tenzing in 1953. From the climbs of the great faces and ridges in the 1970s to the first ascent without supplemental oxygen by Messner and Habeler in 1978. From the ground-breaking alpine-style ascents in the 1980s to the commercial expeditions and the 'Into thin Air' tragedy in 1996.

The two Mallory & Irvine Research Expeditions of 1999 and 2001 have so far been the most prominent examples of "mountaineering archaeology", the transfer of archaeological investigation techniques to a high mountain environment.

Case studies tell how archaeology and related sciences (e.g. forensic medicine) can throw new light on episodes of mountaineering and exploration history. Field and laboratory techniques are explained and a complete overview of the Mallory & Irvine Research Expeditions' results is presented - a unique journey through 85 years of alpine history on the north side of Mount Everest.

Spectacular images and video clips from the search at over 27,000 feet as well as aesthetical shots of the recovered artefacts bring to life the adventure and fascination of mountaineering archaeology. They also illustrate the development and innovation of mountaineering equipment and clothing over the decades, and demonstrate the knowledge transfer between two very contrasting climbing nations, Great Britain and China. Impressions from exhibits of the artefacts show how the active work of archaeologists turn the past into a present-day experience.