Sandy Irvine

:: Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine

A 22 year old who was selected by the mountain to die along with Mallory. And selected by fate to have his name linked to Mallory's forever. This is what that 22 year old wrote in a letter to his mother (he was, after all, just 22 years old...he used to write letters to his mother...smile). And I am now quoting from "The Irvine Diaries"....


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"......Mother, there are so many stalwarts here, most of all Mallory himself. Am trying hard to get his attention...i know the only way i can is through my knowledge of mechanics...oh you should see these oxygen cylinders mother...they are a disaster.

....oh another thing....i was so disappointed the entire day because I hoped to catch my first glimpse of Mount Everest today but the entire day has been cloudy and misty. Ultimately i had to retire for the day disappointed. But then, the night was brilliant....oh you would never have seen many stars Mother ! It looked as if all the stars of the universe were there in my night sky ! And then....i saw one part of the horizon which was totally black...a huge pyramid where there were no stars at all...it was so puzzling .. i kept staring at it.

Mother....and then...i got the shock of my life, a chill down my spine, when i realised why there were no stars in that patch of the sky... i was staring at the mountain herself ! How many ways she must have to reveal herself to us.....and how very dramatically she entered my life!......."
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It was approximately a month after the mountain had entered Sandy's life that she took his life....to keep him with her forever.....

-- Written and compiled by Sandeep Chopra, 6 October, 2003