In 1924, mountaineer George Mallory attempted to conquer the highest peak in the world and was never seen again. The mystery of his disappearance fueled an obsession by other climbers in be the first to reach the top of Mount Everest, until Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay finally reached its summit in 1953. Still a symbol of human accomplishment, Everest continues to be a magnet for amateur climbers and tourists. Book jacket.