Sandy works on the rope ladder

28th May 1924

Photo courtesy of the Royal Geographical Society. Sandy's father kept a framed print of this photograph in his study all his life.

It must have been a very bitter moment for Sandy as he saw the chance of his summit attempt slipping away. But he kept himself busy. During the trip, Sandy's practical mind and his gift for engineering had not only been useful for the oxygen sets, as he had become the trusted handyman of the group, fixing personal objects (as his own sleeping bag, Mallory's saddle, and Beetham's camera) as well as expedition items. His new project would make a significant difference for the ascent: a rope ladder to ease the porters’ passage up the formidable ice chimney between Camps III and IV on the North Col. 

On 28 May he set off up to Camp II, recording a fast time of 1 hour 35 minutes. He brought with him a dozen large tent pegs and ‘spent all afternoon making the ladder'. Every third rung was wood, the rest rope, the splicing of which was very hard on the hands. The following day Odell and Shebbeare helped him and by evening they were able to show Norton, Somervell, Bruce and Mallory a 60-foot masterpiece. Norton was impressed, especially after it had been installed and proved such a useful aid. 

Like all the work of the well-known firm of “Odell and Irvine” this proved a most complete success. On 30 May Sandy and Mallory set off for Camp III with the other climbers. The two made good progress and arrived well ahead of the rest. Although to the others he appeared his usual cheerful self, inside Sandy was boiling with frustration. Being assessed by Hingston to be second fittest after Geoffrey Bruce and yet left out of the summit teams was something Sandy felt deeply. ‘Feel very fit tonight. I wish I was in the first party instead of a bloody reserve'. But despite his inner feelings he kept his composure and even made a gift to Bruce of a lightweight rucksack he had fashioned out of one of the oxygen carriers.