Sandy and Odell as support team

31st May 1924

Tea and soup are often mentioned Sandy’s diary entries.  A small copper pressure kettle was among the few personal belongings returned to Sandy’s parents after the expedition.

On 31 May the four climbers, the reserve party and fifteen porters, the so-called Tigers, made their way up to the North Col. After fixing the rope ladder in the chimney, which took some time, they finally arrived at Camp IV. Sandy and Odell had been appointed by Norton as the official support team. This was the first time in the history of Everest that a team had been put in place with the single task of feeding and assisting the climbing party, welcoming them home after the climb and tending to their every need as required. Sandy’s diary entry of June 1 offers an honest if terse assessment of his work: 'Up at 4:30 a.m. to cook breakfast for the climbers. Very cold and disagreeable job. Thank God my profession is not a cook!'