Sir Edmund Hillary Hunted a Yeti

The yeti is a cryptid, possibly resembling an ape, that roams the higher reaches of the Himalayan Mountains. It was a legend among the Sherpa people going way back, but captured the world's imagination during the first half of the 20th century as mountaineers raced to conquer the summit of Mount Everest. Some mountain climbers brought back pictures of mysterious footprints and shadowy figures, and even bits of skin and fur. The Everest race was won when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first expedition to reach the summit and return alive in 1953. But yeti fever endured for years afterward.  

So Hillary set out to find the yeti. That was one purpose for the nine-month expedition that launched on September 10, 1960. The other purpose was to study the long-term effects of high altitude exposure. The expedition was packed with scientists and mountain experts, including zoologist Marlin Perkins, who you may remember from the TV show Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. The altitude studies drew financing from World Book Encyclopedia, but the hunt for a yeti drew the headlines and public support. The expedition was well-supplied with both tranquilizer rifles and defensive weapons. Read about the expedition, and what the team found at Atlas Obscura.