 What doesn't Baron think was a reason for their failure?
Brightside Crossing by Alan E. Nourse JAMES BARON was not pleased to hear that he had had a visitor when he reached the Red Lion that evening. He had no stomach for mysteries, vast or trifling, and there were pressing things to think about at this time. Yet the doorman had flagged him as he came in from the street: “A thousand pardons, Mr. Baron. Street trade was discouraged at the Red Lion, gently but persuasively; the patrons were few in number. Across to the right was a group that Baron knew vaguely—Andean climbers, or at least two of them were. Then he settled back and waited impatiently for the intruder who demanded his time without justifying it. Presently a small, grizzled man crossed the room and sat down at Baron’s table. Baron’s eyes were wide with excitement, all trace of anger gone. I guess I was about ten when Wyatt and Carpenter made the last attempt—that was in 2082, I think. I know now that they were a pair of idiots, starting off without proper equipment, with practically no knowledge of surface conditions, without any charts—they couldn’t have made a hundred miles—but I didn’t know that then and it was a terrible tragedy. He was a major in the Interplanetary Service for some years and hung onto the title after he gave up his commission. Then he made the attempt on Vulcan Crater that paved the way for Balmer a few years later.
 the Major's experience
 McIvers  the Major's experience  poor mapping  faulty equipment