So, you're an adrenaline junkie with a penchant for peril and you've set your sights on Mount Everest which is the grand-daddy of all peaks. But before you don your North Face jacket and channel your inner Sir Edmund Hillary, let's take a moment to explore the less glamorous side of this majestic mountain. Mount Everest or Sagarmatha to the locals, is a bucket-list obsession for adventurers. The mountain’s ‘Death Zone’ (above 8,000m) claims lives with brutal efficiency and retrieving bodies is so perilous that most remain where they fell. Mount Everest isn’t just the roof of the world but it is also the world’s highest cemetery.

Mount Everest is Earth's highest peak. It has long been the ultimate challenge for mountaineers worldwide. However, lurking beneath it’s majestic façade lies a macabre reality. Over 200 climbers' bodies are permanently abandoned on it’s slopes which is a stark display of the mountain's unforgiving nature. An open-air morgue of frozen climbers preserved in time. This is the chilling truth behind mountaineering’s darkest reality. The retrieval of these bodies is often deemed impossible due to ethical dilemmas, extreme conditions and technical challenges.

But how did this happen? And why is the mountain literally littered with skeletons in high-tech gear? Buckle up…this isn’t just a mountaineering mystery. It is a saga of human hubris mixed with climate chaos and cultural clashes.

A mountain of memories (and mummies)

Mount Everest isn't just the tallest mountain but it is also the world's highest openair museum of mountaineering mishaps. With over 300 climbers having met their untimely end on it’s icy slopes, the mountain is a veritable ‘who's who’ of adventurers who bit off more than they could chew. Thanks to the subzero temperatures, many of these bodies are perfectly preserved which serve as both grim reminders and navigational landmarks for future climbers. Take, for instance, the infamous ‘Green Boots’ which is a moniker given to a climber whose neon green footwear has been a macabre mile marker for decades.

Everest hosts the worst party in the universe where oxygen is a luxury

Welcome to Everest’s Death Zone — a place so gnarly that even Bear Grylls would tap out.

Altitude – 8,848 metres or 8.8 kilometres upward into the sky.

Oxygen – 33% of sea level.

Maximum survival length – 48 hours

Why corpses stay ‘fresh’ – At -60°C, decomposition is impossible. Corpses mummify naturally skin leathery and expressions get frozen mid-gasp. Microbes? They’re dead too.

The brain’s betrayal – Hypoxia tricks climbers into feeling euphoric and starts stripping logic. Many shed clothes (paradoxical undressing) or hallucinate before collapsing.

Above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), Mount Everest's ‘death zone’ is a perilous region where oxygen levels plummet to a third of those at sea level, temperatures dive to 60°C, winds howl at 161+ kmph and barometric pressure causes weight to feel 10 times heavier. This lethal combination induces disorientation, fatigue and severe stress on vital organs that keeps limiting human survival to mere hours. Human bodies begin to shut down, cells die and brains swell. Even seasoned climbers compare it to ‘running a marathon on a treadmill… while breathing through a straw’.

Ascending above 8,000 meters (that's 26,247 feet), the oxygen levels are so low that your body starts to die off…cell by cell. In this rarefied air, even the most mundane tasks become Herculean challenges. Oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human life for extended periods. Climbers face severe risks including altitude sickness, frostbite and hypoxia. Climbers’ brains turn to mashed potatoes (literally — cerebral edema is a real risk).

Consequently, many climbers who perish in this zone remain there indefinitely and their bodies are preserved by the freezing temperatures. The 2023 climbing season tragically recorded 18 deaths marking it as one of the deadliest years in Everest's history.

Frozen guardians of the Everest

Forget TikTok stars, Everest’s cadavers are the OG viral sensations. Some bodies have become morbid legends. The mountain’s corpses have backstories, nicknames and fan theories.

Green boots – The mountain’s answer to a GPS pin. He became such a landmark that climbers used to high-five him for luck. The cave-dwelling Indian climber (believed to be likely Tsewang Paljor) has been used as a route marker for 20+ years. He died there in the year 1996. His neon green boots used to protrude from the snow which marked a cave on the Northeast Ridge route. Rumour says that his body mysteriously vanished from site in the year 2014. Did someone move him?). Some say activists buried him.

David Sharp – In 2006, 40 climbers passed the dying Brit which ignited global fury. ‘Summit fever’ was blamed.

Francys Arsentiev – Dubbed ‘Sleeping Beauty’, she lay for years with her face up perfectly preserved until a team buried her in the year 2007. Sleeping beauty was the first American woman to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen in the year 1998 but succumbed to the elements during her descent. She died in the year 1998 and lay faceup for 9 years until climbers covered her with an American flag. Her husband’s body was found nearby in the next year of 1999. Her lifeless form remained in view for nearly a decade before being respectfully concealed.

The Lhotse couple – A 2002 expedition found two frozen climbers locked in an embrace. Their identities remain unknown.

The Instagrammer who literally died for the ‘Gram' – In the year 2023, a YouTuber livestreamed his ascent gasped…

“Worth it for the views!”

…before collapsing. His last video? 10M likes.

Over 200 such climbers have met their end on Everest with so many bodies remaining on the mountain due to the perilous conditions that make retrieval nearly impossible. Notably, the area known as ‘Rainbow Valley’ is so named because of the multicoloured jackets and gear of the deceased that create a chilling mosaic against the icy backdrop. Americans…think your HOA is strict? Everest’s ‘no body removal’ policy makes zoning laws look chill.

Why retrieval missions are (almost) impossible and the gruesome economics of it?

Recovering bodies from Everest is a herculean task fraught with danger and ethical considerations. The cost of such missions can soar between $30,000 to $70,000 ATLEAST and necessitates teams of 6 to 10 Sherpas who risk their lives in the treacherous death zone. The physical challenges are immense too. A body weighing 80 kilograms can feel like 150 kilograms when frozen and encrusted with ice that makes transportation arduous.

Moreover, the act of retrieval poses moral dilemmas. Is it justifiable to endanger the lives of rescuers to recover the deceased? Some families find solace in knowing their loved ones rest eternally on the mountain they cherished while others yearn for closure through traditional rites. This dichotomy often results in bodies remaining undisturbed while silently narrating tales of ambition and tragedy.

Risk v/s reward – In the year 1984, a team spent 12 hours trying to recover a body but only to abandon it after a member nearly died.

Helicopter limits – Even specialised choppers (like the EuroCopter AS350) struggle in thin air. In 2023, a recovery mission was scrapped after a pilot warned with ‘You’d need a UFO’.

Odds of retrievers dying during attempt – 1 in 100.

Sherpa sacrifice – Local guides risk their lives for recovery missions. In the year 2023, a team spent 18 hours hauling a body from the ‘Balcony’ (8,400m) but earned only £800 each.

“It’s blood money!”

…one confessed anonymously to The Kathmandu Post. Meaning, local guides earn $500 to $1,000 per retrieval which is less than a Hollywood extra.

“It’s like DoorDashing corpses!”

joked another Sherpa (who later clarified that dark humour is a coping mechanism).

Controversial cash – Nepal’s 2024 ‘EcoFee’ mandates climbers pay £4,000 for eliminating bodies and waste but critics call it a ‘tourist tax’ with no real cleanup plan.

Price tag – $140,000 (or 2.8 million avocado toasts). Retrieving a body from Everest costs more than a Tesla Model X and has roughly the same chance of crashing.

Logistical nightmare – Any kind of aircraft here are as useless as a screen door on a submarine. A chopper pilot quit mid-mission while muttering…

“I’d rather Uber Eats in Times Square”.

Families v/s Sherpas v/s Environmentalists – Ethical nightmares!

“Should we leave them be or give the families some closure?” sparks fiery debate. Should we let corpses rest, or yeet them into a biohazard bag for closure?

Sherpa beliefs – Many Sherpas view the mountain as a sacred ground and believe that disturbing the bodies angers deities. For the Sherpas, Everest is Chomolungma (Mother Goddess of the World). Disturbing bodies risks divine wrath, according to them.

“It’s like tearing souls from heaven!”

…says Lama Tashi Sherpa.

Controversy alert – In the year 2014, an Indian climber’s body was moved for a cleanup which lit outrage.

“It’s like graverobbing!”

…said Ang Dorjee Sherpa.

Closure for the families – In the year 2019, a Canadian team retrieved Shriya Shah-Klorfine’s body after 7 years. Her husband wept…

“She deserved a funeral; not a glacier”.

American grief – In the same year 2019, a Texan paid $250k to retrieve his wife’s body.

“Ma’am deserved a proper BBQ!”

…he insisted.

EcoWorries – Melting ice (thanks, climate change!) is exposing corpses and their decades-old waste. Scientists fear that decomposing flesh could pollute downstream water.

When Silicon Valley meets the Death Zone – Tech to the rescue?

AI, body-snatching robots, drones, GPS and thermal imaging have all been trialled but Everest laughs in the face of tech. Tech bros keep trying to ‘disrupt’ Everest. Spoiler – The mountain DGAF.

Drone disasters – In the year 2022, Nepal tested drones to map bodies. The test saw a £20,000 drones crash into the Khumbu Icefall. One more crashed into the Hillary Step and another froze solid midair which then nosedived into a crevasse. Investors called it ‘a bold pivot’.

“It’s like flying in syrup”

…groaned engineer Lhakpa Sherpa.

Body bags and pulleys – A 2024 Kickstarter proposed pulleys to lower bodies. New lightweight stretchers help but as veteran guide Adrian Ballinger quips…

“You’re still dragging dead weight through a hurricane”.

Critics soon labelled it as ‘ghoulish and unworkable’.

Thermal imaging fails – Rescue teams tried heat sensors but corpses blend into ice (-60°C vs. -60°C = no difference).

AI overlords – An app promising ‘safe routes’ once directed climbers into an avalanche zone. Fivestar review…

“Almost met God. Would recommend!”

Satirical solution – Elon Musk suggested a ‘corpse zipline’ powered by Dogecoin. Sherpas rolled their eyes so hard that it triggered a minor avalanche.

Underpaid heroes who keep Everest from imploding – The Sherpas

33% or a third of the Everest’s dead are Sherpas. They carry gear, fix ropes and risk retrievals yet earn 10x less than Western guides. Sherpas do 90% of the work and get 10% of the credit just like the Walmart greeters of the apocalypse. Thanks to DNA advantages, Sherpas use oxygen more efficiently than the rest of all other human beings.

“We’re the ones carrying your toilets…and your corpses!”

…said guide Kami Rita in a 2023 interview.

In a 2024 strike, the Sherpas halted expeditions for a week for demanding better pay and insurance. Fed up with risky retrievals and Kardashian-esque pay, Sherpas walked off the job.

“We’re not pack mules! We are not your Uber drivers to heaven”.

…said leader Kami Rita.

Many instances of cultural clash also happen. Western climbers often ignore Sherpa warnings about routes and weather.

“They think money buys Everest”.

…spat guide Lhakpa Sherpa in a Guardian interview.

2024 Strike: “,” declared leader Kami Rita.

Traffic jams at the top of the world

Believe it or not, Mount Everest has a peak season and no, it's not when the pumpkin spice lattes come out. Each year, hundreds of climbers attempt to reach the summit during a narrow window of favourable weather. This regularly is leading to bottlenecks that would make a Los Angeles freeway blush. These traffic jams aren't just inconvenient but they are deadly too. Climbers are forced to wait in the Death Zone which depletes their limited oxygen supplies and increases the risks of altitude sickness, frostbite and well, death.

The uninvited grave robber – Climate change

Melting glaciers are revealing long lost bodies and creating ethical headaches. Biohazard fears grow that thawing corpses could contaminate water sources. Global warming is reshaping Everest and it’s grisly secrets. Global warming isn’t just melting glaciers but it’s exposing corpses too.

Bodies popping up – Melting glaciers have revealed 5 previously hidden corpses since 2020 including a 1974 Soviet climber clutching a diary. In the year 2024, melting ice near Camp III revealed a 1970s climber still clutching a Walkman. Playlist included ‘Stayin’ Alive’ (irony – deceased).

Creepy tourism boom – Guides report clients asking to ‘see the thawing bodies’. One company even offered a ‘Climate Change Expedition’ package in the year 2023 but it flopped.

Khumbu Glacier collapse – In the year 2024, a serac fall near Camp 1 exposed a 1980s Japanese team.

“They looked like wax figures!”

…said a horrified trekker.

EcoHorror – Scientists fear thawing corpses could leak a lot of contamination into rivers. So, Himalayan water might soon come with a side of 1984.

As if avalanches, crevasses and altitude sicknesses weren't enough, climbers now have to contend with the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures are causing glaciers to melt revealing bodies that have been entombed in ice for years. It's like the mountain is airing it’s dirty laundry. Some things are better left buried.

Everest's growing waste problem – Environmental toll

Beyond the human cost, Everest faces significant environmental challenges everyday. The mountain has been dubbed the world's highest garbage dump with discarded equipment, oxygen bottles and even human waste littering much of it’s slopes. This pollution not only mars the natural beauty but also poses health risks to local communities and wildlife.

Expert opinions

Renowned mountaineer Kenton Cool who achieved his 18th summit of Everest in the year 2024, acknowledges the mountain's growing commercialization and the ensuing challenges. He advocates for responsible climbing practices and emphasizing the need to balance human ambition with environmental or ethical considerations. Author Jon Krakauer (Into Thin Air) wrote…

“Everest exposes the best and worst of humanity. Heroism and selfishness coexist’.

Climber Nirmal Purja says that

“Everest laughs at technology. You want a body back? Carry it. Or accept it’s part of the mountain now”.

Recent update (2024) and the commercialization controversy

In recent years, efforts have been made to address this somber issue. In the year 2024, a dedicated team of Nepali military personnel and Sherpas embarked on a mission to retrieve bodies from the death zone. Over a 54-day operation, they successfully recovered 4 bodies and 11 tonnes of rubbish. It showed the environmental and ethical complexities of Everest expeditions.

However, these missions are not without any controversy. The discovery of Andrew Irvine's body in the year 2024, reignited debates about the sanctity of final resting places versus the pursuit of historical knowledge. He was a British climber who vanished in a hundred years ago in 1924 alongside George Mallory.

While some advocate for leaving such sites undisturbed, others argue for retrieval to provide closure and potentially uncover historical artifacts like Irvine's elusive camera. It might shed light on whether they summited Everest before their demise.

Nepal’s government now charges climbers a £4,000 as ‘cleanup deposit’ but critics argue it’s a drop in the glacier.

A creepy update from the year 2023 – A 1970s Japanese climber emerged from the ice near Camp 1.

“He looked like he had died yesterday!”

…said a stunned trekker.

The allure of summiting Everest has led to increased commercialization with guiding companies offering packages to climbers of varying experience levels. While this has made the mountain more accessible, it has also resulted in overcrowding and heightened risks. Renowned British climber Kenton Cool who achieved his 18th summit in the year 2024, acknowledges these challenges and emphasizes the need for responsible climbing practices.

The ironic lure of Everest

Despite these grim realities, Everest's allure remains undiminished. Each year, climbers from around the globe flock to it’s base and remain undeterred by the risks. The 2023 climbing season was particularly deadly with a record 18 fatalities. It clearly demonstrates the mountain's perilous and unpredictable nature.

This paradoxical attraction has led to environmental degradation and increased accidents. The once pristine slopes are now marred by human waste and litter. Such trends are prompting calls for more stringent regulations and sustainable climbing practices. Yet, the mountain's mystique continues to captivate and often blinding aspirants to it’s inherent dangers.

The high cost of high adventure

If the prospect of becoming a permanent part of Everest's landscape doesn't deter you, perhaps the price tag will. Nepal recently announced a 36% increase in climbing permit fees that is bringing the cost to a cool $15,000. And that's just for the permit. When you factor in gear, guides and other expenses, you're looking at a small fortune for the chance to risk life and limb.

Viral insanity – Influencers, TikTokers and these death zone selfies

Social media’s obsession with Everest has turned tragedy into content. Some find it infuriating and senseless while others love it unconditionally. Social media workers have always the ideas for viral trends. It seems that they can turn anything into a content on their platforms. The last few years have given many boons to platforms and the exploitation is endless.

The ‘Green Boots Challenge’ – A 2023 trend dared climbers to take grinning photos beside the corpse. Backlash forced TikTok to ban the hashtag.

GoPro graverobbing – A YouTuber faced legal heat in the year 2024 after pocketing a frozen climber’s camera ‘for views’. The footage? Hours of static.

Psychologists’ view – Psychology has explanations for this kind of reckless sensitive behaviour. Psychologists can now tell why these influencers do what they do to some extent.

“It’s morbid curiosity meets narcissism”.

….says Dr. Emily Harris.

“Viewers think ‘That won’t be me’—until it is”.

**‘Rainbow’ valley – Everest's dark humour**

In a morbid twist, a section of Everest near the summit is dubbed ‘Rainbow Valley’. This deceptively cheerful name refers to the multicoloured gears and jackets of fallen climbers scattered across the area. It's a chilling irony that amidst the breathtaking beauty of Everest lies a spectrum of human tragedy that is frozen in time.

Efforts unto sustainable climbing

In response to these issues, several initiatives aim to promote sustainable tourism on Everest. Organizations like the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee and Sagarmatha Next are working to manage waste and simultaneously educate climbers on environmental responsibility. Innovative solutions such as converting trash into art and implementing waste-to-energy technologies are being explored to preserve the mountain for future generations.

Lesser-known facts

Avalanche of rubbish – Everest's popularity has led to an accumulation of over 50 tonnes of waste which has earned it the nickname ‘the world's highest garbage dump’.

Silent witnesses – Some bodies on Everest remain remarkably preserved due to the cold dry conditions. Their attire and expressions offer eerie glimpses into the past.

Bodies don’t decompose here – Microbes can’t survive and so climbers’ remains stay eerily intact for decades.

Frozen bodies are heavy – They weigh atleast 150kg+ that some recovery teams use steam-shovels to chip them free. Yes, really.

Ghosts of Everest – A 2020 podcast dramatized these stories from Everest and accidentally inspired a wave of ‘dark tourism’ selfies.

Shocking fact – A 2023 year’s study found microplastics in Everest’s snow. It is theorized to be likely from all the gear and rotting tents near the bodies.

Sherpas have a genetic adaptation for high altitude – They produce 30% more nitric oxide which boost oxygen efficiency. Even their lungs are different from the rest of us due to centuries of evolution.

Frozen bodies are so heavy that retrieval teams once tried using a hot air balloon. It didn’t work and went down real fast.

Yak 2.0 – Sherpas have made this term for reckless climbers. Yaks, at least, carry their own gear.

Dark tourism – YouTube documentaries and Instagrammers trek past corpses for clicks. One viral 2023 video zoomed in on ‘Green Boots’ with the offensive caption ‘Everest’s most famous nap’.

Ethical Everest Tours – Companies now offer such kind of tourism package. Translation is ‘to gawk at corpses but feel guilty about it’.

The bottom line – Everest is a nightmare

Mount Everest stands as a monumental symbol of human aspiration and the relentless pursuit of achievement. Yet, intertwined with tales of triumph are stories of loss with over 200 climbers' bodies eternally resting on it’s icy slopes. Everest’s frozen graveyard is a haunting reminder of human ambition’s limit’s. As climbers chase glory, the mountain whispers – Not so fast!

Body quotas? It’s got everything from influencer drama to overpriced tickets and a 1% chance of survival. Activists push for a retrieval mandate but Nepal fears that the operations and visuals might become responsible in scaring off tourists.

3DPrinted Graves? A German firm proposed tagging bodies with GPS for virtual memorials. Families called it ‘tacky’.

The ultimate fix – Some say close Everest forever.

“Let it mourn!”

…argues filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (a Sherpa herself).

Will tech ever conquer Everest’s corpse problem? Or will the Death Zone forever guard it’s grisly trophies? Intrigued? Shocked? Share and spread awareness — or debate the ethics in the comments. Will Everest’s bodies ever rest in peace? Or will climate change keep spitting them out like cursed popsicles?

By acknowledging the mountain's dark secrets and committing to sustainable practices, we can honour it’s majesty while ensuring it’s preservation for years to come. And if you’ve got £70k spare…maybe rethink that summit bid. Share this if you’ve ever thought that climbing Everest sounded fun. Spoiler alert – It’s not. Stay home. Binge Netflix. Live.

#everest #mounteverest #mteverest #nepal #moutain #climb #rainbowvalley #deathzone #sherpa

References – Al Jazeera Investigations, BBC, BBC Future, The Guardian, Everest Chronicle, interviews with Sherpa guides, Jon Krakauer’s ‘Into Thin Air’ (2023), Nepal Ministry of Tourism reports, The Himalayan Database, 2024 Sherpa Union Reports, Interviews with Everest Guides, NatGeo’s ‘Oops, We Died’ series, interviews with Sherpas (who deserve raises) and 27 hours of regrettable TikTok research.