Mount Everest's Deadly Legacy: Over 200 Deceased Climbers Grace its Slopes
Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, has long been a symbol of human endurance and achievement. However, beneath its majestic summit, a sombre reality lies hidden - the remains of over 340 climbers who have lost their lives on its treacherous slopes.
One of the most heart-wrenching stories is that of David Sharp, a British climber who attempted to summit Everest alone in 2006. Known as "Green Boots" due to his distinctive footwear, Sharp froze to death in the infamous Green Boots' cave. Tragically, at least 40 people passed by him as he lay dying, none of them stopping to help. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to reach the summit of Everest, criticised this callous disregard, attributing it to the mind-numbing desire to reach the top.
Another infamous figure is Hannelore Schmatz, the first woman to die on Everest in 1979. She reached the summit but succumbed to exhaustion, frostbite, and lack of oxygen just 330 feet from base camp on the descent. Her body remained on the mountain in a visible spot for years. Rescuers who attempted to recover her also died.
Another tragic tale is that of Francys Arsentiev, known as "Sleeping Beauty" because of the way she died lying on her side in 1998. She was the first American woman to summit without oxygen but died during descent. Her frozen body stayed visible on the normal route for many years after her death, sparking ethical debates about climbing rescues.
The high altitudes and extreme, unpredictable conditions make it difficult to remove bodies from the mountain. Helicopters cannot fly over a certain altitude, adding to the struggle. Costs to retrieve bodies can sometimes reach $70,000. As a result, many bodies remain on the mountain, turning into grim markers of Everest’s risks.
Some of the most well-known corpses include "Green Boots," Schmatz, and George Mallory, an early Everest climber who died in 1924. Mallory’s body was found 75 years after his death, surrounded by primitive climbing equipment and heavy oxygen bottles. It remains unknown if he reached the summit before dying.
One of the most well-known cases of a climber surviving being left for dead on Everest is Lincoln Hall. In 2006, he was found unconscious at the South Col at an altitude of 8,000 meters. He was left for dead but miraculously survived.
The public literature available from Everest expedition companies generally doesn't expound upon the bodies scattered on the mountain. However, there are a number of memorials located at Everest Base Camp dedicated to those who have lost their lives on the mountain.
More recently, melting ice caused by climate change has revealed bodies on Mount Everest that weren't visible before. This grim reminder of the past serves as a stark warning of the dangers that still lie hidden beneath the mountain's snowy peaks.
It is estimated that there are more than 200 bodies left on Mount Everest. These tragic stories serve as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers that climbers face and the importance of respecting the mountain's deadly allure.
[1] Mount Everest death of David Sharp [2] The Mysterious Disappearance of Marco Siffredi [3] Francys Arsentiev: The Sleeping Beauty of Everest [5] George Mallory and the Unsolved Mystery of Everest
- The story of David Sharp, known as "Green Boots," is one of the most heart-wrenching in Mount Everest's history, where he froze to death in 2006, despite at least 40 climbers passing by him without stopping to help.
- Another infamous case is that of Hannelore Schmatz, the first woman to die on Everest in 1979, who reached the summit but died just 330 feet from base camp on the descent, leaving her body visible for years.
- Francys Arsentiev, known as "Sleeping Beauty," also suffered a tragic fate in 1998, dying during descent and remaining on the normal route for many years, sparking ethical debates about climbing rescues.
- While some climbers unfortunately do not survive, others, like Lincoln Hall in 2006, have been found unconscious at high altitudes and left for dead, only to miraculously survive, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Everest.
