25 Sep Mount Everest Is Actually The World’s Largest Open Air Graveyard

If you’re a climber, then there’s one mountain you’ll eventually aspire to conquer – Mount Everest. However, the reality of what lies at the summit is the stuff of nightmares. Humans were not meant to survive at an altitude of 8,848m, and Everest’s “death zone” is proof of this.

Why’s it called the death zone? Because any height above 8,000m is too high to sustain human life.

The tallest mountain in the world was officially conquered in 1953, although the first exhibition to the summit took place in 1924. Since then, over 7,000 people have made it to the top, but hundreds have lost their lives in the attempt. In fact, the last year the mountain claimed no lives was all the way back in 1977.

But because of Everest’s height, the recovery of bodies is not always possible, and, as a result, it is now recognized as the world’s largest open air graveyard. The remains of over 200 people have been left frozen in time on the mountain, and serve as a grim reminder of the downside of human ambition.

These are the stories of the people who have tragically lost their lives on the mountain.

1. The Snowbank Man

Stopping to rest on Everest can be deadly. It is assumed that this man stopped and rested by a snowbank before succumbing to the cold. The snowbank has since melted, leaving his remains in a peculiar sitting up position.

2. Green Boots

Dubbed ‘Green Boots’ after the shoes he was wearing when he met his fate, this Indian climber became separated from his party in 1996. Realizing that he was in trouble, he sought shelter in a cave where he froze to death. His body acts as waypoint marker to climbers today.

3. Advanced Base Camp Bodies

Everest has claimed lives even in camps too. Because of the area’s freezing temperatures, some people succumb to the elements before they’ve even properly attempted to conquer the mountain’s summit. Advanced base camp sits an altitude of 5,335m, and many have died there as well.

4. George Mallory

Remember I said that the first attempt to conquer Everest was made in 1924? Well, this is the body of one of the men who never returned – George Mallory. His remains were identified in 1999. Given that he climbed with primitive hiking technology, he didn’t stand a chance against Everest. It’s not known whether he and his hiking partner Andrew “Sandy” Irvine ever made it to the top. Irvine’s body was never recovered.

Everyone has dreams in life, but when those dreams are accompanied by a high risk of death, they should probably be reconsidered. The odds of perishing on Everest now stand at 1 in 61.46. On the mountain’s most deadly day in 1996, Everest claimed the lives of eight people.

During the 2016 season, a total of five people died on the mountain, and this was considered a good year as 22 people died in 2015.

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