More than 200 people have died on Everest, and many of their bodies still remain on the mountain, serving as grim markers and warnings for those who come after.
Full View of the Everest Range
Since 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit of Everest and safely returned, more than 4,000 people have followed in their footsteps, bravely facing extreme weather and deadly terrain just to claim glory.
But many of them… stayed on Everest forever.
The near-vertical summit area, around 7,900 meters, is known as the “Death Zone”. There, oxygen levels are only one-third of what they are at sea level. Atmospheric pressure makes the body feel ten times heavier. The combination of these two factors causes sluggishness, loss of body control, extreme fatigue, and can damage internal organs. That’s why climbers rarely stay in this zone for more than 48 hours.
Those who remain longer often suffer lifelong consequences. Some, unfortunately, have stayed there permanently. The usual practice is to leave the body exactly where it fell — and so the corpses remain, forever dedicating their existence on the mountain to serve as markers and warnings for future climbers.
“Green Boots” – Everest’s Most Famous Corpse
One of the most famous bodies is known as “Green Boots”. Almost every climber passing through the Death Zone has encountered Green Boots. His identity is still debated, but most people believe it is Tsewang Paljor, an Indian climber who died here in 1996.
Before the body was moved in recent years, Green Boots lay near a cave that every climber must pass on the way to the summit. The corpse became a terrifying landmark: “You’re almost at the top.” He became famous because of the neon green boots still on his feet.
In 2006, another climber stayed in the cave with Green Boots to feel less alone. He sat in a corner of the cave, arms wrapped around his knees — and he remained there forever.
The Death of David Sharp – A Warning Bell About Everest Climbing Culture
David Sharp decided to climb Everest alone — something every professional mountaineer warns against. He stopped at the cave of Green Boots, as many had done before. A few hours later, Sharp froze to death, his body trapped in a twisted position just a few meters from his famous companion.
Unlike Green Boots (left behind in a time with fewer climbers), at least 40 people passed by Sharp while he was still alive and dying. No one stopped to help.
Sharp’s death rang a loud alarm about Everest climbing culture. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Everest, harshly criticized those who walked past Sharp:
“If someone is in great need of help, and you are healthy and full of energy, then you have a duty to help them with everything you have, to bring them down the mountain. Conquering the summit is no longer the top priority.”
He added to the New Zealand Herald:
“The mindset of those who want to conquer Everest is becoming distorted and terrifying. People only care about reaching the top. They don’t care what the hell is happening to anyone else. This surprises me greatly — they leave people to die in a cave.”
The media called this phenomenon “summit fever” — and it happens more often than we think.
George Mallory – The Oldest Body Ever Found
In 1999, the oldest body ever found on Everest was discovered: George Mallory, who died in 1924. He was found 75 years later during an unusually warm spring.
Mallory dreamed of being the first person to conquer Everest, but he disappeared before he could confirm whether he had reached the summit or not.
The body was found almost intact: half the upper torso, half the left leg, and left arm still preserved. He was wearing a tweed jacket, surrounded by ancient climbing gear and a very heavy oxygen tank. There was a rope injury around his waist. The search team believed he had been roped to another climber when he fell off the ridge.
To this day, it’s still unknown whether Mallory reached the summit — though the title of “first conqueror” belongs to someone else. Regardless, his famous reply when asked why he wanted to climb the unbeatable Everest lives on forever:
“Because it’s there.”
Hannelore Schmatz – The Most Horrifying Story on Everest
One of the most terrifying stories is that of Hannelore Schmatz (1979). She became the first German citizen and the first woman to leave her body on Everest.
Schmatz had achieved her goal by reaching the summit, but collapsed from exhaustion on the way down. Despite warnings from her guide, she camped in the Death Zone. She survived a nighttime blizzard and held on almost the entire descent, but only about 100 meters from base camp, she ran out of oxygen and froze from the cold, leading to complete exhaustion.
Her body remained on the mountain, perfectly preserved thanks to the constant sub-zero temperatures. She sat leaning against her broken backpack, eyes wide open, hair blowing in the wind — a haunting image. When wind speeds reached 70–80 mph, the snow covering her was blown away — and she was blown off the mountain entirely. To this day, no one knows her final resting place.
Why It’s So Hard to Recover Bodies
Recovering bodies from the Death Zone is nearly impossible. Weather conditions, treacherous terrain, and lack of oxygen make every effort extremely dangerous and often deadly. Even when bodies are found, they are usually stuck to rock or frozen in place. In fact, two rescuers died trying to bring Hannelore Schmatz’s body down, and countless others have disappeared while searching for missing climbers.
Despite the dangers and the countless bodies left behind, thousands still flock to Everest every year to conquer one of nature’s most terrifying masterpieces.
Everest is not just the highest mountain in the world. It is also a place that holds tragic stories, silent deaths, and harsh lessons about courage, selfishness, and the true value of survival.
Everest – The Mountain That Never Forgives.