More than 200 climbers have died on Mount Everest, and many of their bodies remain on the mountain — used as grim landmarks for those who come after.
Full view of the Everest range
Since 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first summited Everest and safely returned, more than 4,000 people have followed, 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 sea level. Atmospheric pressure makes the body feel ten times heavier. The combination causes sluggishness, loss of control, extreme fatigue, and possible organ damage. That’s why climbers rarely stay in this zone for more than 48 hours.
Those who stay longer often suffer lifelong consequences. Some, unfortunately, remain there permanently. The usual practice is to leave the body exactly where it fell — and so the corpses remain, forever serving as markers and warnings for future climbers.
Why So Many Bodies Are Left on Everest
Seeing corpses along the route to the summit is no longer unusual. Victims are left behind because recovering them is extremely dangerous and expensive.
“I couldn’t believe what I saw there. Death, dead bodies, chaos, long lines, corpses along the path,” said Everest filmmaker Elia Saikaly.
In the spring of 2019 alone, 7 people died attempting to summit Everest. In 2015, an avalanche killed at least 19. Just last spring, 2 more climbers died.
Nepal issued a record 463 permits for Everest climbers in the 2023 spring season. Including Sherpa guides, that meant roughly 900 people attempted the 8,849-meter peak — the busiest year on record.
Recovering bodies is incredibly difficult. Costs can reach $70,000, and attempts often endanger rescuers. In 1984, two Nepali rescuers died while trying to bring down a climber’s body. Because of this, bodies are usually left where they fell.
Line of climbers on Everest in 2021 AFP
Everest mountaineer Alan Arnette explained that recovery is both expensive and highly risky:
“What they have to do is reach the body, then they usually place it on a sled or just a piece of fabric. They tie ropes to it, then perform a controlled slide of the body down.”
Arnette himself signed a “body disposal” form before climbing Everest, requesting that if he died, his body should remain on the mountain.
Some climbers argue that rising death tolls are partly due to overcrowding — a preventable issue. Complaints about dangerous bottlenecks in the Death Zone (above 8,000 meters), where thin air requires oxygen masks, have become common.
The Miraculous Rescue on Everest (and the Harsh Reality)
Despite the dangers and 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.