Stepping Over the Dead to Reach the Summit – A Haunting Journey on Everest
“Death, chaos” were the impressions of Elia Saikaly, a Canadian mountaineer and filmmaker, upon returning from his Everest climb on May 22. This was his third time conquering the world’s highest peak.
However, in an interview with the Ottawan Citizen, Elia said that with the horrifying and heartbreaking experiences of his most recent trip, he understands that he will never return to this place.
The Shocking Photo: A Dead Body Beneath Their Feet
One of the things that shocked Elia most was seeing the bodies of climbers who had perished, lying on the “roof of the world” while pursuing their passion. They were nameless bodies, lying there silent and alone.
But what haunted him even more was witnessing hundreds of other climbers stepping over the dead bodies lying on the trail to continue their ascent to the summit. He captured this scene and posted it on Instagram after returning home.
“You’re conquering a famous icon, and right beneath you is someone’s body. They lie on the path to the summit, lifeless, and you don’t know what to do or how to feel. But you know you have to keep going, or you’ll end up like them” – Elia recalled.
The Canadian traveler apologized to readers for his photo. However, he felt a responsibility to warn future climbers about the dangers of conquering Everest.
The “Death Zone” and Traffic Jams
Besides the dead, Elia could not forget other incidents on the trail. He saw an Indian climber who had fallen behind. The man began to hallucinate, scream, and show signs of altitude sickness.
The day Elia climbed was also the day more than 200 other climbers attempted to conquer the peak. They chose this day because of the clear weather. But because of the overwhelming number of participants, climbers faced “traffic jams” near the summit.
Elia’s group had to wait for a long time in -30°C temperatures in the “death zone” – the section near the summit. Above them were about 50-60 other climbers. After them, Elia reached the summit, took a commemorative photo, and descended.
Primary Sources:
Ottawan Citizen – Interview with Elia Saikaly
Elia Saikaly – Instagram post
Reports on the overcrowding situation on Everest