The “Restless Souls” on Mount Everest
Pemba Dorje is a Nepali mountaineer who currently holds the world record for the fastest ascent of Mount Everest.
With a total summit time of 8 hours and 10 minutes on May 21, 2004, Pemba Dorje broke his own previous record, set in 2003 with a time of 12 hours and 45 minutes (Three days after Pemba Dorje set the record in 2003, another Nepali climber, Lakpa Gelu, conquered Everest in 10 hours and 56 minutes).
A Strange Encounter on the Descent
During the time Pemba Dorje set the record for the fastest Everest ascent, three days later, on May 24, 2004, while descending, Pemba Dorje arrived at the South Col and came across a group of climbers.
The only problem was that they were all dead. Their bodies were almost completely buried in snow. When he approached the deceased group, Pemba Dorje later recalled feeling as if his entire body was enveloped by some supernatural phenomenon.
“When I stopped at a pile of rocks, I saw some dark shadows approaching me, reaching out and begging for something to eat. I thought they were the spirits of climbers who had died during and after summiting Everest…” – Pemba Dorje recounted.
Restless Souls on the Roof of the World
Many believe that those who lose their lives on their unfinished journey on Everest, if not properly buried or returned to their homeland, will become restless souls wandering the mountain.
For some, Pemba Dorje’s story may seem completely fantastical – that ghosts do not exist. However, in a certain way, stopping to pay respect to the deceased is also a way of showing empathy for those who dedicated their lives to conquering nature.
Primary Sources:
Guinness World Records – Pemba Dorje (2004)
News articles and interviews with Pemba Dorje
Listverse – Strange stories on Everest