Notable Mountain climbers who died while scaling Mount Everest…
Over the years there have been many instances where mountaineers have failed to scale the peaks and returned from base camps. While some of them have gone on to reach the summit, some even have had to lose their lives.
Reasons behind dead bodies found in Mt Everest;
While there are several mountains in the world that are difficult to trek, Mount Everest is the most popular one. It is also one of the mountains that has claimed the most lives. The reason behind that is the high altitude environment and extreme conditions making it difficult to retrieve bodies from Everest’s slopes. It is highly inefficient, impractical and challenging to move frozen bodies that can weigh up to 300 pounds or 136 kgs.
Recovering frozen bodies is perilous because of the extreme weather and logistical complexities that teams face and without special tools and equipment, the recoveries are impossible.
Some recovery teams have also lost members while going for missions serving as reminders of how dangerous it can be.
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Rainbow Valley: Everest’s Open Air Graveyard;
On the Northeastern side of Everest, there lies a space known as the Rainbow valley. It is a very crucial point for climbers ascending and descending via the North Col Route. Till date, an estimated 300 people have died attempting to scale the peak, while an approximate 200 climbers dead bodies still are trapped in the high snows.
Notable Deceased Mountaineers who have lost their lives;
The majority of mountaineers who have lost their lives trekking the Mount Everest have tried to scale the highest mountain of the world. Each fallen climber had left their tale to be told, reminding the dangers of Everest.
Tsewang Paljor – Green Boots;
One of the most famous fallen climbers is Green Boots, whose original name is Tsewang Paljor. He was killed during the 1996 Everest expedition of the Indo Tibetan Border Police Force. The name green boots became common after the green Koflach mountaineering boots that he wore. Paljor and his team were caught in a blizzard just short of the summit. While 3 of the 6 team members decided to return, Tsewang and other two continued to reach the top. They never returned. His dead body was found in 2014.
Sleeping Beauty – Francys Arsentiev;
Francys Arsentiev lost her life in 1998. She along with her husband were attempting to reach the summit and in fact they did, but the descent proved fatal to both as they were not carrying supplemental oxygen. It was later thought that HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) were the reason for their deaths.
Their bodies were found in 2007.
George Mallory;
He was a British Mountaineer disappeared in the 1924 expedition of Everest. His body was found in 1999 and his death still remains a mystery to be solved.
According to the evidence, he had a fatal fall and had severe head injuries along with a rope jerk injury around his waist. He had promised to keep a photo of his wife on the summit thus giving a suggestion of whether his wife was also climbing with him.
Scott Fischer;
An experienced mountaineer and guide by profession, Scott died during the infamous 1996 Everest expedition. He was the leader of the Mountain Madness expedition, one of the groups that had the challenge to climb the summit on the same day.
He passed away after reaching the top while returning to base after suffering from HACE.
David Sharp;
David was a British mountaineer who made a tragic end during the solo climbing attempt of Everest. He succumbed to death due to hypothermia, altitude sickness, and oxygen deprivation in the high snowy peaks. Despite 40 climbers passing by him, they refused to help him that ultimately killed him in 2006.
