The Craziest Photos And Dark Secrets Of Mount Everest

3 years ago

1. Some Bodies Are Used As Trail Markers

Image Source / WikipediaThis is just one example of how the route to the summit is marked by bodies along various points of the pathway. This unfortunate soul, labelled 'Green Boots', now serves as a marker for other mountaineers to move in the right direction. Green Boots is just one of many.

2. Ladders Are Used To Cross Huge Drops Below

Image Source / InsiderIt's not just the sheer face off the side of the mountain you have to worry about - this photo shows the amount of sheer drops in even the smallest places, showing that at any moment your foot could slip. This is a mountaineer crossing the icefall at Sagamartha National Park.

3. Bodies Have To Be Collected By A Helicopter

Image Source / InsiderSometimes bodies on Everest aren't able to be recovered at all if mountaineers die during the climb. Here, the bodies of Indian climbers have managed to be recovered and are being unloaded from the helicopter. Two of the bodies had been on the mountain for a year before being recovered.

4. There Can Be Unexpected Avalanches

Image Source / InsiderThe climb up Everest is perilous enough without having to think of any other natural disaster that can occur along the way. Here is an avalanche site at Khumbu Icefall, where climbers look on after their expedition was cancelled because of it.

5. There Are Currently Around 300 Bodies Littered Around Everest

Image Source / History DailyAnybody planning to climb Everest can expect to see a dead body or two - one would be traumatising enough, but this climb is littered with around 300 bodies - a number that stands at that currently but which will undoubtedly rise the more people who flock to it every year and meet a tragic end.

6. There Is An Official 'Death Zone'

Image Source / History CollectionThe climb up Everest is of course a reminder of your own mortality with every step, but to make it worse, there's a point that's officially called the Death Zone. This is when climbers reach 8000 meters. Anything beyond that - including the summit itself - is classed as the Death Zone.

7. And The Death Zone Makes You Delirious

Image Source / Elia SaikalyIt's a matter of life and death for climbers to prepare their bodies for such a high altitude. You need an oxygen supplement to have any hope of reaching the summit of the mountain. The area classed as the Death Zone has so little oxygen supply that even with supplemental, it makes climbers delirious.

8. There Are So Many Crevices

Image Source / Alan ArnetteTo cross most of the dangerous crevices during the climb, ladders are needed to move across them horizontally. Where even one ladder would be terrifying enough with the sheer crevice drop below you, some crevices require three ladders to make it across, with crampons to steady your step.

9. The Sherpas Can Be Reckless

Image Source / The New York TimesMost mountaineers would use a safety rope when crossing these crevices to avoid a fall. But the Sherpas are paid to move fast, which means a lot of safety precautions are avoided - such as walking across these ladders without a safety rope or not wearing helmets.

10. And Some Sherpas Don't Make It

Image Source / The GuardianDeath is inevitable if you're cutting corners on such a dangerous mountain, and there have been incidents, such as one Sherpa falling into a large crevice to his death. His body was pulled back up by a rescue team, leaving a trail of blood up the icy wall of the crevice.

11. What It's Really Like To Stand At The Summit

Image Source / InsiderThis photo shows what it's really like to stand on the summit of Mount Everest, the point a lot of people are willing to die for (as so many mountaineers on Everest often do) in order to stand proudly on the top of it. These mountaineers are just some of the 9000+ to make it to the summit.

12. Hikers Make Their Way To Base Camp

Image Source / InsiderThe gruelling hike begins before you've even reached the first camping site. Here, mountaineers trek their way through the snow and winds to reach base camp to begin their Everest journey. Everest remains a popular hiking mission for more and more people.

13. The Traffic Jam At The Summit

Image Source / GQThis photo shows the alarming amount of traffic leading to the very summit. With so many people on such a narrow pathway after finally reaching the top, the danger is still very real when you take into account the people then have to come back down and pass those moving up - on the same narrow path.

14. Memorials Are Also Placed At The Site For Those Who Are Lost

Image Source / Mark HorrellIt's heartbreaking enough to learn a loved one has died during the climb, but worse when you don't even know what happened to them. This plaque states 'last seen', which reminds everyone of the sheer amount of bodies and people unable to be found or gain any closure on.

15. Preparation For The Ascent

Image Source / InsiderTaken near the second camp of Mount Everest, this photo shows mountaineers preparing for the ascent of the South Face. Even a small ascent like this one in preparation shows how dangerous it can be, with such a steep drop and a ladder to depend on.

16. The Foot Traffic On Everest Changes At An Alarming Rate

Image Source / Colorado SunThe picture on May 22nd went viral for the sheer amount of people flocking to the summit at once. The picture on the right shows the difference between another day and how crowded May 22nd really was - at a dangerous level. And more and more people flock to Everest every year.

17. And Coming Back Down Can Be More Terrifying Than Going Up

Image Source / National GeographicIt's one thing to make it to the summit - to have that sense of achievement fuelling you the entire way to make it to the top. But the journey is far from over. You then have to make it back down, with a dangerous number of people moving back down the narrow pathways ahead of you.

18. Overcrowding Climbing Up The Dangerous South Face

Image Source / InsiderThis shows not only how terrifying the climb can be on the way to the summit, but the amount of people trying to make the same climb together. The amount of overcrowding during the climb up Everest has only increased over the years.

19. Crossing The Icefalls

Image Source / InsiderThis photo is around 8848 metres high - only a couple thousand off how high a plane flies - and here is the Khumbu icefall of Mount Everest. This icefall is needed to be crossed during the climb of Mount Everest, and this is shot from the mountain's base camp.

20. The Notorious Base Camp

Image Source / InsiderThis photo makes it look easy, which is why it's even more terrifying to think how the terrain can change. This base camp photo reveals the sign pinpointing the way as well as the easy flat terrain to walk on - at this low point at least.

21. Mount Everest Has Fast Become A Rubbish Dump

Image Source / InsiderIt's a sad state of affairs that the amount of mountaineers and interest in ticking this one off the bucket list has left a vast amount of rubbish left about. With climbers tackling the mountain comes unwanted climbing equipment and rubbish left behind at the base camps.

22. Army Personnel Come In To Collect The Waste

Image Source / InsiderLuckily, there is some effort to collect all the waste that's left around the mountain; the Nepali Army collect the waste before it's taken to be recycled. The amount of rubbish that's been collected from Everest amounts to around ten tons in recent years. The army also collects bodies if they can.

23. A Mountaineer Gets Treatment After Overcrowding

Image Source / InsiderSome mountaineers are fortunate enough to survive the dangerous overcrowding that happens on Everest, but treatment is still needed. This climber was rescued from Kathmandu and taken to hospital for treatment; but other climbers aren't so lucky when it comes to overcrowding.

24. The Sheer Size Of Everest Is Difficult To Wrap Your Head Around

Image Source / www.history.comWe all know it's big, but it's more about how it feels to actually be there. The fact that when you're so close to it, it's impossible to take it all in, or even know what you're looking at. Mountaineers have reported that it's nearly impossible to see one thing from the next, and not being able to overcome the mental problem of how big it really is.

25. You're Guaranteed To See Dead Bodies

Image Source / Deccan ChronicleSome families of the deceased mountaineers do pay to have rescue teams find a body and bring it down, but for the most part, a lot of bodies are impossible to find or even get to at all. And because of the conditions of death, the bodies are almost frozen in time like a waxwork in bright-coloured mountaineering gear.

26. You Also Have To Worry About Debris

Image Source / Martin EdstromThe climb up to the summit of Everest is a life-threatening danger in itself, but that's not all you have to worry about. And when we say debris we don't mean a few rocks or discarded rubbish. The mountain can shed a lot of stuff, such as sheets of ice or even boulders the size of a car.

27. Climbing Everest Is Ridiculously Expensive

Image Source / ESPNIt's obvious that climbing Everest would cost a lot of money in terms of the travel costs and the amount of gear you would need, but a lot of people don't realise the full extent of the charges for this bucket list adventure. It can cost at least $20,000 US dollars, but that's for a very cut-corner climb, as a more detailed venture can see a whopping $85,000 bill.

28. The Fear Of Failure Is Overwhelming

Image Source / NPR

Because Everest is so expensive, it obviously puts the fear of failure into your mind. What if you fail when you've spent all that money? Or, worse, what if you've been funded by a second party who are putting their hopes in you for the climb and you have that added weight of pressure on your shoulders as well as fearing for your life?

29. Reaching The Summit Isn't The Mind-Clearing, Tranquil Experience You'd Expect It To Be

Image Source / Abenteuer BergWith the summit so many feet above ground and oxygen next to none, you might think that reaching the top would be a serene, calm experience - not to mention the overwhelming sense of success and achievement. But actually, the extreme conditions mean that it's very much like an experience from a horror movie, with pressure from every side and thinking only of your own safety rather than that Summit Selfie.

30. And It's Dangerously Windy At The Top

Image Source / ExplorerswebReaching the summit, you might also think the worst is over, as though that break to the top might reveal a calming moment, or somehow you've escaped the worst of the elements before the climb back down. But no: at the summit, it's hostile and windy, the sound of the wind incomparable and obviously a terrifying reminder that you could be blown over the edge any second.

31. Climbers Need 10,000 Calories A Day

Image Source / Alpenglow ExpeditionsJust to put that in perspective if you're not a calorie-counter, people need on average 2,500 calories a day. When not climbing a mountain. And for Everest, it doesn't even matter what you eat in terms of health - eat a 20 pack of Mars Bars if it gives you the required calories, because you're facing possible death anyways.

32. You Need Rest Days In Tents

Image Source / The University Of MaineWhen you think of the Everest climb, you might think it's go-go-go. Short rests and sleep are to be expected, but climbers need to sit out the climb for possible days at a time, maybe even three, to deal with the high-altitude or to take shelter.

33. And It Can Get Boring

Image Source / Big Agnes BlogYep, you heard that right - a perilous climb up a mountain where every moment could see you face your doom can actually get boring. But it's not so much the time spent climbing, it's more those days of rests sat out in a tent. If the weather is normal, then you might be bored out of your mind waiting to continue the climb.

34. Coughing Fits Caused By The Climb Can Actually Crack Ribs

Image Source / CNNThere's a lot of heavy breathing when trying to climb a mountain, that goes without saying. But it's a lot more severe than simply being out of breath. The dry air is bad enough to cause violent coughing fits - which are so bad they can actually cause climbers to crack a rib.

35. Broken Ribs Can Then Be Sorted Using... Duct Tape

Image Source / Eureka TentsAnd what happens if climbers suffer a broken rib from coughing too hard? Do they have to give up the climb and be rescued, defeated, but to live another day? Nope, they're told to bind up their ribs with a splint using duct tape and then carry on, of course!

36. Climbers Go Pee-Pee In A Bottle

Image Source / Greenbelly Meals

There are many things you might ponder about an Everest climb, and usually it's the danger - so you might never have thought about a climber's toilet needs. Staying hydrated is a must, which means needing to pee - a lot - is also a must. And bottles are apparently essential - they mean climbers can pee from their bed without having to leave their tent or disturb other sleepers.

37. Body Heat Can Actually Work As A Portable Heater

Image Source / ExplorerswebThe clothing and equipment of climbers is bound to get wet and cold. And they then have to put that wet and cold stuff back on after resting, before continuing the climb. But body heat can help with this - during the night, when sleeping, things like boot liners and socks can be put against the body and slept with to make them toasty and warm for the morning.

38. The Mystery Of Climbers George Mallory And Andrew Irvine

Image Source / BBCMallory and Irvine were two climbers who went to undertake the very first ascent of the mountain back in 1924. They disappeared on the mountain's northeast ridge, last sighted only a few hundred metres from the top of the mountain, and nobody knows if they actually made it to the top before they died.

39. The Controversy Of Maurice Wilson

Image Source / Mummipedia Wiki - FandomMaurice Wilson was a British soldier who attempted to climb Everest, all alone, in 1934. His body was discovered a year after his attempt, in the snow by a destroyed tent on the North Col. There has been controversy after it was proposed he actually did reach the summit, but died on the descent rather than the ascent.

40. And Did Maurice Wilson Attempt To Climb... In High-Heeled Shoes?

Image Source / Telegraph and ArgusThe mystery of Maurice Wilson doesn't end there. In his everyday life, he worked in a women's shoe shop - and it's said that he also enjoyed cross-dressing, something which he took to Everest itself. A single high-heeled shoe was discovered just below the summit of Everest, and it's also said that Wilson had packed women's clothes which were found in his bag.

41. The Man Who Snowboarded Down Everest

Image Source / Tahoe Quarterly

Marco Siffredi was a French snowboarder who actually successfully snowboarded back down Everest after reaching the summit. The tragedy is he didn't die on his first climb of Everest - he died on his second attempt even after he succeeded the first. After being warned by Sherpas not to make the second snowboarding attempt, Siffredi did so anyway - he was last seen in the distance moving down, but then he disappeared and his body was never found.

42. The Ghosts Of The Mountain

Image Source / Mental FlossIf anywhere was going to be haunted, it would be Mount Everest based on the amount of deaths and the bodies still buried in the snow. One Sherpa, who made the climb up Everest successfully, claims to have seen shadowy figures on the mountain approaching him. Many Sherpas believe in the existence of ghosts on the mountain, but it's hard to say based on hallucinations at that altitude.

43. The 4 Mysterious Bodies

Image Source / Daily MailA few years ago, 4 climbers were found dead in their tents on the mountain by a group of Sherpas - which may not sound like anything surprising for Everest, but the climbers' identities remain unknown and their deaths a mystery, as none of the climbing groups reported anyone missing that day.

44. Climber Frank Smythe Claims A Presence Beside Him

Image Source/ WikipediaFrank Smythe was a famous English mountaineer who scaled Everest - but as he did so, he claimed that he felt a presence climbing along with him. The presence felt so real that Smythe actually attempted to share his cape with whoever was travelling next to him.

45. The Yeti On Everest?

Image Source / Live ScienceThe earliest recorded 'sightings' of this legendary creature begin in the region of Everest. The legend continued with various apparent sightings and footprints. One example of this was the huge footprints found at 20,000 feet during the 1951 Everest expedition led by Eric Shipton.

46. The Mystery Of The Russian Climbers

Image Source / WikipediaIn 1952, it was claimed that a Russian expedition set off to climb the mountain. After making it to the final camp, they then disappeared without a trace. But the mystery darkens when it's also been claimed by the Russians that the expedition never took place at all. No trace of the team, or their names, was ever found.

47. The Helpful Spirit

Image Source / Literary HubTwo British mountaineers climbing Everest in 1975 spent the night in a self-made snow cave in the Death Zone, forced to delay their climb to the summit until morning. They ran out of oxygen, didn't have any food and their heater was almost out. But then both climbers claimed to have felt a 'presence' with them, which shared heat and advice on how they could survive the night.

48. The Debate Of The First Person Ever To Reach The Top

Image Source / National GeographicTwo climbers, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, reached the top of Everest as a team. They made a pact never to reveal who was the very first man to reach the top of the mountain. A poster later revealed Tenzing as the man in front, and his sons also said that their father had told them he reached the summit first. Hillary later claimed, after Tenzing's death, that it was actually he who reached the top first, and it was never truly settled who was the first to the top.

49. The Death Of Ueli Steck

Image Source / The New York TimesOf all people most likely to make it to the top of the mountain, Steck should have been one of them. Steck was extremely accomplished in the mountaineering world, and the climb should have been more than do-able based on his capabilities. But Steck died from a fall on a route that was part of a 'standard' tourist route, and not one spectacularly challenging. The mystery of how such an accomplished mountaineering could make a simple fall still remains to this day.

50. You Can Actually Get Internet Up There

Image Source / Refinery29While most of us struggle to get a great signal just in our house, did you know you can actually get internet up on Everest? Two guys who decided to Snapchat their entire Everest journey proved that you can - but it'll cost ya. A lot. The two mountaineers came back from a successful mountain climb with an internet bill of $23,000.