Mount Everest is renowned as the highest mountain on Earth. Thrill seekers regularly swarm its peaks, each attempting to reach its summit for a once-in-a-lifetime view.
The dangerous trek has claimed the lives of over 200 individuals — and several of their bodies are still lingering along the trails. Humans just aren't built to withstand the atmosphere of the "Danger Zone," the area above 26,000-feet, as they near its summit.
Still, that hasn't stopped thousands of adventurous individuals from giving it their best shot. Even surrounded by the remains of those who came before them, new climbers continue to make their own tracks. Some folks forego supplemental oxygen to prove how much stronger they are than the big pile of rocks.
Take a look to learn about some of the most tragic losses on Mount Everest.
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Thumbnail Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Maxwelljo40
1. Green Boots Mark The Spot
One of the victims of the 1996 blizzard disaster became known simply known as "Green Boots" due to the bright snow shoes that remain on the frozen body.
Found near the summit, many believe the identity to be Tsewang Paljor, one of the three missing guides from the expedition. According to the BBC, his body was used as a trail marker for those making the climb, signaling they were approaching the peak of the mountain's north side.
2. The Frozen Astronaut
NASA Scientist Karl Gordon Henize was attempting to test the effect of radiation on human skin tissue at varying altitudes. Unfortunately, he suffered from altitude sickness and ultimately died from high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
According to the American Astronomical Society, his body was left on the mountain per his own request prior to heading out on his mission.
3. Sleeping Beauty's Cry For Help
In 1998, American climber Francys Arsentiev was discovered nearly frozen to death by two other climbers, Ian Woodall and his fiancée, Cathy O'Dowd, just 1,000 feet away from the summit.
The couple gave up on their own journey to assist her, but it was already too late. While discussing Francys' tragic fate with Telegraph, they remembered her haunting last words: “Don't leave me."
Francys, known as "Sleeping Beauty," had successfully become the first woman to reach the summit without the use of supplemental oxygen before her death. She was joined by her husband, Sergei, who disappeared after attempting to supply his wife with oxygen and medicine from fellow climbers.
4. David Sharp's Solo Trek
After two unsuccessful attempts with groups in 2003 and 2004 that cost David a few of his toes to frostbite, he made his third and final journey in 2006 all on his own. He was determined to make the trek without supplemental oxygen and minimal equipment.
It's unclear whether he actually made it to the peak, but at some point began his decent. David crouched down in the shelter of Green Boot's Cave and ultimately succumbed to the particularly frigid elements overnight.
Eight Summit explains how his death caused controversy due to the fact that at least 40 other climbers were recorded passing him by. The other climbers were accused of ignoring the unspoken "climbers code" of helping out their fellow travelers when they are in distress. Those accused of being too overcome with "summit fever" to care about David's condition claimed he was already too far gone by the time they passed him.
5. The Oldest Bones On The Mountain
George Mallory participated in two of the earliest British-led expeditions up Everest in 1921 and 1922 before making his final trek with Andrew "Sandy" Irvine in 1924.
Both men mysteriously disappeared during the journey, likely due to severe weather conditions, according to Telegraph. After several attempts to locate their bodies and retrace their steps, George's remains were finally found in 1999 — 75 years after their journey.
6. The German Woman's Unfortunate Honor
Before "Sleeping Beauty," German climber Hannelore Schmatz was the first woman to perish while attempting to reach Everest's summit in 1979.
She was 330 feet from the peak, making her descent, when she became too exhausted to continue. Her body was discovered frozen in a reclining position. She became known simply as "The German Woman."
7. The Eternal Snowboarder
Professional snowboarder Marco Siffredi successfully rode his way down the mountain's North Col passage in 2001, the first athlete to ever do so, but it wasn't good enough for him.
Marco returned again in 2002 to attempt snowboarding down the much steeper Hornbein Couloir area. After arriving at the summit, he disappeared without a trace, while making his decent. His body has never been found, and the cause of his assumed death remains a mystery.
8. The Youngest Brit's Deadly Descent
At just 22 years old, Michael Matthews — younger brother of Pippa Middleton's husband James — successfully became the youngest British citizen to summit Everest in 1999.
However, his family is still left with questions after Michael disappeared during his descent. He has been presumed dead. His body was never recovered, but James and his family have been able to find some sense of peace by founding a charity in Michael's name.
9. The Nearly Blind Climber
Thomas Weber is sometimes referred to as simply "The Blind Climber," but his vision was not completely gone when he made his ascent with the help of a Dutch guide named Harry Kikstra. Thomas knew it was risky, but he wanted to raise awareness for those stricken by blindness.
In a detailed letter from Harry, the guide explains how Thomas eventually lost all of his vision at the high altitude before collapsing. Thomas apparently told Harry, "I am dying," before suffering a stroke or hemorrhage that took his life.
10. The Pilot With A Wing And A Prayer
Back in 1934, 10 years after George Mallory's failed attempt, a British pilot named Maurice Wilson believed that a combination of fasting and praying was all he needed to get to the top of Everest.
His plan was to fly to the highest point and walk right up to the summit, but according to the BBC, he lacked any actual flying experience or climbing experience.
After several bumbled treks to and from the base, George never returned. His body was found buried in snow a year later.
11. Scott Fischer's Second Attempt
After successfully making the summit in 1994 without the use of supplemental oxygen, Scott returned two years later for what is now known as the "1996 Mount Everest Disaster."
A hefty blizzard struck while the group was making their ascent, costing the lives of Scott and seven other members of his team. One of his guides, Anatoli Boukreev, located Scott's body and moved it from the path of future climbers, according to his book The Climb: Tragic Ambitions on Everest.
The ill-fated expedition serves as the basis behind the 2015 film, Everest.
12. The Darkness Behind Rainbow Valley
Despite the cheery name, the area found along the Northeast Ridge Route earned its colorful moniker due to the amount of bright jackets and gear either left behind by climbers or still wrapped around their frozen bodies.
According to Strange Remains, other climbers will occasionally attempt to push them to a better resting place, but several are impossible to budge.
13. Yasuko Namba's Bittersweet Seventh Summit
In the climbing community, achieving the "Seven Summits" — reaching the peak of the tallest mountain on every continent — is a highly sought-after badge of honor.
At 47 years old, Yasuko was the oldest woman to make the journey up Everest at the time. She had completed her six other summits before unfortunately becoming another victim of the 1996 blizzard on Everest.
Were you surprised by any of these haunting stories about climbers on Mount Everest?
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