Why do you think climbing Mount Everest has become so expensive? Have you ever been on a trek to Everest? Did you know there are bodies on Everest litered all around? Read the article to learn why people are not bringing the dead bodies down from the mountains!
I know, it is quite shocking and completely unimaginable for people to leave their dead in the depths of the mountains. But if you are one of those who regularly climb mountains, it is completely a common sight for you. However, it is also important to address this issue!
I am saying this because it is a significant ethical issue when so many dead bodies are just lying around. This issue has also created another concern for future mountaineers as the price of climbing Mount Everest is going up!
Mount Everest Is Becoming A Graveyard As Bodies Of Mountaineers Are Left Behind!
In Nepal, the Department of Tourism has decided to raise the price of climbing Mount Everest significantly! Climbing the mountain takes several weeks so it is your responsibility to be aware of the risks and the shortcomings of this path.
There are plenty of ambitious climbers who look forward to doing the impossible and yet, fall back. A lot of people have succumbed to this challenge, so if you are attempting to climb Everest, you have to face these bodies around you.
This has been such a severe concern that some of these bodies are even used as markers! Let me talk about why tourists are crowding Everest. How it is impacting the overall price of mountaineering at the Nepal government along with the mountain becoming a graveyard.
Tourists Crowding Everest!
It all started in the early 1990s when humans started climbing Mount Everest! Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary are two mountaineers who successfully submitted Everest in 1953 which led to explorers walking down the difficult path!
Imagine the number of people visiting Everest every year on Everest, especially when there is a record of 306 fatalities on Everest. The increasing dead bodies has led to a certain stage that many climbers can actually recognize the dead bodies.
For example, most of the Everest climbers have identified a dead man who is seen lying in a cave which is located about 1130 feet from the top. It has become quite popular among the climbers of Everest as “Green Boots”!
Not all the individuals who have died could be traced across the mountain but it is safe to say that it is happening. In recent times, hikers from different countries such as Austria, the US, Ireland and India have been informed that there is regular overcrowding.
What Kills Mountaineers?
There are several reasons due to which the mountaineers who are climbing Everest are facing death! Exhaustion, hypothermia, frostbite, serac collapse, frostbite, exposure and natural disasters such as avalanches.
Consider the passion with which humans take the trek to Everest because for a lot of people, it is an important mission of their life. Usually, it is always the springtime which is considered as favorable for climbing Everest.
Yet, the conditions of the climate can change anytime along with the increasing number of people! Basically, human traffic jams on Everest are also a reason for becoming a “death zone”! The mountain is about 8000 meters which is almost 26,250 feet.
After a certain point the oxygen is so low that a lot of trekkers become completely loopy! Their mind starts working in weird ways that they are talking to imaginary companions, starred
The conveyor-belt style lines are being created to resolve the crowded conditions on Everest. Mountaineers who are quite passionate to reach the top and stake the claim of Everest Summit that they completely neglect all precautions. They take a lot of risks, especially when others urge them to stay back.
Mountaineering Becoming Costlier Because Of The Deadbody?
Death is a part of Everest climbing that you can never forget as it is an integral part of any mountaineer’s life. The risks of falling, physical injuries, dehydration along with natural disasters such as avalanches! For example, 19 people died in 2015 due to an avalanche that roared through Everest.
As humans, we are very involved in our emotions, so having a conscience is quite normal. Therefore, dead bodies across Everest that are not being brought back have both ethical and moral issues. The Government of Nepal has informed that it has been quite difficult to remove the bodies.
The repatriation costs of bringing dead bodies down from the mountain is inclusive of about tens of thousands of dollars! In many cases, the expenditure also extends to $70,000! And it is not just about money, people have died bringing dead bodies down from the mountain.
For example, in 1984 two Nepalese climbers died when they were recovering a body at the Everest after the death. It is due to these reasons that the bodies are being left behind spread lying around the mountain.
Why Are Bodies Not Being Brought Back From Everest?
According to the reports, if a body is being retrieved from the higher camps, it will cost you somewhere between $20,000 and $200,000. It is due to the high removal cost that most trekking parties leave their bodies around.
What we are not considering is that the mentioned rate is viable only if the climbers have insurance! Without insurance, the whole process will get further complicated. The expense can go into millions of dollars hence, the dead bodies are not being retrieved.
Filmmaker Elia Saikaly is known for her connection with Everest and she wrote on Instagram long back in 2019, “Death. Carnage. Chaos. Lineups. Dead bodies on the route.” Imagine this while you are climbing the mountain?
In some cases, bringing dead bodies below from the mountain has resulted in significant damage to the people who are bringing in the bodies. In an interview with The Kathmandu Post, the president of The Nepal Mountaineering Association informed that there are many climbers who do not have proper insurance!
The Death Zone Or Just A Graveyard?
Everest has become an integral part of the dream that every mountaineer has! A graveyard of bodies, Mount Everest is slowly becoming inaccessible because the Government of Nepal is trying to increase awareness among people and safety.
People who aim to climb Mount Everest should be aware of the risks, hence if the expenses are higher, then probably people will become more responsible. The “budget” opportunities of the mountaineers will consider this increase in the rate of the trekking!
The hope is that people become more aware of the risks of climbing Everest along with successfully summitting the peak. The Department of Tourism of Nepal will also gain something more in this venture both with regards to treating the dead bodies better along with managing the treks.
Finishing Off…
What do you think about the littered bodies on Everest, especially with the increasing number of mountaineers on Everest? If you have read the article, I am sure you realize the risks based on which you can climb the mountain!
Do remember that the increasing human traffic in that zone has led to significant increase in the number of deaths!
Comment on what you think about the increasing bodies on Everest and is it even ethical!
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