Bodies on Everest serve as landmarks: the frightening reality of the world's highest mountain

Everest attracts people from all over the world. For some, it's a dream, the pinnacle of achievement, proof of strength of spirit. For others, it's a deadly challenge where the price of a mistake is too high. But few think about the fact that on this mountain, under layers of snow and ice, lie hundreds of bodies - and some of them have long become landmarks for ascending climbers.

At an altitude above 8,000 meters begins the so-called "death zone." Here the air is so thin that the human body literally begins to die. There isn't enough oxygen to maintain normal bodily functions. Any delay can be fatal. In such conditions, evacuating an injured or dead person becomes almost impossible: rescuers risk their lives, equipment fails, and weather conditions don't forgive mistakes.

Therefore, most bodies of deceased climbers remain on the mountain forever. They freeze, become part of the landscape, and are often used as visual landmarks. One of the most famous cases is the body nicknamed "Green Boots." These are the remains of a person in bright green footwear, lying in a small cave on the northern route. Almost everyone who climbed to the summit from that side passed by him.

It's frightening to realize that in the pursuit of conquering the mountain, people pass by the bodies of their predecessors. This isn't heartlessness - it's necessity. In such conditions, survivors don't have the strength or resources to change anything. Everyone is responsible for themselves, and everyone knows what they're getting into.

Sometimes bodies become a kind of "signs." A guide might say: "When we reach Green Boots - there will be two hours left to the summit." This is a terrible but real part of climbing Everest. The deceased forever remain in these icy walls, as a silent reminder: nature is stronger than man.

Despite all this, the flow of people wanting to climb Everest is not decreasing. Some see it as a challenge, others as a way to prove something important to themselves. But behind the photo with a flag at the summit often stands a real drama, and sometimes - someone's last attempt to reach their dream.

The mountain does not forgive weakness, and everyone who steps on its slopes must understand: the path upward is strewn not only with snow but also with silent witnesses to others' tragedies.