Mountain of Doom

    Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain. Would you climb it?

    Strong winds blow. Snowstorms come out of nowhere. Temperatures drop way below zero. 

    But the dead bodies are the creepiest part.

    Many bodies line the route up the mountain. When the wind blows snow away, you may see a pile of bones. You may see whole bodies. The cold preserves them. The bodies lie where they died. For 20 years, a man’s body could be seen near a cave. He still had his green boots on. So climbers named him “Green Boots.” 

    The bodies are gruesome. But they don’t scare away climbers. The climbers want to stand on top of the world. And they want to survive to tell the story.

    Would you dare to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak?

    The winds howl, blinding snowstorms appear out of nowhere, and temperatures drop to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. 

    But nothing is as disturbing as the dead bodies.

    You might spot some along the main route. At times, the wind reveals a pile of bones under the snow. Often, the cold preserves the bodies whole—exactly where they died. For 20 years, the body of a man from India lay curled up near a cave. Climbers named him “Green Boots” for his colorful footwear. 

    Though the bodies are gruesome, they don’t deter climbers from pursuing their goal of standing on top of the world—and living to tell the story. In fact, more climbers than ever before are conquering Mount Everest.

    Everest is part of the Himalayan mountain range. It sits on the border between China and Nepal. The summit of Everest stands 29,029 feet above sea level. That’s nearly 6 miles high. The Sherpa people of Nepal call the mountain the “Goddess of the Sky.”

    People began climbing Everest about 100 years ago. This year, about 900 climbers reached the top. But 11 never made it home.

    There are many ways to die while climbing Everest. People have been crippled by frostbite. Some have fallen down huge slopes of ice. Others have been buried in avalanches. An avalanche is when snow, rocks, and ice slide down mountain slopes without warning. 

    But the air is the biggest danger. As you climb, it gets thinner. That means it has less oxygen. At the top, most climbers breathe bottled oxygen. 

    Even so, they gasp for air. They have trouble thinking.

    The part of the mountain above 26,000 feet is called the death zone. It has very little oxygen. No one can live for long in the death zone.

    Everest is part of the Himalayan mountain range, rising above Central Asia on the border between China and Nepal. Everest’s summit stands 29,029 feet above sea level—or nearly 6 miles high. The Sherpa people of Nepal refer to the mountain as the “Goddess of the Sky.”

    People have been climbing Everest for almost 100 years, but in the beginning, very few people succeeded. This year, about 900 climbers reached the top. Eleven never made it home.

    On Everest, there are numerous ways to die. People might be crippled by frostbite, or they might tumble down a 5,000-foot slope of ice. They might even be buried by an avalanche—a mass of snow, rocks, and ice that slides quickly down a slope without warning. 

    But on Everest, the greatest threat to survival is the air itself. As you ascend the mountain, the air gets thinner and you take in less and less oxygen. Most climbers rely on bottled oxygen near the top of the mountain. 

    Even so, they gasp for air after every step and have difficulty thinking clearly.

    Above 26,000 feet, the danger is so extreme it’s called the death zone. No one can survive there for long, given how little oxygen is in the air.

    The dangers on Everest force climbers to make tough choices. Some pay as much as $130,000 to make the trip. They’ve dreamed about reaching the top for years. Suppose they feel sick as they near the summit. Do they turn around or keep going? 

    Every year, some people make the wrong choice. They want so badly to reach the top that they ignore the dangers. Climbers call this “summit fever,” and it can be deadly.

    And what if someone else needs help? In 2006, the British climber David Sharp grew too weak to climb. He huddled in a cave inside the death zone. At least 40 climbers passed him. 

    Some stopped, but no one tried to help him down. They barely had the strength to make it down themselves. Sharp died alone, high on the slopes of the mountain.

    Some climbers have paid $130,000 to make the trip. Reaching the top is their dream. What do they do if they feel sick? Do they give up on their dream and turn around? Or do they risk death and keep going? 

    Some people make the wrong choice. They ignore the dangers. They think only of reaching the top. Climbers call this “summit fever.” It can be deadly.

    And what if someone needs help? In 2006, climber David Sharp became very weak. He sat down. He was in the death zone. At least 40 climbers passed him. 

    No one tried to help him down. They were not strong enough to help him. Sharp died on the mountain.

    The danger often forces climbers to make difficult choices. Some have paid as much as $130,000 to make the trip, and they’ve dreamed about reaching the top for years. Suppose they feel sick as they near the summit. Do they head back down or continue upward? 

    Every year, some climbers make the wrong decision. They’re so focused on reaching the top that they ignore the dangers. Climbers call this “summit fever,” and it can be deadly.

    And what if a fellow climber needs help? In 2006, a British climber named David Sharp huddled in a cave inside the death zone. He had grown too weak to climb. At least 40 climbers passed him. 

    Some stopped, but no one attempted to help him down. They barely had the strength to make the descent themselves. Sharp died high on the mountain—alone.

    Over the years, more than 300 climbers have died on Everest. And that has made people wonder: If the climb is so dangerous, why do it? 

    Climbers answer that question in many different ways. Everest is a challenge that forces you to be tough and brave. It’s a story to tell your kids and your grandkids. It’s an accomplishment that others will respect.

    To some people, the risk is the point. Life is short, after all. “If you live life trying to avoid death, then you are dead already,” says American climber Alan Arnette.

    Now that you know about the risks, it’s time to make your choice. Would you prefer a comfortable walk at sea level—or a journey to the top of the world?

    Over the years, more than 300 climbers have died on Everest. If the climb is so dangerous, why do it? 

    Climbers have many answers. They say Everest forces you to be tough and brave. You’ll have a great story to tell. Others will respect your accomplishment.

    For some, the risk is why they do it. “If you live life trying to avoid death, then you are dead already,” says American climber Alan Arnette.

    Now you know the risks. So would you prefer to stay at sea level? Or do you want to journey to the top of the world?

    Over the years, more than 300 climbers have perished on Everest. Now people often wonder: If the climb is so treacherous, why attempt it? 

    Climbers give a variety of answers. They say that Everest is a challenge that forces you to be tough and brave. It’s a story that will impress your children and grandchildren. It’s an accomplishment that will earn you respect from others.

    To some climbers, the risk is the whole point. “If you live life trying to avoid death, then you are dead already,” says American climber Alan Arnette.

    Now that you’re aware of the risks, it’s time to make your choice. Would you prefer a comfortable walk at sea level—or a journey to the top of the world?