
Melting Everest Ice Reveals Climbers Lost in 'Death Zone,' Nepal Mounts Cleanup
June 29, 2024 World
KATHMANDU, Nepal - As climate change continues to thin the snow and ice on Mount Everest, the bodies of climbers who perished in their quest to summit the world's highest peak are becoming increasingly visible.
A team working on Nepal's mountain clean-up campaign retrieved five frozen bodies, including skeletal remains, from Everest and nearby peaks Lhotse and Nuptse.
The task is dangerous and demanding. Rescuers chipped away at ice for hours, sometimes using boiling water to free the bodies.
"Global warming's effects are making [bodies and trash] more visible," said Major Aditya Karki, who led the team of soldiers and climbers.
Over 300 climbers have perished on Everest since expeditions began, with eight fatalities this season alone. Many bodies remain hidden by snow or lost in crevasses, while some serve as macabre landmarks with nicknames like "Green Boots" and "Sleeping Beauty."
Everest Body Retrievals: Difficult But Necessary
Recovering bodies at high altitudes is a complex issue. Thin air and altitude sickness pose dangers, and insurance may not cover retrieval missions. One body encased in ice took 11 hours to free.
"It's extremely difficult," said Tshiring Jangbu Sherpa, who led the recovery effort. "Getting the body out is just one part."
Sherpa described some bodies remarkably well-preserved, while retrieval costs remain high due to the manpower needed. However, Karki emphasized the importance of these efforts.
"We have to bring them back whenever possible," he said. "Otherwise, our mountains become graveyards."
Bodies are typically bagged and dragged down on sleds. One particularly challenging recovery involved a body near Lhotse's peak, requiring transport in its frozen state to a lower camp before being sledded.
Challenges and Discoveries
Two recovered bodies have been tentatively identified, with authorities awaiting confirmation. The retrieved bodies are currently in Kathmandu, with unidentified remains likely to be cremated.
Everest continues to hold mysteries. The body of George Mallory, missing since a 1924 summit attempt, was only found in 1999. His partner, Andrew Irvine, and their camera, which could rewrite mountaineering history, remain undiscovered.
The clean-up campaign, budgeted at over $600,000, also involved 171 Nepali guides and porters who removed roughly 12 tons of garbage. Waste included tents, equipment, canisters, and even human waste.
"The mountains have given us so much," said Sherpa. "We must give back by removing trash and bodies."
While modern expeditions are pressured to manage waste, historical debris remains a challenge.
"This year's trash might be brought down," said Karki, "but who will deal with the old trash?"