Image Credit :https://ntb.gov.np/everest
Have you planned to trek to the Everest region? Or, are you interested to climb Mount Everest? Are you curious to know about the Rainbow Valley and the dark sides it hides? If you are unaware of the stories that are hard to hear about Mount Everest but have made up your plans to summit the highest mountain in the world, this article can be your safe side. Learn in detail about the travel itinerary and the facts associated with Mount Everest and the Rainbow Valley to plan accordingly.
Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest- The crown jewel of the Himalayas is a place of natural wonders, physical significance, and human triumph. Towering over 8848 meters above sea level, Mt. Everest draws thousands of adventures and travelers each year. The trek helps to test physical limits of trekkers and let them witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the surrounding landscape. At Rainbow Valley, visitors can experience a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern tourism. They further explore the Sherpa culture, visit historic monasteries, and trek through the rugged terrain to reach the base of the mountain.
However, despite what the name suggests, Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest is different from what comes to our minds when we first hear it. It seems like a place that might represent something with breathtaking views of snowcapped peaks, sparkling glaciers, and vibrant valleys that seem to glow with every color of the rainbow but there’s a dark side to it. It sure welcomes tourists and adventure enthusiasts with a chance to witness the majesty of nature. However, the term “Rainbow Valley” specifically portrays the death zone in the Everest region of climbers who were unsuccessful to reach their dream destination and lost their lives in between.
Lying above the altitude of 8000 meters, the rainbow valley in the Everest region is an area below the northers ridge of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. The region is considered as the zone of death because of the extreme altitude and lack of oxygen which can cause a variety of physical and mental deteriorations, leading to potentially fatal conditions.
It might feel like why such a name is given to something that have piles of dead bodies of unsuccessful climbers. The name is given because the area resembles rainbow colours like red, green blue orange of jackets covering the dead bodies.
Formation of Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest- The Death Zone of Mount Everest
Image Credit :https://www.highcampadventure.com/blog/mount-everest-death-zone
As beautiful as the name sounds, the reality of Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest is as scary and horrible. Also known as the death zone of Everest, Rainbow Valley in the Everest region is a consequence of oxygen lacking due to extreme altitudes. At this height, the air pressure drops to a level that is only a third of that at sea level making it tough for human beings to function properly.
Additionally, the paths leading to the peaks of Mount Everest are constrained, which has made it challenging to pass the trails successfully for climbers; a slight error on these paths can take your dead body direct to the beautifully named yet dreadful Rainbow Valley.
The zone has taken the lives of many climbers turning itself into a more like graveyard. The cost of retrieving the dead bodies is very high and risky which results in increased number of casualties each time someone lose their life trying to live their dream of reaching the summit of the Everest.
However, the trek to Everest Base Camp and the desire to summit the Everest is yet a bucket list of the most curious trekkers and mountaineers. The thirst to experience the once-in-a-lifetime journey is awake in most people’s minds and each year at least 800 people try to summit the world’s highest majesty.
Most of them are able to conquer it while many return midways. But the worst part is at least one person out of 10 buries their dream with their body in the frosting climatic conditions and are deposited one above the other. Due to cold the dead bodies do not even decay and every time any traveler passes the Rainbow Valley, Mt Everest, they are compelled to see the dead bodies there.
Main Cause of Death in the Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest
Image Credit : https://www.kuow.org/stories/seattle-mountain-guide-returns-everest-death-zone
Mount Everest aka Sagarmatha is the majestic wonder that beckons adventurers and nature enthusiasts from all over the world. Despite harsh conditions, the beauty of Everest makes visitors feel like they are touching the heavens and that is what fascinates them to trek it most of the time. Not only do the snowcapped vistas offer an unparalleled experience of pure, unadulterated beauty that is tough to justify in words but the whole journey starting from the colorful prayer flags, awe-inspiring glaciers, and swift flowing and frozen rivers, provides a feast to the senses.
Rainbow valley lies above 8000 meters. As altitude increases, oxygen levels are insufficient to sustain human lives for extended periods. Additionally, exposure to stronger UV radiations, narrow trails, altitude sickness, freezing temperatures, and extreme weather are other added threats to trekkers above this point.
However, the adventurous beauty of Everest fascinates a large number of backpackers each year placing each step on plates of death and life. According to reports the majority of the deaths are caused by avalanches (41.6%) while 22.2% of the deaths on Mount Everest are due to acute mountain disease. Along with that falls and exhaustion is other added causes of death in the Everest climb. Due to these regions as of 2022, Rainbow Valley of Mount Everest is a place for over 200 dead bodies and the number is still ongoing.
What Happens to the Dead Bodies in Rainbow Valley Mt Everest?
The number of dead bodies in the Rainbow valley is still increasing and there is a high chance of the body to stay there forever. Not only the bodies are difficult to recover with the help of helicopters as high winds blow, but it is also almost impossible to send rescue troops because a single person is unable to help and multiple people can’t stay on the narrow trails at once.
Thus, the travelers are forced to push those bodies down to Rainbow valley which lies 1000 meters below the Everest summit. It sounds horrible but to clear paths, travelers have no other way then pushing those bodies down. Some themselves fall while being unable to save themselves from ruthless weather and situations making these corpses pile up one above another.
Why are Dead Bodies Piling Up in the Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest?
Mount Everest lies at much greater heights and the mount everest temperature is incredibly low. At higher altitudes the air becomes thinner, due to which the oxygen levels get dangerously lower leading to altitude sickness which can be fatal to human lives. People who end up dying in death zones fall to Rainbow Valley or on the trails leading toward the summit of the fascinating beauty of Everest.
The reason that dead bodies keep piling up in the rainbow valley of Mt. Everest is because it is not easy to bring back those bodies who have lost their lives in the mountain. The travelers who walk through the road are thus pushed to throw those bodies down to clear the way in order to move forward. It’s also impossible to even think using a helicopter at such greater heights as hurricanes winds make the situation terrible.
Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest Trekking Itinerary
Rainbow Valley in the Everest region or the death zone is the term used to describe the altitude above 8000 meters (26247 feet) where the amount of oxygen in the air is insufficient to sustain human life for a longer time. Although most climbers have successfully made it to the top breaking records over the years but climbing to this zone carries a significant risk of altitude sickness, hypoxia, and other life-threatening conditions.
Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world is located in the Himalayas and has an elevation of 8848 meters(20,029 feet). Climbing to the summit of Mount Everest requires careful planning, preparation, training, and strong determination. Travelers should also be well known about the urgent care required while traveling to the Everest region. It requires several weeks of acclimatization to progressively climb higher altitudes. Here’s a sample itinerary to Everest Base Camp through Mountain Valley:
Day 1-3: Arrive in Kathmandu. Obtain permits, meet with guides, Everest tour operators, and team members, and prepare proper gear.
Day 4-8: Travel to Lukla and begin trekking to Everest Base Camp lying at an elevation of 5364 meters.
Day 9-15: Rest and acclimatize at Everest Base Camp
Day 16-18: Climb to Camp 1 for acclimatization at an elevation of 6065 meters.
Day 19-23: Return to Base Camp for rest and recovery
Day 24-28: Climb to Camp 2 which lies at an elevation of 6500 meters for acclimatization
Day 29-33: Return to Base Camp for rest and recovery
Day 34-39: Climb to Camp 3 at an elevation of 7200 meters for acclimatization
Day 40-45: Return to Base Camp for rest and recovery
Day 46-52: Climb to Camp 4 and prepare for your final push to the summit of the world’s tallest mountain.
Day 52-54: Summit push to the top of Mount Everest and return to Camp 4
Day 55-59: Descend to base camp and begin your journey back to Kathmandu
While climbing to a higher elevation, it is very necessary to maintain our body temperature and make it able to survive ruthless situations. Thus, people who travel to Everest acclimatize as much as they can and travel slowly. Those who are unable to adapt to the climatic conditions even after acclimatization should immediately ask for help if they are traveling with a team or return as immediately as possible.
Are you looking for better options to explore while in Nepal? Just like the trek to Everest, Annapurna Circuit Trek, and Manaslu Trek are other options that might fit your go to list.
Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest Conditions
The death zone of Mount Everest lies above 8000 meters which are also known as Rainbow Valley because of the colorful litter and jackets of corpses that make it seem like rainbow colors. The conditions in this zone are harsh making it difficult for passengers to pass the trails without carrying oxygen.
At this level not only human body struggles to get enough oxygen, but cold temperatures and high winds make it challenging for climbers to see and navigate generating whiteout circumstances. The deadly combination of thin air, oxygen deprivation, and dehydration makes survival here difficult even for experienced climbers.
Thus, enough precautions are to be taken or the suggestions of expert Everest tour operators should be taken to minimize the occurrence of worst conditions and to be safe from one’s side.
You can also book a helicopter ride to Everest Base Camp and make your trip easier.
Survival on Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest
How hard it is to climb Mt Everest is yet an unanswered question because it mostly depends on people’s physical fitness, how mentally trained he/she is, what type of preparations have they done for their trek, and many more. But in cases you have made up your mind to reach the tallest peak in the world, you should be well prepared at least from your side. Here are some ways to survival while traveling to Everest:
- The first and foremost thing about embarking on a journey to Everest is to be physically and mentally fit. Thus, train yourself enough that your body can’t get tired even when you trek high altitudes straightforwardly.
- Buying the right gear is another important thing travelers shouldn’t skip. Your body will only be able to ride along with you if you take good care of it. Thus, buy gears that are comfortable and durable rather than expensive.
- Carry supplemental oxygen and stay hydrated to reduce the risk of altitude sickness
- Travel with experienced tour operators while traveling to Rainbow Valley Mt Everest. Experienced guides who are known for weather conditions, terrain, and necessary precautions are valuable support in case of accidents.
- Be aware of risks and pay strong attention to the details your body is showing. If you feel like your body is unable to adapt to the climatic conditions, do not push yourself further. Your life is far more valuable than the trek.
Popular Stories about Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest
Apart from being a magnificent and awe-inspiring mountain, Everest hides a lot of dark secrets that are hard to hear. It holds beautiful souls that have been through tragic incidents and lost their life forever:
Green Boots
Green Boots is the nickname given to a deceased climber whose body lies on Mount Everest. The name comes from the green climbing boots he was wearing when he died. Although the complete identity of the climber is not entirely known he is supposed to be an Indian climber named Tsewang Paljor. The incident happened in 1996 and the mountaineer was climbing with other two people however out of three only one of the dead bodies was found which was named Green boots.
The story of Green boots came to light in 2001 when one of the French climbers released his video footage. This was later used as a landmark when the dead body of another English climber David Sharp was found next to it. The place where he died is known as “Green Boots Cave” and is used as a common resting spot for climbers willing to trek Everest.
Many attempts have been made to remove the body of Green boots from Everest but none were successful. Thus it stays there serving as a symbol of his unsuccessful victory and the risks/concerns that might aware other climbers look up more for their safety.
However, now the body is not there the reports say, it might either have been covered by snow or somebody might have pushed it away but many climbers have seen its body there and is one of the common dreadful stories of Everest.
Sleeping Beauty of Mount Everest
Another popular but heart wrenching story about Everest is Sleeping Beauty. Despite the name, the ending is not beautiful as it sounds. Sleeping beauty is not about someone who is sleeping in peace but is a story of a lady mountaineer whose dead body looks like she is sleeping and yet is named Sleeping Beauty of Everest. Sleeping Beauty or Francys Arsentiev was the first American lady mountaineer who tried to climb Everest peak without carrying any oxygen. She and her husband both tried to climb Everest in 1998 but while at Camp 6 they both decided to stay for two days.
However, before a day of climbing the peak their oxygen supplement finished and they have to stay at the camp for more days. Later, her husband decided to travel back to the bottom while Francys did not let herself break down. She thought of giving her dream of summiting Everest one last try and started her journey with no supplement. Unfortunately, she couldn’t make it to the top and was found 1000 meters down from reaching the Everet. A group of Uzbek found her later and tried saving her but couldn’t and thus left her with some oxygen supplement. She died there in the sleeping position and thus got her name sleeping beauty everest.
Final Thoughts on Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest
The process of life and death is continuous and we cannot stop it. For most people surviving Everest is not just a test of the physical challenge but a dream they saw themselves conquering. This is why people try even without caring what the journey might bring.
Mount Everest is a wonder of the natural world, a symbol of human achievement, and a testament to the power of nature. It is a true wonder of the world that inspires awe and wonder in all who behold it. If you have a dream of being on the top, take your chances because you never know what tomorrow might bring to you. It might be a victory but be prepared enough for your journey.
FAQs of Rainbow Valley Mt. Everest
Dead bodies remain covered in colorful jackets of blue, red, orange, and green colors. These further include colorful tents, bags, dumps, cans, and oxygen tanks in the region as well. Since the area looks colorful like a rainbow even from a distance, it is popularly known as the Rainbow Valley of Mount Everest.
Dead bodies on Everest do not get a chance to decay as there is extreme cold. Thus, yes the body of green boots is still there on Everest, 25 years on. There is news that on a family’s request, someone actually buried the body in the stones and snow.
The death zone is considered as the area that lies above 8000 meters (26247 feet). Trekkers should carefully prepare their bodies for several weeks before they start their journey to Everest.