Here’s a statistic that doesn’t get talked about: over 300 bodies are still on the mountain. They become landmarks. “Green Boots” is a famous corpse that marks a route. Morbid, right?
Retrieving bodies is stupidly dangerous and costs a fortune. Most families just leave them there. It’s not disrespect—it’s practicality.
So every year, the death count adds to that grim collection. Fresh bodies join the old ones. Everest becomes a cemetery you have to climb over.
Is It Getting Worse? (Spoiler: Yes)
The number of people attempting Everest has skyrocketed. In the 1990s, maybe 200 people tried per year. Now? Over 800 permits are issued annually. That’s a lot of bodies on a very narrow slope.
Death on Everest
More climbers means more traffic, more amateurs, and more stupidity. And yes, more deaths. The fatality rate has actually dropped slightly (better gear, better forecasts), but the absolute number of deaths has crept up.
You also have to factor in climate change. Melting glaciers make the Khumbu Icefall more unstable. Rocks fall more often. Paths shift. The mountain is literally falling apart under our feet.
