5 surprising facts about Mount Everest most climbers won’t tell you

Reaching for the skies at an incredible height of 8,848.86 metres above sea level, the highest point on earth attracts hundreds of adventurers every year. From haunting landmarks formed by fallen climbers to surprising geological truths about the mountain itself, Everest holds stories that are rarely highlighted in travel brochures or inspirational climbing tales. Here are five interesting facts about Mount Everest that no one talks about.

One of the most unsettling yet rarely discussed places on Everest is something climbers sometimes refer to as Rainbow Ridge. This name comes from the colourful climbing jackets and gear worn by mountaineers whose bodies remain on the mountain after fatal expeditions. Because of the extreme altitude, freezing temperatures, and dangerous terrain, recovering bodies from Everest is incredibly difficult and risky. Over the decades, many climbers who lost their lives on the mountain have remained where they fell, especially in the high-altitude “death zone” above 8,000 metres. From a distance, the bright gear creates a striking but tragic sight along certain sections of the climbing route.

Although it may sound surprising, Everest is not a static mountain. It continues to rise taller every year due to geological activity. The location of the mountain is on the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates. These two plates are still colliding, causing the Himalayas to rise taller. Even though the earth sometimes erodes the mountains, causing the height to decrease, the general trend is rising. The most recent official height measurement—8,848.86 metres—was jointly announced by Nepal and China in 2020 after years of surveys and debate.

Above 8,000 metres lies what climbers call the Death Zone, where oxygen levels drop to roughly one-third of what is available at sea level. In this area, the human body starts to deteriorate quickly. Even an experienced climber will find it challenging to do normal activities. Simple activities like walking, thinking, and adjusting gear will be exhausting. At times, it can even cause altitude sickness, frostbite, or life-threatening conditions like cerebral and pulmonary edema.

The rock that forms Mount Everest was once part of an ancient sea floor, known as the Tethys Ocean. Today, proof of this fact is still visible at the summit of Everest. Fossils of ancient sea creatures have been found by scientists near the summit. These fossils reveal that the mountain’s highest rocks were once underwater before tectonic forces pushed them upward during the formation of the Himalayas.

Another reality that many people don’t imagine is that Everest can sometimes get crowded. During favourable weather windows in the climbing season, dozens of climbers may attempt the summit at the same time. Due to the narrow sections along the way to the top, climbers are sometimes forced to wait their turn to ascend. This can prove extremely dangerous since, at the Death Zone, every extra minute increases the risk of exhaustion or running out of oxygen. In recent years, pictures of large queues at the top of the mountain have led to international debates about overcrowding and the environmental impact of climbing the mountain.