Rainbow Valley Everest – Death Zone of Mount Everest

Rainbow Valley Everest, known as Sleeping Beauty, is one of the Khumbu region’s most beautiful yet deadliest parts. It takes one with expertise and bravery to get past the area. Likewise, not everyone can get through the lethal nature of Rainbow Valley. However, it is best known for its snowy beauty, which ultimately becomes the highlight of the Mount Everest region. From blue and clear skies to wild glacial pathways, you are in for a ride if you want to visit Rainbow Valley in Everest anytime soon.

There have been several mountaineers or adventurers who have made an attempt to get through the valley and have failed in their tries. Hence, so much is there to learn about this valley before he braces himself to the trek’s dangers and challenges.

Make sure to read till the end of this article if you want to learn more about Rainbow Valley in Everest!

Rainbow Valley Everest – Death Zone of Mount Everest

Rainbow Valley Everest is also known as the death zone of Mount Everest for numerous regions. It can be impossible for beginners or those unprepared to get past this valley, at least without facing difficulties. In addition, even the most experienced mountaineers can have trouble going through the trails of Rainbow Valley in the Everest region.

On the surface, it may seem that Rainbow Valley is indeed a location that will give you the adventure of a lifetime, and it sure will. The adventure, whatsoever, will be mixed with a deadly journey that you’ll remember for a lifetime. There is no exaggeration in what we say because the history of mountaineering is proof of this. Plus, there is a good reason why the valley is called Mount Everest’s “death zone”!

There have been several deaths in the Death Zone of Mount Everest. That said, you are likely to find bodies of dead travelers on your way. Since 1922, it is said that at least 300 people have died in the region. All these trekkers or mountaineers were there in an attempt to complete a journey that would be the finest and most difficult one in their lives. Sadly, not everyone who went there could make it out alive.

Where is Rainbow Valley on Everest?

There has been an increase in mountaineers who have wished to explore Mount Everest and areas left unclimbed and unexplored for several years. Among these isolated regions, Rainbow Valley is a popular one. For those wondering where the Rainbow Valley is in Everest, it is situated above 8000m(26,247ft). Anywhere you go above this height is considered a death zone. There is no exact valley for you to consider other than the height.

The higher you go, the closer you come to the death zone. It is hazardous to reach a height beyond 8000 m above sea level on Mount Everest. At this point of the mountain, there is a record of 200 confirmed deaths. As for the deaths that have not yet been recorded or confirmed, the number is higher. Getting lost after crossing the Rainbow Valley is not surprising, given the mountaineering history on Mount Everest.

The oxygen level at Rainbow Valley Everest is only one-third of the average.

Henceforth, anyone willing to go there without adequate preparation is likely to suffer and may be in danger of succumbing to the sickening conditions in the mountain. It is suggested that all mountaineers, experts, and those with lesser expertise in the eight-thousanders carry oxygen cylinders to conquer the Rainbow Valley of Everest.

Mountaineers are not meant to stay at an altitude for too long; the longer they wait, the more they suffer.

Another backside of this location is that, during peak seasons, the route is crowded by trekkers and mountaineers. This makes it more challenging for you to avoid queues. Staying in a queue at a height as tall will bring the most possibility of mountaineers suffering from altitude sickness and even death. Conversely, mountaineers are least likely to find proper accommodation in mountainous areas during non-peak seasons. They will have to undergo even worse weather conditions and a more significant possibility of becoming a victim of avalanches. Either way, Rainbow Valley is deadly for the mountaineers. Much of the reason for this is the location’s height.

Bodies in Rainbow Valley Everest: Reasons Why They Are Piling Up With Time

In the past, there was less awareness about mountaineering activities on Mount Everest. With globalization and awareness about adventure, more people are looking to explore deadly and adventurous locations. In this process, many have been the victims of the deadliness of Rainbow Valley Everest.

Mount Everest is the last place on Earth where you’ll find a safe space to rest or settle during the journey. A small moment of mishap can lead to death. As it has been said for almost a century, the mountain is ruthless and never forgiving. You can be trying your best to keep yourself safe and alive, but you’re just as likely to suffocate to death in the Rainbow Valley.

As colorful as the name of the death zone sounds, the location contradicts its name. Further, in the past, there used to be fewer mountaineers who would come to Mount Everest. Many have died and disappeared in the peaks, and the count is still on. There used to be fewer bodies in the past, as mountaineering had just about gotten popular after the 1950s. As of the current time, the bodies are piling up as more have been added to what already existed in the past.

The bodies are just as expensive to recover from the mountain. Climbing Mount Everest alone can be very expensive. Not everyone can afford the fees, and most mountaineers have to raise donations and funds to secure their dreams of reaching the highest peak in the world. Additionally, if a mountaineer dies in the process, retrieving his body from the mountain will take 70K USD, which is a highly hefty amount.

Besides just the money factor, it may become impossible or at least extremely tough for a helicopter rescue to take place that high on Mount Everest. It is not easy to undergo the strong wind capacity as there is in the mountains. Even when a helicopter manages to reach the height where the body is navigated, the vastness of the hill makes it challenging to find it right away. It also takes more than just a person or two to look for the dead bodies. And this would also mean that in search of someone who already may have been dead, those who are alive will be risking their lives.

When a mountaineer does not return from the Rainbow Valley, the community makes the worst assumptions. Therefore, whoever gets lost in the mountain is deemed dead. To avoid the hassle that comes with finding a body on Mount Everest, bodies are left as they are. Further, bodies tend to rot in the Rainbow Valley. It is evident from the science of nature that bodies stay intact and well-kept in the mountains as they are frozen and pale, devoid of rotting too soon.

This is why mountaineers are discovering many bodies from several years ago. With growing activities in the mountains, travelers are also discovering more accessible and newer routes compared to the past. This has made it possible for them to stumble upon bodies that got lost years ago.

Causes of Death In Rainbow Valley Everest

There are so many reasons why mountaineers, even with years of experience in climbing eight-thousanders, pass away when they are in Rainbow Valley Everest. There is more than a single risk factor in the mountains. The following are some of the main causes as to why Rainbow Valley has led to deaths in Everest:

 Altitude Sickness

It is natural for a human body to stop habituating to higher altitudes, especially if it comes from a place that is not as high in altitude. A person whose body is used to being accommodated to altitudes that are considered normal cannot remain comfortable or even alive for long after crossing a certain altitude. Rainbow Valley is above 8000m, which is extremely tough compared to the average altitude where humans can suffice comfortably, which is 4000m or even less.

Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, and no elevation is as tall as the Rainbow Valley. Hence, it is normal for one to suffer from altitude sickness. While many people tend to get sick after altitude sickness, they might recover with immediate treatment. As opposed to this, when someone suffering from altitude sickness does not get immediate treatment, as is the case for mountaineers going to the Rainbow Valley, it becomes impossible for them to stay alive for too long.

The immediate remedy for altitude sickness is to descend. But even when a mountaineer attempts to descend from Rainbow Valley in Everest, he won’t make it too far downwards. Minor first aid tips don’t always work in the favor of the mountaineers, either. Though it may keep them breathing for a short term, they won’t achieve anything worthwhile in the long run.

 Avalanches

Avalanches are dangerous and deadly, even. When you are in the lower regions of Mount Everest, you will come through locations where you cannot avoid the crusts of mountains and melting glaciers. This may or may not be deadly, though very dangerous. But, as you ascend higher in the Mount Everest region, you will keep coming through locations where avalanches are unavoidable. Even when sleeping, you’ll have to sleep with an eye open. You never know when you’ll become the victim of an avalanche.

Rainbow Valley is best known for avalanches as well. You cannot avoid accidents when trying your best because the mountain overpowers mere humans. There have been several mountaineers in history who have passed away simply because of avalanches. This has to do nothing with a traveler’s capacity as a mountaineer or an adventurer. A small human body does not amount anywhere as strong as the powerful pull of snow and glacial parts above the grounds on Mount Everest.

 Acute Mountain Diseases

Among many conditions and circumstances that are unavoidable in the mountain, acute mountain diseases are major ones. As much as mountaineers may try to get themselves out of situations where they cannot avoid extreme conditions in the surroundings, acute mountain diseases will become the reason for death on the journey. As is the case for altitude sickness, you cannot avoid diseases and rush down the mountain immediately when you suffer from them.

The victim will endure until he is unable to bear the pain of the disease anymore. Some of the most common acute mountain diseases include acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). When mountaineers suffer from these diseases in the Rainbow Valley, they panic, with survival in mind. This, in turn, makes their condition worse.

Acute mountain diseases tend to worsen when you rapidly reach the mountain upwards. Lack of proper respiration and stormy conditions on the hill for a human being leads to the mountaineer eventually passing out and then passing away due to their sickness.

 Fall From The Mountain

Mountaineers also tend to fall from the mountain as they lose control of their bodies. Getting tired and losing control mindlessly is another sad yet unavoidable element among mountaineers who climb the eight-thousanders. In the case of the Rainbow Valley, you cannot keep going without losing control of your mind and body now and then. There is too much one needs to focus on, and, with a worsening mental and physical state, either becomes difficult.

Many victims of Mount Everest have fallen to death when they’ve lost balance as well. Since the trails are incredibly slippery and not made for walking, falling is pretty standard among all the accidents in Rainbow Valley. Also, the higher you go to the peak, the steeper the roads ahead of you get. This is why travelers head straight from the trails to reach the peak. Some even pass away when they descend. Others have disappeared after they fall from a height.

Exhaustion

When travelers or mountaineers are exhausted from walking upwards for days, it is normal for them to pass out and then die due to suffocation in high-altitude regions. Exhaustion is a leading reason why many mountaineers tend to rest in the middle of the mountain, not considering the death that may be waiting for them. These mountaineers do not always get the chance to think about their surroundings.

Temporary rest can lead to permanent death. But in the mountains, especially in the Rainbow Valley, many mountaineers tend to risk it all because the exhaustion is beyond anything you would have gone through in your entire life. Those who can go through the exhaustion and still push through might make it out alive, but that is also a thin and possible chance.

Snowstorm

Mountaineers may be well prepared for the journey ahead of them. On top of this, they may just be trained in mountaineering. But they will never be stronger than the snowstorm that may blow their bodies away. Regardless of which season you choose for mountaineering, especially to the Rainbow Valley, when you have to overcome snowstorms, the chances of survival are thin to impossible.

While it cannot be confirmed before you even start your journey if you’re going to face a snowstorm, since nature is unpredictable, it is often unavoidable, though not an occurrence guaranteed beforehand. The vital force of the snowstorm will bring you down to the extent that it would be tough to make it either backward to the place you’ve started or to the same place you had successfully ascended before. Mountaineers have passed away in the Rainbow Valley Everest because they could not withstand the strength of snowstorms.

Why Is Rainbow Valley Called So?

Given the deadly nature of Rainbow Valley, also known as Death Zone, and for legitimate reasons, you may be shocked and even curious as to why the valley is named after Rainbow, which is antonymous from the ruthless nature of the mountains. However, the truth is far from the literal meaning of the Rainbow.

The Rainbow Valley’s appearance has given it its name. Though dangerous, it is very bright, just like a rainbow. When you’re above 8000 m on Mount Everest, you can see a tint of brightness that resembles rainbow colors. As we’ve mentioned, the region is as beautiful as it is lethal.

Another scarier and disturbing truth behind the name has to be the colors of the jackets worn by dead mountaineers. Mountaineering jackets are often the colors of a rainbow, including red, orange, blue, and green. When you visit the region, you will find these colors everywhere. Since it is one of the highest altitudes on Mount Everest, there is no region where you will find more colorful jackets of the dead mountaineers as you do in Rainbow Valley.

These colors directly indicate how deadly the place can be. In other words, there is a good reason why Rainbow Valley in Everest and Death Zone in Everest have different names. Although they may sound like they mean different things, they indicate the same meaning.

Mount Everest Sleeping Beauty in Rainbow Valley Facts

Mount Everest’s Rainbow Valley is just as famous for its sleeping beauty. Suppose you are from the mountaineering community or have just about started your journey as a mountaineer or an adventurer. In that case, you may have heard about sleeping beauty resting on Mount Everest. Several facts about her may interest you. Sleeping Beauty was one of the victims of the ruthless nature of Rainbow Valley.

 Who is Sleeping Beauty in Rainbow Valley?

The sleeping beauty in Rainbow Valley does not refer to a location but to a mountaineer who had passed away during her journey to the peak of Mount Everest. Her story is rather tragic and disturbing, though she had been considered a sleeping beauty in the mountains since she passed there. She was Francys Arsentiev, an American female climber.

Francis had been given the name after she had been discovered in a frozen cave during an early north-pole expedition. She was also the first American woman to climb the tallest mountain in the world without supplemental oxygen. While high in brave spirits, she did make it to the Rainbow Valley rather successfully despite the inhumane conditions of the peak. But, her body could not overpower her spirits. She lost her life while trying to reach her dreams. Francis succeeded in becoming the first woman from her country to do what she was aiming for, but she could not return home to celebrate her success.

To this day, she lies in the Rainbow Valley, which signifies her bravery and the tragedy that she went through. Since she was found in a sleeping position with her eyes closed, it was hard to tell, at first glance, whether she had been dead or simply sleeping. But, it was obvious for those who found her to declare her death since the adverse mountain surrounding would not have kept her alive for so long. On top of that, though she looked normal, she had gotten pale and cold beyond imagination, having been frozen in the icy mountain region for too long.

 Who Was With Sleeping Beauty During Her Mount Everest Ascend?

Another question many ask is whether or not Francis had been alone during her journey. She was not alone. Her husband, Sergei Arsentiev, had been with her. The couple decided to climb Mount Everest from Tibet at the same time. During the journey, Francys separated from her husband. Since the conditions of Mount Everest, especially past the death zone, are not the most favorable to keep fellow mountaineers together for too long, the couple had to focus on their stances and every move they made rather than think about the other one.

Sergei wanted to complete his ascent when he separated from his wife. Hence, he ascended and returned to her rescue. While what may have gone through Francys during her time high in the mountain will remain a mystery, it can be concluded that she had not been alone during the journey.

 What Happened to Sleeping Beauty’s Husband?

What happened to Sergei Arsentiev, a Russian mountaineer who was also the husband of Sleeping Beauty, is just as tragic. Sergei had lost his wife in the mountains. While each had been focused on their journey to an extent in the mountains, they lost one another and realized that only later. Sergei had started looking for his wife until he also succumbed to the conditions of the wild mountain. He took aid from supplemental oxygen while trying to find her.

Unfortunately and very tragically so, the couple never found their way back to one another alive. Instead, one got the title “Sleeping Beauty,” while the other was named “Snow Leopard.” Both are popular in mountaineering history, and adventure enthusiasts worldwide remember them as a brave couple with a shared dream who conquered as they could but did not make it out of the Rainbow Valley. Similarly, the couple had a son who they left orphaned after their tragic end in Mount Everest.

 Who Found Sleeping Beauty And Her Husband?

The couple were found, though both at different times. An Uzbek team of mountaineers found a sleeping beauty when she was half alive. They wanted to help her, but the intense cold and worsening mountain conditions held them back. The mountaineers, whatsoever, tied her with a rope in hopes of at least helping her body be found later.

Reportedly, the sleeping beauty uttered, “Don’t “Don’tme. Don’t lDon’tme alone, please,” to the” mountaineers who found her before she passed. Her husband, Sergei, was found in 1999.

Why Was Francys Called Sleeping Beauty?

Francy’s end is as enjoyable as why she got named Sleeping Beauty. As beautiful as she was, the mountaineer was found in a dead state when her body had already gotten waxy. When she was found, she looked stunning, as if she had been sleeping, waiting for someone to get her.

And yes, to this day, her body remains in Mount Everest Everest’s Valley, which is why she is called the “Sleeping Beauty of Rainbow Valley.” Her father looked alive and as if she were not dead, though she was for an extended period, which is why she was named so.

While her husband was found earlier in 1999, she was found much later by Ian Woodall and Conrad Anker, who captured her and gave her a burial as a tribute to her patience in the mountain and for all that she had endured waiting for her husband and at least for another mountaineer to save her.

Who Are Other Famous Mountaineers In Rainbow Valley?

Besides Sleeping Beauty, several other mountaineers are still stranded as dead bodies in Rainbow Valley, including Green Boots and Hannelore Schmatz. Both the mountaineers are victims of the death zone, as was Francis.

Hannelore was a German mountaineer. It was 1979 when she and her husband decided to summit Mount Everest. The couple joined 5 Sherpas in their journey. During a snowstorm, the couple slept in the death zone, hoping to get rest for the journey ahead. While her husband died of hypothermia, she fell from the mountain and never woke up.

As for Green Boots, the story of the mountaineer never dies and has become popular among mountaineers throughout generations. The body of Green Boots belongs to Indian mountaineer Tsewang Paljor, who has been on Mount Everest since he passed in 1996. The young mountaineer left the base camp without notice; not everyone knew when he went to summit the peak. David Sharp, a Chinese mountaineer, had been initially confused with Green Boots, but the fact was later proven, as it was revealed both of them were wearing green boots, and the body belonged to Tsewang and not David.

Paljor faces the summit, and his corpse has now become the landmark of the North Everest trail. It is believed that he had been ascending alone before passing away. French climber, Pierre Paper discovered Paljor’Paljor’snd made the first filmed video of the corpse in 2001. The body is still on Mount Everest wearing Green Boots to this date.

What Should You Keep in Mind If You’re You’reng to Visit Rainbow Valley Everest?

Few mountaineers would consider the Rainbow Valley when they plan to summit Mount Everest. But if you are anywhere near planning to summit Everest, then Rainbow Valley or the Death Zone in Everest must be considered before you proceed towards the journey. There is no way for you to avoid Rainbow Valley if you want to summit Mount Everest.

Different ways for you to succeed in your journey and tips to keep in mind when you’re on your Mount Everest summit are as follows:

 Be Positive

You must be positive during your journey to Rainbow Valley Everest. If you want to summit, you cannot avoid specific pathways, including Rainbow Valley, but having a positive mindset and hoping to conquer is crucial. Make sure not to let your guard down as you pass corpses on your way. The situations may have been different for the mountaineers, and aside from being careful, keeping an optimistic mindset will help you succeed and return from the mountain well.

 Carry Enough Oxygen Cylinders

Make sure you are carrying enough oxygen cylinders. Not holding them will lead to severe accidents and even fatal ones. Hence, you can avoid all that, no matter how expert you are in mountaineering, by carrying oxygen cylinders. Many mountaineers with expertise think they can make it to Everest without an oxygen cylinder and come back alive. These mountaineers rarely have made it back alive.

Avoid overconfidence and opt for safer ways because the journey is difficult. Any mountaineer looking to set records with exceptional achievements that do not carry supplemental oxygen is far from the recommendation of experts.

 Hire Porters and Guides

Do not ascend or descend alone. It is safer and better to be late than never return home. When you rush into the mountains, you tend to throw yourself into the mouth of danger. Avoid that at all costs. From falling to becoming victims of chronic mountain illnesses, walking too fast and all alone without guidance should be avoided at all costs.

Hiring porters and guides is way cheaper than causing your life to end with a brief moment of bravery. Porters will carry your load while guides will thoroughly take you through the best possible pathways. You won’t have to suffer during your journey to navigate either. Further, the guides will help you fix supplemental oxygen, help you in case you cannot ascend properly, and give you all the knowledge you’ll need during the ascent.

Ascend In a group

Besides hiring porters and guides, one becomes just as necessary to ascend in a group. Group mountaineering is famous because you can network with fellow mountaineers and connect with them during the journey. It is also the only safer way to ascend the peak. When you climb Mount Everest alone, you will likely fall victim to the harsh conditions.

Risking one’s life intentionally must be avoided at one’s cost. Groups often make it possible for mountaineers to climb without the risk of being stranded alone in the mountains, and fellow mountaineers can also help each other during times of need.

Practice Adequately Beforehand

You cannot rely on your trekking experience to conquer locations that are not even half as difficult as Mount Everest. Mountaineers can also practice by trekking to an area that is easier yet close to being as tricky as Everest. Practice makes you perfect, and you can only climb Mount Everest successfully by practicing adequately before starting your journey. Pro tip: Keep your body active, and do not make it comfortable, uncomfortable, or inactive, as it may adversely affect your performance in the mountain.

Stay Prepared For Difficulties

As a mountaineer, you must always be prepared for the difficulties ahead. Being too assured of not facing challenges or having too much confidence in yourself can often lead to disasters, and you would want to avoid that at all costs.

From altitude sickness to the possibility of falling from the mountain when you’re not careful enough to be buried under glaciers, you must be aware of you’re trekking the Rainbow Valley. You need to be just as aware of the bodies you see on your way without fearing the worst.

Take Adequate Equipment and Supplies

Take adequate equipment and supplies with you on your journey to Mount Everest. Without supplemental oxygen and enough gear, including ropes, poles, headlights, and proper clothing and shoes, you may suffer before you even reach Rainbow Valley.

Not carrying enough equipment and supplies may mean you’ll have to return to the base

camp as you won’t be able to make further ascent to the peak. Stay prepared. Not only will you be okay but also in terms of resources.

Choose the Best Time To Visit

Another major part of making it to the Everest Rainbow Valley is choosing the best time to ascend. There is no better time than spring to trek to the mountain. Choosing winter, summer, or monsoon can lead to tragic ends. You cannot miss out on the beauty of the mountains, flora, and fauna, as well as clear skies followed by perfect weather for mountaineering during spring. Except for spring, other seasons won’t give you as much advantage as a trekker.

Conclusion

Compared to the past, there has been much improvement in mountaineering facilities around Rainbow Valley, Everest. With the help of experienced guides and porters by your side, things have never been easier. But there is a significant likelihood for you to be stranded in the mountains if you’re not careful enough. You should avoid the death zone, especially if you are a beginner and do not have your own. As easy as it may look for even an expert to conquer the Rainbow Valley journey, it is unimaginably brutal!