Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Summiting Everest was once the holy grail of mountaineering. And to many it still is, as more people are making the attempt than ever. Not everyone who tries the climb makes it home, but why? Here's why Everest is claiming so many lives.
Mount Everest is more than 29,000 feet tall, which might make you think most victims of the mountain die by falling. But that's only the second most common cause of death. According to the BBC, most people who die on Everest are killed in avalanches. The third most common cause of death on the mountain is exposure or frostbite, which accounts for around 11% of fatalities. Other causes of death include falling ice, rope accidents, pneumonia, or even drowning due to pulmonary edema.
Surprisingly, more people die on the way down from the summit than on the way up, and route preparation is dangerous, too. A total of 120 people have died while working on the routes, with a handful more dying at base camp, en route to base camp, or during an evacuation. So really, you're not safe anywhere on Mount Everest.
📼 Grunge youtube.com/channel/UCWlIGsKGsvgFJHkiZml4O1A
Summiting Everest was once the holy grail of mountaineering. And to many it still is, as more people are making the attempt than ever. Not everyone who tries the climb makes it home, but why? Here's why Everest is claiming so many lives.
Mount Everest is more than 29,000 feet tall, which might make you think most victims of the mountain die by falling. But that's only the second most common cause of death. According to the BBC, most people who die on Everest are killed in avalanches. The third most common cause of death on the mountain is exposure or frostbite, which accounts for around 11% of fatalities. Other causes of death include falling ice, rope accidents, pneumonia, or even drowning due to pulmonary edema.
Surprisingly, more people die on the way down from the summit than on the way up, and route preparation is dangerous, too. A total of 120 people have died while working on the routes, with a handful more dying at base camp, en route to base camp, or during an evacuation. So really, you're not safe anywhere on Mount Everest.
📼 Grunge youtube.com/channel/UCWlIGsKGsvgFJHkiZml4O1A
