Death Zone

When you climb Mt. Everest, as you get higher and higher, you enter the death zone.  The death zone is where most of the deaths when climbing Everest occur. It is called the death zone because temperatures drop sub zero and this causes frost bite.  Also you can get injuries, or possibly die,by slipping on the icy patches all over the mountain.  High speed winds are also a threat to climbers.  Low atmospheric pressure is another threat, if not properly equipped, you can die from lack of oxygen.  Even at the base camp, oxygen levels are still low. 

Climbing Routes

Mt. Everest has two main climbing routes, the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet.  But the southeast ridge is used more often is said to be easier to climb.  In 1996, the southeast ridge was the first found route to the top out of the 15 that have been found today.  Other routes up Mt. Everest include the South Pillar, the Southwest Face, the East Face, the North Face, and the West Ridge.

History of Everest

Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level at 29,029 feet.  In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of British India created the first published height of Everest.  This peak was known as Peak XV at 29,002 feet above sea level.  In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society.  There were also very many attempts to climb Everest.  In 1885, Clinton Thomas Dent said that climbing Everest was possible.  He stated this in his book he wrote called Above the Snow Line.  The first ever attempt to climb Everest was by George Mallery in 1921.