At an altitude of about 8,840 meters, Mount Everest is a lifelong dream destination for many climbers. However, the harsh survival conditions on the mountain have led to the deaths of numerous climbers, with around 200 bodies still remaining on the peak. Retrieving these remains is an extremely dangerous task that requires at least 10 local Sherpa guides to navigate treacherous weather and terrain just to bring down one body. This has sparked intense debate over whether it is worth risking Sherpas’ lives to recover the dead.
According to the Associated Press, the body of Indian climber Gautam Ghosh, who died near Mount Everest several years ago, was only airlifted to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu by helicopter on Sunday. His brother wept as he received the remains: “We can finally bring him home. Once his body is cremated, his soul can rest in peace, and our family can be at ease.” Three other bodies were also brought down the mountain along with Ghosh’s.
The body recovery operation was costly, funded by a grant of $92,000 USD (approximately NT$2.7 million) from India’s West Bengal state. Indian officials stated, “This is a very dangerous mission. It’s hard to find Sherpas willing to do it, but for the sake of the families of the deceased, we had to go ahead with it.”
The families of the deceased found solace in having the bodies recovered, but the act of transporting the corpses has long been highly controversial. Recovery teams mostly rely on local Sherpa guides, who face the same risks as other climbers—altitude sickness, frostbite, hypothermia, accidents, and avalanches. Moreover, most of the remains are located in the so-called "death zone" near the 8,840-meter-high summit of Everest, a low-oxygen area where survival conditions are extremely harsh.
The recovery process is incredibly difficult. Sherpas must first climb to the vicinity of Everest, where bodies that have been on the mountain for a long time are often buried under snow or even encased in ice. The Sherpas must then manually chisel the bodies out, wrap them in plastic sheeting and ropes, and drag them by manpower to Camp 2, which sits at around 6,400 meters and is accessible by helicopter. During this process, the bodies become heavier due to ice and snow, making an already extremely risky climbing mission even more perilous.
Sherpas bear the risks of the recovery process alone. Many climbers believe that those who attempt to climb Everest should be prepared for the possibility of not returning. They argue that it is unjust for families to seek emotional closure at the cost of exposing Sherpas to unacceptable risks. Ang Tshering, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, stated, “It’s simply not worth taking such risks. Bringing down one body requires at least ten people to put their lives on the line.” Local guide Eric Murphy also commented that if he were to die on the mountain, he would not want anyone to risk their life to bring his body down—it’s not worth it.
However, mountaineering expert Reinhold Messner believes that recovering bodies is ultimately better, as it helps preserve the mountain environment. Many climbers also feel that if Sherpas find the compensation acceptable and are willing to retrieve the remains, it is their choice to make.