Rainbow Valley: Inside Everest’s Deadly Death Zone

When you hear the name Mount Everest Rainbow Valley, you might imagine a bright, colorful valley full of life. The reality is far from that. Rainbow Valley is a graveyard high on Everest, where climbers who did not survive the summit or the descent remain.

Situated around 8,400 meters (27,560 feet) above Camp IV on the Tibetan side, the valley is haunting. Frozen bodies lie among tents, jackets, oxygen tanks, and climbing gear. The extreme cold preserves them, creating a grim display of color that gives the area its name.

This region is part of Everest’s notorious “Death Zone,” where oxygen is scarce, the air is thin, and even the most experienced climbers struggle to survive. Rescue is almost impossible, and one wrong step can be fatal. Rainbow Valley stands as a stark warning of the mountain’s dangers, known to mountaineers but absent from most maps.

This guide will explore what Rainbow Valley is, why climbers continue to perish here, and what makes the Death Zone one of the most unforgiving places on Earth.

Key Facts on Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley lies on the southwestern slope of Everest, between Base Camp and the summit.
The name comes from the colorful jackets, boots, climbing gear, and mineral-rich rocks in the area.
The valley features a mix of metamorphic rocks, sedimentary layers, and minerals producing reds, oranges, blues, greens, and purples.
Extreme cold, strong winds, and high altitude (around 7,000 meters / 23,000 feet) make climbing here very difficult.
Despite its grim reputation, Rainbow Valley offers a unique and striking view of Everest’s landscape.

Where Is the Death Zone on Mount Everest?

The “Death Zone” on Everest refers to the area above 8,400 meters (27,560 feet), where oxygen levels are too low for the human body to survive for long. This dangerous zone starts near the summit and extends thousands of feet downward.

Climbers face extreme physical challenges here, including acute hypoxia, which can cause confusion, drowsiness, or even death if not addressed immediately. Navigating the Death Zone requires careful preparation, experience, and caution. It is responsible for most of the fatalities on Everest.

Since records began, over 340 climbers have died on Everest, with many of the bodies remaining in Rainbow Valley. Only about 30 percent of these have been recovered, while the rest are still visible, frozen in place.

Why the Death Zone Is Called Rainbow Valley

Rainbow Valley gets its haunting name from the bright colors of climbers’ jackets, boots, and gear scattered across the frozen slopes. These vivid colors stand out against the icy landscape, marking the places where climbers fell. Extreme cold, low oxygen, and harsh weather mean that bodies and belongings often remain visible for years, creating the eerie spectrum that gives the valley its name.

At this altitude, rescuing the fallen is almost impossible. Simple tasks become exhausting, and attempting to move a body risks additional lives. As a result, most remains are left where climbers fell, serving as a sobering reminder of Everest’s dangers.

Why Climbers Die on Everest

Oxygen Shortage and High-Altitude Illness

Above 8,000 meters, the so-called Death Zone, oxygen levels drop to about a third of what we breathe at sea level. The body struggles to function, and climbers can suffer from acute mountain sickness, fluid in the lungs (HAPE), or brain swelling (HACE). Even with supplemental oxygen, poor decisions and slowed reactions are common, and those who cannot descend quickly may not survive.

Severe Weather and Sudden Storms

Everest’s weather can turn deadly in minutes. Fierce winds, whiteouts, and sudden snowstorms can leave climbers stranded or disoriented. Exposure to freezing temperatures often leads to hypothermia or frostbite, and many perish waiting for safer conditions to continue.

Falls, Slips, and Ice Hazards

Steep slopes, icy paths, and unstable ice walls make falling a constant danger. Avalanches, collapsing ice, and hidden crevasses claim many lives, especially in high-risk areas like the Khumbu Icefall. A single misstep can be fatal.

Exhaustion and Physical Collapse

Climbing Everest drains the body completely. Long hours, low oxygen, and freezing temperatures can sap energy even before reaching the summit. Many climbers collapse on the descent, too fatigued or weak to continue, turning a successful summit into a deadly ordeal.

Equipment Problems

Faulty or inadequate gear can be deadly. Running out of oxygen, losing a glove or crampon, or having broken ropes can turn minor issues into life-threatening emergencies in the Death Zone.

Famous Deaths in Rainbow Valley

1) Hannelore Schmatz

Hannelore Schmatz, a German mountaineer, became the first woman to perish on Mount Everest. In 1979, she and her husband set out to conquer the world’s tallest peak. They joined a group of six climbers and five Sherpas, successfully reaching the summit. However, the descent proved fatal for some. While most of the team returned safely, Hannelore and American climber Ray Genet did not. Exhausted after the climb, they chose to spend the night in the Death Zone alongside a Sherpa.

A severe snowstorm struck that night. Ray Genet succumbed to hypothermia before dawn, while Hannelore and the Sherpa survived. But at an altitude of 8,290 meters, Hannelore fell, resting against her backpack—and never rose again. Her final words were reportedly “water, water.” For years, her body remained on the mountain, her hair and clothing exposed to the harsh elements, visible to climbers passing by.

Tragically, attempts to recover her body also ended in disaster. Five years later, two climbers lost their lives while trying to bring her down, found entangled in their ropes. A year after that, powerful winds finally swept her remains over the ridge. Hannelore Schmatz’s story remains one of the most haunting and enduring tragedies in Everest’s history.

2) Green Boots

“Green Boots” is one of the most well-known and documented stories from Everest expeditions. The name comes from the body itself, which is seen wearing distinctive green boots and carrying oxygen tanks on its back. It is widely believed to be Tsewang Paljor, an Indian climber who went missing during his summit attempt in 1996.

Three climbers died in that tragic climb, but the bodies of the others were never clearly identified. The “Green Boots” body, however, remained in a small cave just below the summit. Over time, it has become an unintentional landmark for climbers, serving as a grim point of reference on the ascent. Around 80% of climbers pause at this cave to rest while making their final push to the top. Today, it stands as the most visible and infamous body in Everest’s so-called Rainbow Valley.

3) Sleeping Beauty

This is another well-known story from Everest Base Camp, centered on Francys Arsentiev, the first American woman to summit Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. The incident occurred on May 22, 1998. Francys and her husband approached the climb like any of their previous expeditions, and her ascent went smoothly. However, during the descent, she began to struggle with the extreme conditions and became trapped near the summit for three days without oxygen.

A rescue team eventually reached her, but she was barely breathing, severely frostbitten, and near death. The rescuers managed to rope her down as far as they could, but it became impossible to bring her further. Ultimately, she was left on the mountain, where she passed away. Her body was later found lying on her back, appearing as if she were asleep, which earned her the haunting nickname “Sleeping Beauty.”

Can Bodies Be Removed from Everest?

Retrieving bodies from Everest is a highly risky and complex task. The Death Zone’s harsh terrain, low oxygen, and severe weather make such operations dangerous. Despite these challenges, there have been organized efforts to clean the mountain and recover climbers’ remains.

2014 Cleanup Campaign – Nepalese authorities launched a mission to remove trash and locate bodies, relying on experienced Sherpas to navigate the Death Zone. Several climbers’ remains were successfully brought down, honoring those who had died.

2019 Green Boots Removal Attempt – The remains known as “Green Boots,” believed to belong to Indian climber Tsewang Paljor (1996), became a notorious landmark. Efforts were made to remove the body both out of respect and because it had become a grim waypoint for climbers.

2020 Cleanup Campaign – The Nepalese army and mountaineering groups organized a major operation focused on high-traffic areas like the summit and South Col. The team removed over ten tons of waste and recovered multiple bodies, highlighting the ongoing need to protect Everest’s ecosystem while paying tribute to lost climbers.