Everest as a dumping ground

I watched the film and thought it was sad. The abandonment of the dead was not so much of a shock, as it had been when I read about it first, in the novel White by Rosie Thomas.
The novel is vaguely similar to the film, but not connected, and in much more detail. It’s well worth a read.

Yes lots of points to be considered, still seems sad though but thanks for input all

Menopaws Bodies are often covered but it doesn't take long for the wind and shifting snow to uncover the bodies again. At the higher levels there are no stones just metres of snow, and the strength of winds near the top of Everest, would shift stones off a cairn as well. Some bodies do stay hidden for decades. The body of George Mallory, who died on Everest in 1924, was only found relatively recently.

Alison Hargreaves, who died on K2, also in the Himalayas, in 1995, was blown off the side of the mountain in a storm and her clothes, blown off her body by the intensity of the storm, were found before her body was seen. Her body has since been covered by more snow and ice and hasn't been seen since. It will probably reappear some time in the future

There is also the possibility that the bereaved relatives think that being on the mountain is what their climber loved one would have wanted?
The rubbish is another matter, what goes up should come down.
It never ceases to amaze me how many people want to climb the world’s dangerous mountains.

That's interesting Eglantine I really get that different countries and cultures have different understanding of death and also I think the fact that they died doing something so physically hard, which must be a massive dream so there is definitely respect to be given to the dead.i suppose in my mind I would like to see people who can't be moved to be given some sort of grave but with frozen land I guess the only possible thing is to cover them in stones.
Moveable stones not available in the most frozen parts and the exertion needed wouldn't be possible. Anyway interesting thoughts thanks

Umm, without wanting to sound like a knowitall ......
Whilst I was in Tibet (there I do sound like a knowitall!) one of the things I found hardest to come to terms with was their very different attitude to the disposal of bodies. As well as cremation there was sky burial which left the body open to the air for nature, animals, birds. The end of life sustaining the the renewal of life. There was also water burial which meant the body was given for fish to feed on.
I think they would see leaving bodies on the mountainside as a right and respectful thing to do.
As for the rubbish - that's another thing altogether!

I watched it and said to my husband (not DH, I'm still in a mood with him for not emigrating - different thread!) that people are left where they fall. He didn't believe me so I also googled for him to see. Its quite horrific but they do know what to expect should anything happen to them, and that's fine, but it is the rubbish that's left up there that shocked me. Ok they cant get bodies down as too dangerous being dead weight/frozen but an oxygen bottle? They carry them up with them, why not bring them back down? I was also surprised at just how many people want to climb Everest - looked like a never ending conga line in one photo!

I guess it's one of those problems which seem awful to us, but to the people who climb Everest it's just normal. The place is so dangerous, with brutal winds and sub-zero temperatures. The climbers risk death with every step they take, every breath is painful , they can barely think straight in that thin air . I just don't imagine that it would ever be a "good time" to collect the deceased bodies of the climbers who didn't make it . Those who climb Everest seem to regard the bodies as salutory reminders of the frailty of life - maybe that is how we should regard them too.