Our guide gestures to a red backpack lying in the distance.
"When finding a backpack in the Dead Zone of Everest, the climber's body is never far."The final 1 km before the summit is the most difficult, often taking over 12 hours to accomplish. Temperature here often reach less -50 °C, resulting in frostbite on any exposed body part. The oxygen level is here is only 1/3rd of sea level. Climbers have given it the nickname "Rainbow Valley" due to the many colourful bodies of climbers who have failed. At this altitude, it's every person for themselves. There is no help.
My Sherpa reassures me and I push on. The realization of my dream and my promise to my family are my motivation.
