Mount Everest is the highest place on Earth, and one of the most unforgiving.

Every year, hundreds of climbers spend tens of thousands of dollars attempting to reach the summit. But above 26,000 feet, in a place known as the Death Zone, the human body can no longer survive. Oxygen disappears. Judgment fades. And for many, the mountain becomes their final resting place.

In this episode of Macabre Mondays, we explore the real horror of Mount Everest: the frozen bodies that remain along the climbing route, how they become landmarks, and the unsettling normalization of walking past the dead. We tell the stories of Green Boots, Sleeping Beauty, and others who never made it back down, and examine the ethical weight of survival when rescue is often impossible.

We also dive into the eerie experiences reported by climbers: voices in storms, phantom companions, and the mysterious Third Man phenomenon. Are these moments the result of extreme altitude, or is Everest a place that holds onto those it claims?

This is not a story about conquering a mountain. It’s about what Everest takes and what it keeps.