Rainbow Valley - Death Zone on the North Face of Everest

Last Updated: June 12, 2025

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Rainbow Valley might bring to mind a beautiful place with bright colours, green plants, ice, and peace. However, it is really a graveyard with hundreds of colorful corpses on Mount Everest.

If you have ever thought about climbing Mount Everest, it's important to learn about Rainbow Valley and its story. I am also planning to climb Everest by 2028 and have done research accordingly, which I have outlined in this guide.

About Rainbow Valley Everest

Rainbow Valley is located near Base Camp 4 on the route of the North Face of Everest, on the Tibetan side. It is at a height of over 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), just below the death zone.

Despite the beautiful name of Rainbow Valley Everest, it is actually the graveyard for many climbers who never made it back. While not all of them have died there, many of them died in the Death Zone area, where the path is so narrow that only one person can pass through it. And the lack of oxygen, freezing temperatures, and high wind makes that one of the dangerous places on the planet. Later, the bodies are pushed from the path or moved down to Rainbow Valley, from where they get the name the graveyard of Everest.

Rainbow Valley is known as the graveyard of many climbers, but not all of them have died there. Most climbers actually lose their lives in the Everest Death Zone, where the path is so narrow that only one person can pass at a time. The extreme cold and lack of oxygen cause many climbers to lose their lives. Afterwards, their bodies are moved down to Rainbow Valley to clear the path for other climbers, which is how it has earned its reputation as a graveyard.

Rainbow Valley got its name from the colourful jackets worn by lying dead bodies and the bright colours of the tents and cans dumped there. When seen from a distance, these colours like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet give a rainbow effect, which is why it’s called Rainbow Valley. Plus, the ice makes these colours appear brighter and more vibrant.

Bodies Left Behind on Everest

So far, more than 340 climbers have died in the Rainbow Valley area, but only about 100 bodies have been recovered. The remaining over 240 bodies are still there, permanently resting on Everest.

Only 30% of bodies are recovered because it is too dangerous and costly, costing over $70,000 to recover each body. In 1984, two Nepalese mountaineers lost their lives while trying to retrieve a dead body, showing that even money cannot guarantee a successful rescue.

A recent 54-day cleanup operation on Everest, led by the Nepal government and army, was only able to recover 4 dead bodies and 1 unidentified skeleton. This shows how difficult it is to bring bodies back from such challenging terrain.

Popular Demise Stories From Rainbow Valley

As mentioned before, there have been 100s of deaths there, and it’s not possible to include all stories here. So, I have included two well-known stories: the story of Francys Arsentiev and the Green Boots, which are mainly told to climbers at base camp to alert them.

1. Francys Arsentiev - Sleeping Beauty of Everest

Francys Arsentiev was the first American woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen on May 22, 1998. But unfortunately, she lost her life on the descent around Rainbow Valley at the age of 40.

That Rainbow Valley has become her final resting place for decades, and her body lies there like she is sleeping peacefully, which earned her the nickname “Sleeping Beauty of Everest”.

Francys's story is incredibly emotional and worth reading. I highly recommend reading the full story of the Sleeping Beauty of Everest, which I recently wrote. It will definitely inspire and motivate you.

2. Green Boots Everest

Green Boots Everest is another story of an unidentified body found in Rainbow Valley wearing green boots. Many sources claim that this famous body belongs to Sergeant Tsewang S. Paljor, of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). He was part of a six-member ITBP team that aimed to be the first Indian group to reach the summit of Everest without the help of Sherpas.

However, many sources also claim that Green Boots might actually belong to Dorje Marup, another member of the same ITBP team. Dorje was one of three team members who reached Everest on May 10, 1996, without the help of Sherpas, but tragically lost their lives during the descent.

The truth about Green Boots remains a mystery, but the story of the Green Boots and the ITBP team is truly inspiring.

Final Thought

Yes, the Rainbow Valley is a dark and challenging side of the Himalayas, but it can’t stop climbers from exploring Everest. The stunning beauty of Mount Everest still attracts thousands of climbers every year, who accept the challenges set by Rainbow Valley.

If you're an adventurous climber, you should definitely visit Everest at least once. If you're worried about reaching the summit, you can still trek to the base camp, where the risks are lower and helicopter rescues are available.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan your unforgettable trip to the base camp with Volunteer FDIP, a company with 11 years of experience and high ratings.

FAQ

Q1. Why is there no image of Rainbow Valley?

I tried to find an image of Rainbow Valley and even spoke to a previous climber, but I couldn't find one. The climber said that in Rainbow Valley, you cannot stay for even a few extra seconds. Surviving is the top priority there, and people avoid taking photos because they are focused on living in a moment that can be life or death.

Q2. What are the oxygen levels and temperature in the death zone of Everest?

In the death zone, the amount of oxygen is reduced by 80-85%, and the temperature drops below -30°C, which makes it very difficult to survive without supplemental oxygen.

Q3. Is Rainbow Valley visible from the base camp?

No, you can't see Rainbow Valley from the base camp; it's located near Camp 4. Only climbers who are ascending Everest from the North Face can see Rainbow Valley.

Q4. How long can you stay in the death zone on Everest?

Climbers should aim to stay in the death zone for only 16 to 20 hours. Some climbers have survived for 24 to 48 hours with a good amount of supplemental oxygen, but this is an exceptional case and not recommended for an average climber.