10 Mountain Climbing Disasters Deadlier Than The Everest Movie

The Mountain: Everest, the world’s tallest mountain above sea level

# of Deaths: 16

The Story: A Sherpa is typically the member of the expedition that does all the hard work, fixing ropes, carrying supplies and climbing ahead to establish camps for clients waiting below. Between 350 and 450 are hired per season, and they typically earn around $125 per climb per legal load, which is around 20 pounds. It is inherently risky work but also a way of life for a people with few other options.

Around 6:45 a.m. on April 18, 2014, a group of Sherpas reached a portion of Everest known as the "Golden Gate" which can only be crossed via ladder, one by one, but they were running behind schedule due to the weight of the supplies they were hauling. They arrived at the Gate at a point in the morning when rising temperatures increase the risk of shifts in the ice, and 16 of them ultimately died after a chunk of ice broke off and sent an avalanche down Everest’s south side, burying nearly 30 men. 13 of their bodies were found while 3 had fallen to a place deemed too dangerous to attempt a retrieval effort. Ironically, a second unit film crew was on hand picking up footage for Everest, and after the tragedy they broke off filming to offer their assistance.

Within weeks, the government and the Sherpas were fighting over the meager compensation being paid out to the victims' families, and the Sherpas refused to work on Everest for the rest of 2014. A month later, The Discovery Channel aired the 90-minute documentary Everest Avalanche Tragedy about the incident.