Deathzone
At the higher regions of Mount Everest, climbers seeking the summit typically spend substantial time within the "death zone" (altitudes higher than 8,000 m/26,246 ft), and face significant challenges to survival. Temperatures can dip to very low levels, resulting in frostbite of any body part exposed to the air. Since temperatures are so low, snow is well-frozen in certain areas and death or injury by slipping and falling can occur. High winds at these altitudes on Everest are also a potential threat to climbers.
Another significant threat to climbers is low atmospheric pressure. The atmospheric pressure at the top of Everest is about a third of sea level pressure, resulting in the availability of only about a third as much oxygen to breathe.
In May 2007, the Caudwell Xtreme Everest undertook a medical study of oxygen levels in human blood at extreme altitude. Over 200 volunteers climbed to Everest Base Camp where various medical tests were performed to examine blood oxygen levels. A small team also performed tests on the way to the summit.
Even at base camp, the low partial pressure of oxygen had direct effect on blood oxygen saturation levels. At sea level, blood oxygen saturation is generally 98% to 99%. At base camp, blood saturation fell to between 85% and 87%. Blood samples taken at the summit indicated very low oxygen levels in the blood. A side effect of low blood oxygen is a vastly increased breathing rate, often 8090 breaths per minute as opposed to a more typical 2030. Exhaustion can occur merely attempting to breathe.
Lack of oxygen, exhaustion, extreme cold, and climbing hazards all contribute to the death toll. An injured person who cannot walk is in serious trouble, since rescue by helicopter is generally impractical and carrying the person off the mountain is very risky. People who die during the climb are typically left behind. About 150 bodies have never been recovered. It is not uncommon to find corpses near the standard climbing routes.
Deathzone Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iipcKGgsg_Y&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA9ZiB20tt0&feature=relatedLESSON PLAN: Critical Thinking Component
Watch video of discovery
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFr1KdY6aiwRead the Account
climbing.about.com/.../ did-mallory-and-irvine-s...mt-everest-mysteryFacts
Body found face down in 1999 75 years on mountain
Skin bleached white, turned to leather, clothes ragged
27000 feet
No camera
Objects found in pocket/no picture of wife Ruth
Climbing axe nearby
Broken rope around waist/ rope burn on skin
broken right tibia and fibula
evidence of pick wound on forehead
climbing partner sighted below 27000 but no confirmation
no camera found
climbing pick found at 28000
both lasted sighted 600 feet from summit at 1250 pm moving up
clear weather
Pro...............Con................Neutral
Theorization
Develop your own theory on what you think might have happened and support it with evidence from the facts.
Discussion
Should someone who is the first to discover new territory be given credit for the discovery if they are unable to complete the journey at the time and the evidence of their presence is only discovered much later?