This book is an example of what can happen when an assumption is made.
According to this there are about 200bodies on everest.
that site also claims of the 1,000 who attempt to climb every year about 15-20 die.
I arrived in Nepal with a goal of only getting to the Everest Base Camp area. It was the middle of winter, but there hadn’t been much snow. I was in my 20’s and in good physical condition running 30 minute 5 mile runs without a problem. Plenty of stair work at the nearby stadium as well.
I hiked in from Lamasungu because I wanted to follow the same trail as Hillary. (Most people fly much of the way to the Everest area and start at the airport in Lukla, “only” a 4 or 5 day trek to Base Camp.) I also figured this gradual ascent would help with acclimation. I took 24 hour breaks at 12,000’ and 14,000’ like I was told to in the guide books. Finally I made in to the last hamlet (Loboche) at 16,000’. The next morning I started out for Kala Patar, the famous Everest lookout point (18,000’).
Things went well, but when I got to about 17,500’, around the base of Kala Patar, the altitude really started to kick my ass. After every 3 or 4 steps I’d have to sit down. I only made it to the top because I heard the 2 guys I met in Loboche talking just about 20 feet above me. They had made it to the top. I felt like I had a real bad case of the flu, but it cleared up soon after I started down.
I don’t know how people make it to the top of Everest, but my experience in Nepal gives me a great appreciate of what they have done.