Talk To An Expert ( Prakash Lamsal )
Talk To An Expert ( Prakash Lamsal )
Hey folks, you know how everyone talks about Mount Everest, right? It’s the highest mountain in the world, reaching 8,848.86 meters, and it's famous for its stunning views, beautiful forests, icy waterfalls, and impressive glaciers. Every year, thousands of adventurers go there, creating unforgettable memories as they trek through its breathtaking landscapes.
But not every story from Everest is happy. I want to share a sad and tragic story of a brave trekker named Francys Arsentiev, often called the "Sleeping Beauty" of Everest.
Her journey was filled with struggle, and it ended tragically as she fought for her life on the way back from the peak. It’s a tough story, but it’s important to remember the risks that come with chasing such incredible beauty.
Let me tell you a story about a remarkable woman named Francys Arsentiev. Born on January 18, 1958, in Hawaii, she deeply loved climbing mountains. From a young age, she dreamed of reaching the top of every mountain in the world. With her husband, Sergey, by her side, she achieved many of her goals, climbing peaks all over the United States.
But her biggest dream was to conquer Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen.
In May 1998, Francys and Sergey joined a team to tackle Everest. Francys was known for her incredible courage and determination, which earned her the nickname "Sleeping Beauty" of the mountain. This title reflects not only her beauty but also her unwavering spirit and ambition.
Tragically, things took a turn for the worse on their descent. The weather changed dramatically, and without extra oxygen, they faced a dire situation. Francis found herself stuck on the mountain for days, struggling to survive. Despite her exhaustion and the heartbreaking separation from her husband, she kept fighting.
Francys made it to the summit, an incredible feat considering the thin air at that height. It’s something most people could never even dream of doing. But that victory came with a heavy price. She became trapped on the mountain, unable to escape.
When she was finally found, she looked peaceful, almost as if she were asleep and beautiful in the harsh landscape. This heartbreaking scene left an indelible mark on all who heard her story. Francys Arsentiev will always be remembered as the "Sleeping Beauty of Mount Everest," a tribute to her courage and the first American woman to climb Everest without oxygen.
Her journey is a mix of triumph and tragedy, reminding us of the passion that drives us and the risks that come with chasing our dreams.
In her final moments, Francys Arsentiev was scared, alone, and struggling to breathe in the mountains. Francis Arsentiev's last words were: "Don’t leave me, don’t leave me alone, please." Just imagine the heartbreak and fear she felt, knowing she was slipping away from everyone she loved. It’s a haunting reminder of her courage and the deep loneliness she faced in those final moments.
Such treks as Everest are perilous at such altitudes. Francys was a brave and passionate climber, but the altitude and brutal weather got the better of her. It only got worse, though; she then developed hypothermia and symptoms of frostbite. She died a slow and painful death, and her ability to reason was slowly diminishing. The thin air, lack of oxygen, and poor visibility were contributing factors to her death in 1998. Francis Arsentiev, known as “Sleeping Beauty, is now considered a brave girl who fought danger.
However, it is not safe at all to climb mountains without oxygen. As we know oxygen is the air that we breathe, the same way all living things require oxygen to exist. This is especially true every time you get too high up; the air is less, and this may make you very sick and even die instantly. I get it messed up. Lots of climbers attempt to get to the summit without further oxygen and regrettably pass away.
Even though the “Sleeping Beauty ” ascended without oxygen, she could not exist. This is why it is extremely important to have extra oxygen on you when climbing.
I think that your life is important and you should do everything to keep yourself healthy.
This is because the routes on the Mountain are rigid and the climate in the region is also a major concern. Just the altitude is high enough to make people gasp for air. There were many difficulties that Francys had to overcome, such as feeling tired, lack of oxygen, being separated from her husband, and insomnia.
But throughout it all she was still dwelling on the possibility of going back to her husband and son.
One could only imagine how she must have felt up there on that mountain all through without anyone to assist her. The mountains are/should be very stable and cannot alter, but the weather is always very volatile. There was a lot of snow, and the cold was not making things any easier.
However, on May 24, 1998, terrible grief occurred that the inaccessibility of climbing taught everybody how dangerous it may be. It made many people feel frightened about getting to the top.
“Sleeping Beauty of Mount Everest” was rescued in 2007. This was part of a project called “Tao of Everest,” led by Cathy O’Dowd and her husband Ian Woodall. They also helped recover other climbers who had died on the mountain, like Green Boots and David Sharp, so they could have proper burials.
The story of this rescue is inspiring. In May 1998, Ian and Cathy were climbing Everest for the second time when they saw Francys. She was very weak and couldn’t move well. The couple wanted to help her, but the bad weather forced them to leave and continue down the mountain.
They always felt sad about not being able to help her then. Later, Ian decided to lead a project to bring Francys’s body back down from the mountain.
Besides, Francys Arsentiev’s husband, Sergei Arsentiev, was also a professional climber who, like Francys, enjoyed mountains very much. He was born in Russia and has climbed many important mountains in places like the Pamirs and Tien-Shan. Further in the story, Francys and Sergei met and fell in love on Annapurna I, then married and had a son, Paul.
Thus, in 1998, Sergei went to Mount Everest with Francys. When they split, Sergei managed to return to the camp. Unfortunately, he was discovered dead in 1999. He had been going to look for Francis, but the more he searched, the more he could not find her.
1. Who is Sleeping Beauty on Mt. Everest?
Answer: An American mountain climber named Francys Arsentiev, who passed away on Mount Everest in 1998, was also known as the mountain’s Sleeping Beauty. She succeeded in ascending the highest mountain in the world, but she died on the way back to the base camp.
2. What is Rainbow Valley on Mount Everest?
Answer: Rainbow Valley is the name given to an area of Everest covered in the bright clothing of people who have died on the mountain.
3. What is the most common cause of death on Everest?
Answer: The most common cause of death on Everest is from avalanches and hypothermia. However, frostbite, altitude sickness, and heart attacks are also the main causes.
4. Why is it challenging to remove bodies from Everest?
Answer: It's not uncommon to walk over frozen bodies while summiting Mt. Everest. Recovering bodies is risky and expensive. Once you get into the mountain’s highest area, referred to as the death zone of Rainbow Valley, bodies quickly freeze into the mountain.
Thank You for Reading!🙏
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