• About The Patch Expedition
• Climbing in Aid of Unicef
• Meet The Team
  • The Patch Team
• Corporate Sponsors
  • Become a Corporate Sponsor
• Training for Everest
  • Technical
  • Physical
  • Mental
  • Nutrition
• Climb Your Own Everest
• Climbing Everest
  • Everest Facts
  • The Gear
  • The History of Everest
  • The Route
  • Altitude and Illness
    • Our Bodies and Oxygen
    • Altitude and Oxygen
    • Acclimatisation
    • The Death Zone
    • Supplemental Oxygen
    • Sickness on the Big Hill
• FAQ's

The Death Zone

The Death Zone refers to an altitude at which the levels of oxygen are not sufficient to sustain human life. In mountaineering terms this is generally regarded as any altitude above 8000 metres (26,240 feet).

On Everest it certainly lives up to its name as many deaths are caused by the effects of low oxygen experienced above the Death Zone. Whether directly due to the loss of vital body functions, or indirectly through bad decision making, the lack of oxygen above 8,000 metres is a danger to all climbers.