Out of the Death Zone

Thirteen-year-old Poorna Malavath was climbing to the top of the world: Mount Everest. Everest is the tallest mountain on Earth—it towers more than 29,000 feet into the sky. If Poorna made it, she would be the youngest girl ever to reach the top.

But first, she would have to make it through the Death Zone.

The Death Zone begins at 26,000 feet. No human can live long at that height. The air is so thin, there isn’t enough oxygen to breathe. The brain gets foggy. The body starts to slowly die.

On May 24, 2014, Poorna began her trek through a part of the mountain known as the Death Zone. Her muscles ached. She felt dizzy. Every step was a struggle.

Poorna wanted to stop and rest. But on Everest, stopping can mean the difference between living and dying.

“Keep going,” she told herself. “Just keep going.”

Thirteen-year-old Poorna Malavath was on her way to the top of the world. Poorna was climbing Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth. Everest towers more than 29,000 feet into the sky. If Poorna made it, she would be the youngest girl ever to reach the top.

But first, she had to make it through the most dangerous part of the mountain. It’s known the Death Zone.

The Death Zone begins at 26,000 feet high. No human can live long at that height. The air is too thin to breathe. The body starts to slowly die.

On May 24, 2014, Poorna began her trek through the Death Zone. Her muscles hurt. She felt dizzy. Every step was a struggle.

Poorna wanted to stop and rest. But on Everest, stopping can mean death.

“Keep going,” she told herself. “Just keep going.”

Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas. That is a mountain range that stretches through India, China, and several other countries. People began trying to climb Everest in the 1920s. But it wasn’t until 1953 that two men reached the summit: Tenzing Norgay, from Nepal, and Edmund Hillary, from New Zealand. 

Over the next several decades, few climbers dared follow in their icy footsteps. But by the 1990s, adventure companies had begun taking people to the top. For the first time, less-experienced climbers could be guided up Everest. They just had to pay more than $50,000.

Soon, trouble began. Trash was piling up on Everest. There were so many climbers that traffic jams were common. Many feared that it was only a matter of time before catastrophe [kuh-TASS-truh-fee] struck. And in 1996, it did. A sudden blizzard hit near the summit. Eight people died.

Over the years, some 300 people have died on Everest. Removing bodies from the mountain is difficult and dangerous. So the bodies are usually left there, eerily preserved in the cold, dry air.

Poorna knew she would see corpses along the way. But the sight still rattled her.

“It was a shocker,” she remembers.

Mount Everest is part of the Himalayas. That is a group of mountains in India, China, and a few other countries. People began trying to climb Everest in the 1920s. But it wasn’t until 1953 that two men reached the summit. The men were Tenzing Norgay, from Nepal, and Edmund Hillary, from New Zealand.           

For years, few climbers were brave enough to follow in their footsteps. But by the 1990s, adventure companies had begun taking people to the top. For the first time, people could be led up Everest even if they weren’t expert climbers. They just had to pay more than $50,000.

Soon, trouble began. Trash was piling up on Everest. The mountain was too crowded with climbers. Many feared that a catastrophe [kuh-TASS-truh-fee] would happen. And in 1996, it did. A sudden blizzard hit near the summit. Eight people died.

Over the years, about 300 people have died on Everest. Taking bodies off the mountain is difficult and dangerous. So the bodies are usually left there.

Poorna knew she would see dead bodies along the way. But the sight still upset her.

“It was a shocker,” she remembers.

Poorna was born in a farming village in southern India. At school, she proved to be a natural athlete. She especially loved  volleyball and track and field. One day, she heard about a rock-climbing program in a nearby city. Her parents agreed to let her go. They wanted her to see the world outside their village—and to have opportunities that they had never had.

Poorna loved climbing. And she did so well that she was invited to join a special group of climbing students. They would work together toward an amazing goal: to climb Everest.

Over the next few months, Poorna learned how to climb over ice and how to survive in the freezing cold. She also got to climb her first peak: a 17,000-foot-tall mountain in the Himalayas.

Poorna was born in a farming village in southern India. At school, she was a strong athlete. She especially loved volleyball and track and field.

One day, she heard about a rock-climbing program in a nearby city. Her parents agreed to let her go. They wanted her to see the world outside their village.

Poorna loved climbing. And she was good at it. She was soon invited to join a special group of climbing students. They would work together toward an amazing goal: to climb Everest.

Over the next few months, Poorna learned how to climb over ice. She learned how to survive in the freezing cold. She also got to climb her first mountain.

In the end, only two students were chosen for the Everest expedition: Poorna and Anand Kumar, 17. Both would need three more months of training—daily workouts that included running, strengthening exercises, and yoga. If they were going to climb Everest, they would need skill and grit.

First, though, Poorna would need her parents’ permission.

“My father said I was ready and gave his permission,” Poorna remembers. “My mother cried and said no, but I convinced her. I promised her I would come back.”

But would Poorna be able to keep that promise?

In the end, only two students were chosen for the Everest expedition: Poorna and Anand Kumar, 17. Both would need three more months of tough training. If they were going to climb Everest, they would need skill and grit.

First, though, Poorna would need her parents to say she could go.

“My father said I was ready and gave his permission,” Poorna remembers. “My mother cried and said no, but I convinced her. I promised her I would come back.”

But would Poorna be able to keep that promise?

There are many ways a person can die on Everest. Avalanches can bury climbers. Hurricane-force winds can knock climbers down and freeze them to death. Then there is the height. Up that high, the human brain can swell. Lungs can fill up with water.

Given the risks, there has been growing concern about young people on Everest. More and more teenagers have been trying to reach the summit. Some critics say that teenagers aren’t wise enough to make the climb. The height could also harm developing brains and bodies.

But Poorna was confident that she was ready. She would also have a team of experts with her: her coach Shekhar Babu, who had already climbed Everest several times, and a group of Sherpa guides.

The Sherpa are a people from the region who are used to living high up in the Himalayas. From the first expeditions, Sherpas have guided foreigners up the mountain.

There are many ways a person can die on Everest. Avalanches can bury climbers. Strong winds can knock climbers down. Then there is the height. Up that high, the human brain can swell. Lungs can fill up with water. 

Because of the risks, many people are worried about teenagers on Everest. More and more young people have been trying to reach the summit. Some say that teenagers aren’t wise enough to make the climb. The height could also harm growing brains and bodies.

But Poorna was sure that she was ready. She would also have a team of experts with her. Her coach, Shekhar Babu, had already climbed Everest several times. A group of Sherpa guides would help lead them.

The Sherpa are a people from the area. They are used to living high up in the Himalayas. For many years, Sherpas have guided people from other countries up the mountain.

No one can climb to the top of Everest in one big push. Instead, the mountain must be climbed in stages. There are camps along the way where climbers can rest. An expedition up Everest usually takes about two months.

Poorna arrived at the first camp in early April. Soon, she received tragic news: An avalanche had killed several Sherpas. Poorna was sad and frightened, but she couldn’t give up.

“I had to prove that girls could do anything,” she says.

Over the next month, Poorna and her team made their way from camp to camp. Along the way, Poorna saw spectacular views. One night, she stepped outside her tent and saw the sky lit with more stars than she had ever seen.

But the climbing had been grueling. Strong winds blasted the team. It was tiring even to talk. At one point, the climbers had to cross over a crevasse—a deep crack in the ice—using a ladder.

By the time they reached the final camp at the end of May, Poorna was exhausted.

No one can climb to the top of Everest all at once. The mountain must be climbed in stages. There are camps along the way where climbers can rest. An expedition up Everest usually takes about two months.

Poorna reached the first camp in early April. Soon, she heard tragic news. An avalanche had killed several Sherpas. Poorna was sad and frightened. But she couldn’t give up.

“I had to prove that girls could do anything,” she says.

Over the next month, Poorna and her team made their way from camp to camp. Along the way, Poorna saw beautiful views. One night, she stepped outside her tent. She saw the sky lit with more stars than she had ever seen.

But the climbing had been grueling. Strong winds blasted the team. It was tiring even to talk. At one point, the climbers had to cross over a deep crack in the ice using a ladder.

At the end of May, they reached the final camp. By that time, Poorna was exhausted.

On May 24, Poorna and the team set out for the eight-hour climb to the summit. They roped themselves together and stepped out into the freezing air. Like most climbers, they had oxygen tanks to help them breathe.

Looking up, Poorna could see how close she was to the top. But then the dizziness set in. One of the Sherpa guides checked her oxygen tank: It was empty. He gave her a fresh can and Poorna gulped down air.

“I could see my goal above me,” she says. “I could not turn back.”

For the next few hours, they pressed on, higher and higher. Poorna thought about her family and friends back home. They were rooting for her and counting on her to return.

At last, she stepped onto the summit—a narrow ridge at the top of the world. She gazed around her in awe. “It was a surreal feeling,” Poorna says. “The view was an ocean of ice-capped mountains.”

She unfurled the Indian flag and sang the Indian national anthem. After posing for a few photographs, it was time to leave—to begin the long journey back home.

On May 24, Poorna and the team set out toward the summit. The climb would take eight hours. They roped themselves together. Then they stepped out into the freezing air. Like most climbers, they had oxygen tanks to help them breathe.

Looking up, Poorna could see how close she was to the top. But then the dizziness set in. One of the Sherpa guides checked her oxygen tank. It was empty. He gave her a fresh can. Poorna gulped down air.

“I could see my goal above me,” she says. “I could not turn back.”

For the next few hours, they climbed higher and higher. Poorna thought about her family and friends back home. They were counting on her to return.

At last, she stepped onto the summit. She looked around her, amazed. There were icy mountains as far as she could see. “It was a surreal feeling,” Poorna says.

She unrolled the Indian flag and sang the Indian national anthem. She took a few pictures. Then it was time to begin the long journey back home.

News of Poorna’s triumph quickly spread around the world. Her life changed dramatically. Reporters interviewed Poorna on TV. A book was written about her, and a movie was made. She gave talks about what it takes to reach your goals.

Since her Everest feat, Poorna has climbed at least six more mountains and plans to climb others. People often ask Poorna why she decided to climb Everest.

“I never decided to climb Everest,” she says. “A better way to put it is, [Everest] blessed me to climb her.”

News of Poorna’s big climb quickly spread around the world. Reporters interviewed Poorna on TV. A book was written about her. A movie was made.

Since her Everest feat, Poorna has climbed at least six more mountains. She plans to climb others. People often ask Poorna why she decided to climb Everest.

“I never decided to climb Everest,” she says. “A better way to put it is, [Everest] blessed me to climb her.”