Teen girl shares ordeal after returning from 4 days in Mount Everest's 'Death Zone'

A teenage girl, who is currently attempting to conquer Mount Everest, has been lauded on social media after her latest update revealed the gruelling effects of spending four days in the mountain's 'Death Zone'. Climbing Everest is a complex endeavour, often requiring climbers to spend months in physical and mental training, as well as acclimatising to extreme altitudes.

Bianca Adler, 17, already holds the record for being the youngest female to reach the summit of Manaslu, the world's eighth-highest mountain at 8,163 metres, and Ama Dablam, standing at 6,812 metres. Now, she has set her sights on reaching the world's highest peak.

The teenager has been documenting her journey on TikTok with her latest video going viral, amassing an impressive 26 million views within just 24 hours. In the clip, Bianca can be seen struggling for breath upon returning to her camp. The ascent of Everest is typically completed in stages, with climbers gradually making their way up via several camps along the perilous route.

The 'Death Zone', located at the ridge of Everest's summit, approximately 8,000 metres above sea level and near its peak of 8,849 metres, is so named due to the insufficient oxygen pressure to sustain human life over extended periods.

Camp 2, meanwhile, which is located on the expedition's more popular South Route, sits at approximately 6,553 metres high - and it is the trek there from Base Camp (5,364 meters) that Bianca is currently attempting to master.

Barely able to utter a word, she whispered: "I just got back from Camp 2 and I'm at Base Camp and I feel horrible." Struggling for breath, she added: "My throat and my lungs... I'm so out of breath even though yesterday I was at 8,000 metres. I'm feeling the worst I have ever felt."

In a subsequent video shared on Tuesday (September 23), a disheartened Bianca revealed that she had managed to reach as high as Camp 4 (7,925 metres) but was "devastated" after being compelled to turn back for her own safety.

"It's so hard. I was feeling so good and so strong but I had to turn around due to something out of my control," she explained, with the help of an oxygen mask. "I can't do anything about that and it would have been stupid to carry on."

And she elaborated on her Instagram account: "I had to turn around on Mt Everest at 8450m (400m below the summit). The winds were way too strong for what I believed was right for my own safety. I could feel my hands and toes going numb, the first step of frostbite. I couldn't see anything, there was snow blowing everywhere. It was an extremely tough decision, but I always want to choose life over a potential summit. I felt strong, like I could summit, and was devastated."

Bianca went on: "The next night, my Sherpa guides and I tried again from Camp 4, but I was too exhausted from the 10-hour effort the previous night, and turned around. After three nights, and almost four days in the Death Zone at 8,000m or above, we descended back down to Camp 2."

She closed: "On the summit push, dad got sick and stayed at Camp 2 whilst I went up. On the way down, he was still sick and I was exhausted. We both got diagnosed with HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema) and dehydration (which is normal for mountaineering). I still feel quite sick and extremely exhausted so taking time to recover."

Many other mountaineers were quick to commend Bianca's remarkable attempt, offering supportive words and encouragement. "I'm more impressed by how you handled this situation than if you would have pushed yourself to the top... now you can live another day," one of them responded. "That is what's important. A true warrior."

Another observed: "Such a great effort and the summit isn't what matters the most, sounds like it was extremely hard and you had to push yourself far but still had to make a tough, but correct decision, which is one of the most valuable and fulfilling experiences you can have in the mountains. So proud!"

Whilst a third person admitted: "I can't even imagine how thought that decision was, but safety is always number 1 and you made the right choice. The mountains will always be there girl, well done and huge congratulations on everything you achieved this season."