As a subject matter expert in high-altitude physiology, I can explain why 26,000 feet is often referred to as the death zone. The term death zone is used to describe altitudes above which the human body cannot acclimatize to the low oxygen levels and where the risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) significantly increases. At 26,000 feet, the air pressure is so low that there isn't enough oxygen to sustain human life for extended periods. The body can survive at this altitude for a short time, but prolonged exposure leads to a deterioration of bodily functions. This is because the body's ability to produce red blood cells and hemoglobin, which carry oxygen, is overwhelmed by the extreme conditions. The lack of oxygen can cause cognitive impairment, organ failure, and eventually death if a person remains at this altitude for too long. read more >>

The camp is in the ��death zone�� �� so called because the body can only endure this altitude for a few days. The death zone begins between 23,000 and 26,000 feet, an altitude at which the body actually begins to begin to die because it cannot acclimate to the harsh conditions.read more >>