Essential Tips For Adventurers Climbing Mount Everest

Mount Everest, which rises to 8848 meters in elevation (the altitude at which commercial planes fly), is undoubtedly the highest mountaineering challenge.

For the past 70 years, intrepid climbers have attempted to summit the world’s tallest peak on the boundary between Nepal and Tibet, an independent Chinese area. It will likely be at the top of every mountaineer’s bucket list, particularly those seeking to climb all seven summits. However, only some people who attempt the climb reach the top.

Not everyone who wants to climb the mountain has the option. Price and timing are the most significant constraints. Hiring a guide is expensive, especially with no promise of success. You must also apply for a permit or risk being arrested if found climbing without one, and there is no assurance that you will receive one.

Below are a few tips for adventurers attempting to climb Mount Everest. Among these are key pieces of information that any aspiring climber should know before planning a trip to the top of the world. 

1. Understand the beginning spots and how to go about them.

Your Everest climbing trip will begin in Kathmandu, Nepal. Most guides will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), which has direct flights to major Asian international airports and Istanbul.

From the Tibetan side, your journey will begin in Lhasa. Most guides will arrange to meet you at Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA), which has direct flights from Chinese international airports and KTM.

2. Understand the duration.

From Nepal’s perspective, reaching the summit of Mount Everest will take approximately 60 days. This involves arriving in Kathmandu, traveling to Lukla, climbing to Everest Base Camp, acclimatizing, preparing, and attempting the final ascent. This last step typically takes about six days. It may take longer if the weather does not cooperate.

Climbing Mount Everest from the Tibetan side should take approximately 50 days. This covers arriving in Lhasa, transferring to Tibetan Everest Base Camp, acclimatizing, preparing, and attempting the final ascent. The final ascent likewise takes approximately six days.

3. Routes to Mount Everest.

Mount Everest’s peak is reached by two primary routes: the southern face (in Nepal) and the northern face (in Tibet).

The most direct and steep route up the southern face begins from base camp, which is 5.380 meters above sea level. It is the most popular approach, although it is not always the easiest.

From the north, you start the trip at the base camp, which is 5.180 meters above sea level, and then hike across the East Rongbuk Glacier before commencing the ascent. While the climbing is slightly more straightforward on this side, you will spend more days at higher altitudes.

4. Identify the critical hazards.

Climbing Mount Everest is difficult. Historically, fewer than 30% of those who attempted to reach the top were successful. Nowadays, this proportion has risen to almost 50%, thanks in part to limits imposed by the Chinese and Nepalese governments on who can climb.

To successfully summit Everest, you must be physically fit; most climbers train for at least a year. You should also be comfortable on AD-rated climbs and have previous experience at high elevations.

The most common concerns for Everest climbers are avalanches, heart attacks, storm exposure, frostbite, and falls. 

5. Experience counts.

Climbers aiming to summit Mount Everest should have previous experience climbing on fixed lines, as well as rock and steep snow climbing experience on exposed terrains and knowledge of crevasse travel procedures.

It is also advantageous to summit at least one 6500-meter-high peak before tackling Everest.

However, you don’t have to be a seasoned veteran to reach the top. Both the Chinese and Nepalese governments require you to hire a guide to reach the summit, and both have built significant infrastructure (ropes, camps, etc.) on the mountain that is not present on other high-altitude summits. That being stated, Everest is the tallest mountain in the world, and we’ve included some probable preparation tips below:

6. Understand the weather conditions.

The most significant time to climb Mount Everest is between late April and May. This is the window of opportunity when the peak is most welcoming to people. It is after a harsh winter and before the monsoon season.

Climbing from the Tibetan side typically results in better weather conditions than from the Nepalese side. The weather can change swiftly, no matter which side you climb. Clear days can quickly become blizzards.

Temperatures near the peak range from -10°C to -25°C, disregarding wind chill. Even outside of the monsoon season, wind speeds can reach 250 km/h.

7. Stack your equipment.

A long list of equipment is needed for any climb up Mount Everest. Always ask your guide for a detailed list of everything you need to carry. Some of the following may be included in the cost of your trip or available for rental in Nepal or Tibet:

• Ice axes

• Crampons

• Carabiner system, Alpine climbing harness

• Belay gadget

• Trekking poles

• Ascender

• Climbing Helmet

• Sunhat, knit cap, and buff

• Ski goggles, face mask, nose guard

• Accessories include a headlamp, a 40-down sleeping bag, an inflatable pad, and a foam

• 32 to 40-lite, 55-liter backpack, two duffel bags, and toiletry bag

• Water Purification Kit

• Sunscreen

• Running shoes, high-altitude boots, trekking boots, and insulated booties

• Appropriate clothes for a 60-day mountaineering journey with temperatures ranging from 30 to -30 degrees Celsius

8. Is it possible to climb Mt. Everest without oxygen?

While it is possible to ascend Mount Everest without oxygen, it is strongly discouraged.

Only 5% of those who successfully climbed the peak did it without oxygen. Only 10% of those who have attempted to climb Everest without oxygen have succeeded. More than a dozen people have died from health issues caused by a shortage of oxygen while ascending the world’s tallest mountain.

Many professional mountaineers who have scaled other 8,000-meter-high summits without oxygen have attempted to replicate the feat on Everest and failed, often multiple times.

In the end!

“Everest is in many ways still a blank canvas,” says alpinist and National Geographic photographer Cory Richards. “It is as towering, frigid, and formidable as ever. How one decides to climb reflects both imagination and expertise. There’s always a fresh way to approach something, and Everest is no exception. Think of climbing the almighty peak, and you’ll be left with unanswered questions. Also, an aspirant climber can only gather all the answers while climbing Everest. 

While determination is key, planning is paramount. One must prepare well since there is no margin for error. Ultimately, remember climbing the highest peak on the planet requires personality and endurance.