The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest. Its peak rises to 8,848 m (29,028 ft 9 in) – the highest point in the world. It is situated in Nepal.
First known as Peak XV, it was discovered to be the world’s highest mountain in 1856 by the Survey Department of the Government of India, from theodolite readings taken in 1849 and 1850. Its height was calculated to be 8,840m 29,002ft.
The mountain was named after Col. Sir George Everest (UK), who was the Surveyor-General of India from 1830 to 1843, and who, in fact, pronounced his name ‘Eve-rest’ as opposed to ‘Ever-est’. Mount Everest is also known by the Tibetan name Chomolungma (Goddess Mother of the World) and by the Nepali name Sagarmatha (Forehead in the Sky).
Mount Everest is still the ultimate mountaineering adventure. It is also one of the most accessible big mountains in the world, bringing hundreds of climbers and thousands to its base camp in a typical season. They spend weeks getting their gear, adjusting to the altitude and simply waiting for good weather.
Table of Contents
Where does the trip begin?
How do you get there?
Most climb Everest from the Nepal side. From Kathmandu, Nepal’s bustling capital, mountaineers take a short flight to Lukla, then trek about 10 days to Everest Base Camp (17,598 feet). Most will spend weeks there in the spring, acclimating to the altitude with rest and day hikes, waiting for the route to Everest’s summit to open in May.
Also read: The World’s Most Dangerous Airport: LUKLA
Best Time for Mount Everest Expeditions
Most mountaineers attempt to ascend the world’s tallest peak in May. There’s a brief window of time, usually after May 15 when temperatures are warmer and the high-altitude winds known as the jet stream have moved away from the mountains.
How long does it take for Everest expeditions?
Base Camp (5,380 m)
The trek to base camp begins with the flight to Lukla which is a week-long trek. You will spend 7 to 10 days before you crash on the Base Camp of Everest.
Camp 1 (6065m)
After the tough climb of Khumbu icefall, you will crash at Camp 1. The place is rather daunting and plain and a good place for resting.
Camp 2 (6750m)
Camp 2 at the foot of the mountain Lhotse is a safe and sheltered location. It’s the place used by companies to set their main climbing camp and also the main acclimatization camp.
Camp 3 (7100m)
Camp 3 on a small ledge of the Lhotse wall is the “calm before storm” point. The Lhotse wall needs to be climbed with ropes after acclimatization.
Camp 4 (7920)
This is the last camp at 7920m above sea level. If you have sound health, you can access camp 4 without supplementary oxygen.
Summit
This is your full and final mission of the climb. The summit in the southwest ridge is steep and snowy. To ensure climbers’ safety, the entire route is marked with fixed ropes.
In spite of hundreds of risks involved, the pleasure to climb Everest is worth it. The 2 months of climb ( it may extend to 3 months) is definitely going to be the best memory of your life. But it is important that you return back safe and sound, otherwise, it is gonna be the worst nightmare.
Extreme altitude in Everest
The area above 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet), from Camp 4 to the summit, is called the “death zone,” because of its thin air and brutal weather. With gains in altitude, each breath draws less oxygen for the lungs and bloodstream, which is why most climbers, including guides, use supplemental oxygen.
How much does it cost?
what are the primary dangers?
Most famously, as depicted in popular culture, climbers die from exposure to the elements — the subfreezing temperatures and the high altitude, especially after running out of supplemental oxygen and getting caught in sudden storms. But many climbers die from falls and avalanches, and others from health problems like heart attacks. Increasingly, climbers worry about the role of the crowds on Everest, where routes can be jammed with people desperate to reach the summit. More than 20 years after it was published, Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” remains the cautionary tale.
