In what could possibly be the most successful summit window of the mountain’s enduring draw, a record 274 climbers summited Mount Everest from the Nepali side on Wednesday, shattering the previous single-day high from that route. The figure comfortably beat the old mark of 223 summits set on 22 May 2019. Because China has issued no permits on the northern (Tibetan) side this season, all attempts this year are funneled through Nepal, making the southern route even busier than usual. Photos and videos from the mountain showed long lines of climbers moving through the final ridge near the summit, particularly in the section known as the “balcony.”Nepali tourism officials described the day as historic but not unexpected, given the volume of climbers. They noted that coordination between expedition teams helped manage the congestion, even though queues formed in the upper sections of the climb.
Record Permits, Record Revenue
Nepal has issued a record 494 climbing permits this spring season — 389 to men and 105 to women from 55 different countries. At the current fee of $15,000 per permit (an increase from the previous $11,000), the Himalayan nation is set to earn more than $7.4 million from Everest alone this year.
Overcrowding Concerns and Safety
Mountaineering experts have long warned that large numbers of climbers increase risks, especially in the “death zone” above 8,000 metres, where oxygen levels are critically low. Despite the concerns, many operators say the situation remains manageable when teams are properly equipped.“If teams carry enough oxygen, it is not a big problem,” said Lukas Furtenbach of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures, who currently has 40 clients on the mountain. He compared the crowds to popular Alpine peaks such as Germany’s Zugspitze, which sees thousands of hikers on its summit on busy days. This season started later than usual after a large serac (ice block) blocked the dangerous Khumbu Icefall route, forcing climbers to wait at base camp. The blockage was eventually cleared, but the compressed schedule contributed to the large number of people attempting the summit during the narrow weather window.
Notable Achievements and Tragedies
The week also saw several personal records fall. Veteran Nepali guide Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit for the 32nd time, extending his own world record. Fellow guide Pasang Dawa Sherpa notched his 30th ascent, while Lhakpa Sherpa (known as the “Mountain Queen”) set a new women’s record with her 11th successful climb. Tragically, the season has already claimed three lives. Bijay Ghimire, the first climber from Nepal’s Dalit community to summit Everest, died from altitude sickness. Phura Gyaljen Sherpa, 21, fell into a crevasse near Camp 3, and guide Lakpa Dendi Sherpa, 51, died while heading to Base Camp.
Lhakpa Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to successfully climb and survive Everest.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Dream
For most foreign climbers, standing on the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak remains a bucket-list achievement. Officials confirm summits only after climbers return with photographic evidence and other proof before issuing official certificates. More than seven decades after Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit on 29 May 1953, Everest continues to attract thousands of hopeful mountaineers every spring. While the mountain’s dangers have not disappeared, the combination of good weather, experienced guides, and supplemental oxygen allowed hundreds to realize their dream on Wednesday—setting a new benchmark in the process.
