Mount Everest | Solukhumbu

Mount Everest, known in Nepal as Sagarmatha and in Tibet as Chomolungma, is the Earth's highest mountain above sea level, with its summit reaching 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). It is located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas, straddling the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Physical Geography & Geology

Everest is a tectonic marvel, formed by the ongoing collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The mountain is primarily composed of various types of marble, schist, and limestone.

The "Yellow Band": A prominent geological feature near the summit consisting of marble and phyllite.

Growth: Due to tectonic activity, the mountain continues to rise at a rate of approximately 4 millimeters per year.

Climate: The summit sits in the upper troposphere, where temperatures can drop to -60°C and wind speeds can exceed 280 km/h (hurricane force).

Key Climbing Routes

While there are nearly 20 named routes, the vast majority of climbers use two primary paths:

South Col Route (Nepal): The most popular route. Key technical challenges include the Khumbu Icefall (a shifting glacier), the Lhotse Face, and the Hillary Step (a steep rock face near the summit).

North Ridge Route (Tibet): Known for its high-altitude exposure and technical rock steps (First, Second, and Third Step) located above 8,500m.

The "Death Zone"

The region above 8,000 meters is known as the Death Zone. At this altitude:

Atmospheric pressure is only about one-third of that at sea level.

The human body cannot acclimatize; it uses oxygen stores faster than they can be replenished.

Most climbers use supplemental oxygen and "bottled air" to mitigate the risk of High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and Pulmonary Edema (HAPE).

Infrastructure & Economy

The Everest industry is a major revenue source for Nepal.

Base Camp (EBC): A seasonal city at 5,364m where teams spend weeks acclimatizing.

The Sherpa People: Indigenous to the high valleys of the Solukhumbu, Sherpas are essential to the industry, serving as elite high-altitude guides, porters, and "Icefall Doctors" who maintain the route's ladders and ropes.

Permit Costs: In 2026, the Nepal government charges $11,000 to $15,000 per person for a climbing permit alone, with total expedition costs ranging from $45,000 to $100,000+.

Environmental Challenges

Waste Management: Decades of expeditions have left behind "the world's highest junkyard," including empty oxygen canisters, tents, and human waste.

Glacial Retreat: Climate change is rapidly melting the Khumbu Glacier, making the Icefall more unstable and exposing long-buried bodies and trash.

Crowding: The "human traffic jam" in the Death Zone during brief weather windows has become a significant safety risk, as seen in the viral photos of the "summit line."

Facts & Statistics

First Ascent: Reached on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealand) and Tenzing Norgay (Nepal).

First Oxygen-less Ascent: Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler in 1978.

Fastest Ascent: Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa (10 hours and 56 minutes from Base Camp to summit).

The Hillary Step: This 12-meter rock wall was significantly altered or collapsed following the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.