Mount Everest – Nepal is the highest mountain peak in the world, standing at approximately 29,029 feet above sea level. Although climbing this mountain is highly difficult and has proven to be fatal to hundreds of climbers, these have not discouraged other climbers to attempt to reach the summit.
Location
Mount Everest – Nepal is situated in the Himalayas, bordering China on its northern side and Nepal on its southern side.
Getting There
There are basically two options for getting to Mount Everest – Nepal. One is via the Sagarmatha National Park located in Khumbu, which is entering through Nepal.
The other option is via the Qomolangma Nature Reserve which is on the northern side, entering through Tibet.
Entering through Khumbu, you can fly in from Kathmandu to the Lukla Airport. From Lukla, you will have to trek to get to Base Camp. The trek generally takes 6 to 8 days.
If you will be entering via Qomolangma, you can take the Peruche Route via the Friendship Highway which goes all the way to Base Camp.
What to Do: Climbing Mount Everest – Nepal
Upon reaching the Base Camp, climbers will have to get used to the altitude which means several weeks of being stationed at the Base Camp. As you are acclimatizing yourself with the altitude, the Sherpas who will serve as your guide up the mountain, will start setting-up for the trek.
This basically entails putting up ropes and ladders which will serve as your support as you climb up the Khumbu Icefall. This is very important as a lot of people have died during this starting trek.
From the Base Camp you will reach Camp 1 as you complete your climb on the Khumbu Icefall. The climb will take you up to about 19,900 feet. From here, you will once again climb up which will take you to Camp 2 otherwise known as the Advanced Base Camp.
From here, you are approximately at 21,300 feet up the mountain already. As you climb up to Camp 3, you will already be at 24,500 feet up the mountain. Camp 4 is just around five hundred meters up from Camp 3.
Camp 4 takes you to 24,000 feet up the mountain. From here, climbers will begin the treacherous climb to finally reach the summit as they have just about 2 to 3 days to survive this altitude.
Brief History
Expeditions to reach the summit of Mount Everest – Nepal started some time in 1922 but no one has yet successfully reached the summit until 1953 when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay successfully reached the summit.
This was on the 29th of May 1953 at exactly 11:30 in the morning, local time.
In the year 1980, a team of climbers from Poland were the first to successfully reach the summit during the winter season.
On the 14th of May in 2005, the very first helicopter landing on the summit took place with the French Didier Delsalle as pilot.
Cost
If you will be passing through the Sagarmatha Park, you will have to pay an entry fee of 1,000 rupees.
Via Qomolangma, entry fee is 65 yen per person while vehicle fee is 405 yen.
The permit to climb Mount Everest – Nepal differs, depending on which side you will be coming from. If you will be coming from the Tibetan side of the mountain, permits are roughly around $4,000 while from the Nepalese side; permits are around $10,000.
