Forming Mount Everest
Roughly pyramid shaped, and
covered by glaciers, Mount Everest
is part of the Himalayan mountain
range, which runs along the border
of Nepal and Tibet.
The Himalayas are fold mountains
formed millions of years ago by
continental drift. At one time, the
Tethys Sea separated the Indian
subcontinent from the Asian
continent. Over time, the Indian
subcontinent drifted into the
mainland and the sea was pushed
upwards to form a series of parallel
ridges, or folds. Incredibly, the
tallest mountains in the world were
once ocean bottoms and still
contain marine fossils.
The Quest for Everest
In 1590, a Spanish missionary to the court
of the Mughal emperor Akbar undertook
the work of mapping the Himalayas for the
first time ever. However, it was only in the
middle of the 19th century that the heights
of the Himalayan peaks were measured
correctly. In 1856, a British mapping team
established Peak XV at 8,848 m (29,028 ft)
as the highest point on earth. Mt Everest
was given its name in 1865 in honor of
surveyor Sir George Everest, who was the
surveyor general of India from 1830 to
1843.
Everest is an extremely inhospitable place.
Temperatures at the top are typically around
33 degrees F below zero in the winter and
can drop as low as 76 degrees F below.
Temperatures only rise to an average of 0
degrees F during the warmest part of the
summer and monsoon storms make Everest
insurmountable during this period. The jet
stream buffets the top of Everest with
hurricane force winds for much of the year.
During April and May, the jet stream shifts
somewhat, offering relatively calm weather
and this is when most climbs occur.
Mt. Everest Facts
At 29,028 feet (8,848 meters), Mount Everest is the tallest
mountain of the world. Known as Sagarmatha, or Goddess
of the sky, in Nepal, Mount Everest has a mystical appeal
that attracts thousands of hopeful climbers every year. It's
impossible to say how many people have reached
Everest's summit at any given time, since the number
changes every year. As of the 2011 climbing season,
5,584 have climbed Everest and 3,448 different climbers
from twenty different countries had reached the summit.
Because of the extreme conditions experienced on Mount
Everest, fatalities are commonplace. By the end of 2010,
219 people had died trying to reach the summit. Most of
these fatalities happened before 1990. In the last ten
years, advances in climbing equipment and more
experienced guides have resulted in a steep drop in
fatality statistics: from 37% in 1990 to 4.4% in 2004.
Mt. Everest Facts
Today, more people than ever are
attempting to climb Mount Everest, but
only about one in four will succeed.
There are an estimated 120 bodies still
on Everest; while many have been
respectfully relocated, it is too difficult
and dangerous to attempt to remove all
of them.
Climbing Mt. Everest
One of the first Everest expeditions
included British nationals George Leigh
Mallory and Andrew Irvine. Their 1924
expedition was Mallory's third trip to
mountain. In a 1922 attempt, climbers
reached record altitudes before
deteriorating weather conditions forced
them to turn back.
Climbing Mt. Everest
Why climb Everest? "Because it's
there", was the classic answer of
George Mallory who became
legendary due to his exploits on the
highest peak of the world. British
expeditions attempted Everest again
in the following years, and Mallory
arrived in 1924, in what was to be his
last attempt on Everest.
Climbing Mt. Everest
In a final attempt for the summit, Mallory was
accompanied by the young Oxford University
student Andrew Irvine. They were attempting the
Northeast Ridge to the summit of Everest. The two
mountaineers were climbing with the help of
bottled oxygen and were spotted by Noel Odell
towards 1 p.m. on their summit day, on a rocky
outcrop on the ridge. In Odell's words they were
'going strong for the top'.
But, they disappeared into the clouds and were
never seen again. It is a famous mountaineering
debate whether Mallory and Irvine might have
actually reached the top before the men who finally
climbed Mt Everest in 1953. It will forever remain
one of the greatest mysteries in the history of
mountaineering.
Climbing Mt. Everest
When Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed to the
summit in 1953, they did so with the aid of bottled oxygen.
In 1963, James Whittaker became the first American to reach the
summit of Everest.
In 1975, a Japanese woman named Junko Tabei became the first
woman to summit.
In a truly incredible first, American Erik Weihenmayer became
the first blind person to scale Everest in 2001.
In 2010, Jordan Romero , became the youngest to reach the
summit at 13 years old.
In 2008, a Japanese climber, Min Bahadur Sherchan , became the
oldest person (76 years old) to reach the summit.
In 2005 Mona Mulepati and Pem Dorje, Sherpa. They were the
first couple to get married on top of Mount Everest.
Total economic contribution from Mt. Everest Expedition teams in
one climbing season of Spring 2011 $90,15,978.
Climbing Everest
From home and back again, most
trips to the top over Everest take
about two and a half months. For a
southern approach, climbers
typically fly into Katmandu and
spend several days there buying
supplies and arranging travel visas.
From Katmandu, they fly to Lukla
and make their way overland to
Base Camp, where they prepare for
their Everest climb. Even the Base
Camp is located at high altitude, so
the journey there must progress
gradually, usually taking one to two
weeks.
Training to Climb Mount Everest
Prospective Everest climbers train in a
variety of ways. Swimming, running,
biking, weight lifting climbing are all
excellent ways to improve physical
condition. Endurance, stamina, and
strength are all necessary. In
anticipation of weight loss on Everest,
most prospective climbers try to gain a
little weight before their trip.
Training to Climb Mount Everest
Take mountaineering courses that
teach you about technique, equipment,
routes and survival. Then begin a
minimum of two to three years of
regular practice climbs in high alpine
terrain, including steep faces, rough
rocks, night climbs, ice falls and snow
climbs.
Training to Climb Mount Everest
Raise the cash. You'll need plenty, even a
low-budget trip will cost $25,000, with
guided package trips soaring to as much as
$60,000. Realize that $10,000 goes to
permits alone; then add travel, food,
equipment, oxygen, insurance and Sherpa
(a member of the Himalayan people living in
Nepal and Tibet who are famous for their
skill as mountaineers) fees. Some climbers
approach corporations for sponsorship
deals to cover their expenses.
Training to Climb Mount Everest
Plan a May expedition. The weather is most
cooperative then (when it isn't a whiteout,
blowing 100-mph winds, and 50 degrees below
zero). Six months in advance, you'll need to file
for permits and send copies of passports and
climbing letters of recommendation for your
team to the Nepal Ministry and Administration,
as well as to a trekking agency to help you with
transporting your gear.
Training to Climb Mount Everest
Pack out all of your empty oxygen
bottles and trash to get back your
$4,000 environmental deposit and leave
the mountain with good karma.
Short Videos
Small Avalanche
Exploring Mt. Everest
Mt. Everest
Crevasse Crossing