Mount Everest has become crowded once again, with as many as 274 climbers managing to reach the summit—the highest point on Earth—from the Nepal side within a single day, amid concerns over overcrowding and safety in the deadly zone.
Nepal tourism officials reported that many climbers hurried to ascend after a favorable weather window opened. They began climbing Everest from 3:00 a.m. and continued for more than 11 hours, resulting in a record 274 summits on Wednesday.
This record surpassed the previous one set on 22 May 2019, when 223 climbers reached Everest's summit from the Nepal side in a single day.
This climbing season started later than usual due to a large ice block blocking a key route, but as soon as conditions improved, many climbers quickly seized the opportunity to ascend.
Images shared on social media showed long lines of climbers on the steep snow route in the area known as the "Death Zone," above 8,000 meters altitude, where oxygen is so scarce that the human body can barely survive for long.
Climbing experts noted that even with supplemental oxygen, one should not remain in this zone for more than 20 hours due to the high risk to life.
This year, Nepal issued nearly 500 foreign climbing permits for Everest, also a record high, despite the government recently increasing the permit fee from 11,000 to 15,000 U.S. dollars—over 500,000 baht—the first hike in nearly a decade.
Although many are worried about overcrowding on the mountain, some trip organizers believe the situation remains manageable if each team carries sufficient oxygen supplies.
This climbing season also saw many new records, such as Kami Rita Sherpa, a 56-year-old Nepali guide, who broke his own world record by summiting Everest for the 32nd time.
Meanwhile, Lakpa Sherpa, 52, known as the "Queen of the Mountains," set a new record for female climbers by reaching Everest's summit for the 11th time.
Additionally, Rustam Nabiev, a 34-year-old Russian man with both legs disabled, successfully summited Everest without prosthetic legs, inspiring people worldwide.
However, this climbing season also saw several fatalities, including Bijay Ghimire, the first climber from Nepal’s marginalized Dalit community to summit Everest, who died from altitude sickness.
Two Sherpa guides also died in accidents during their work, underscoring that while Everest is a dream for adventurers worldwide, it remains one of the most dangerous places on Earth.
Source:BBC
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