Climbing Mount Everest is deadly. The extent of this deadliness – you can yourself imagine by knowing about a section on the north side called “rainbow ridge,” – it is called so because of all the dead bodies that are dressed in brilliantly colored climbing gear.

Climbers even use some dead bodies as landmarks, but an extreme thing like climbing Everest certainly comes with a lot of challenges.

The difficulties caused due to its altitude, weather, and issues like avalanches are major ones. However, lately, because of the huge traffic on this trail, the difficulty has unexpectedly risen. A high number of climbers on Everest has reduced the rate of mortality but the numbers of dead climbers are still up to a nominal mark. Likewise, the base camp is crowded, and in times when avalanches occur, it will be a life and death situation. 

A similar case happened in 2014 when 13 Sherpa guides died. At present, the number of Sherpa guides has also gone down as they choose other trails that are less hard. This, indeed, contributes to the difficulty, because climbing an extreme mountain like Everest requires a helping hand at the very least. And, Sherpas are like your walking support. 

Regardless of its difficulty, climbing Everest isn’t impossible. In fact, it is not even the hardest climb; it comes at the fifth position among the hardest climbs in the entire world. 

With the commercialization of Everest, the mountain has become somewhat less tough. While it used to be a feat few people could boast about, today’s services allow climbers to hire local sherpas to carry their bags, hire cooks to prepare food, and even have a personal physician at Base Camp in the event of injury.

How Hard is the Climbing Route to Everest? 

Summit Attempt from the South Side

Mount Everest’s south side is also known as the Nepalese side. Climbers choose the southern side because it is more challenging and daring than the northern side. From the south side, this expedition trek includes acclimatization, camping, and a summit climb.

Camp 1 (6000m) is a transition camp from which we will move to Camp 2. (6400m). Because there are crevasses in camp 1, you should always have ladders on hand for safety. Camp 2 is located at the bottom of the west ridge and offers spectacular views of Lhotse and other snow-capped peaks. A lateral moraine is where most kitchens and eating spaces are found. It serves as the starting point for camp three and is commonly utilized for acclimatization.

On the Lhotse wall, Camp 3 (7200m) remains. The Glacier allows you to reach Camp 3 across a snowfield by climbing 40 degrees 600 meters. Around camp 3, there are fixed ropes along 3m ice cliffs. Without supplemental oxygen, Camp 4 (7950m) is reachable.

All of these camps are there on the southern side to ease the difficulty. Climbing from the southern side is very challenging, and because, every year, the number of climbers increases, these camps are established to reduce fatality and injury among the climbers. 

Without these camps, Mount Everest would have been more difficult. This can be guessed by looking at the extreme difficulty of this route regardless of the availability of these camps. 

South Col to Balcony

South Col’s Camp 4 leads to the summit, which is around 500 meters high. With Gayle force winds, there are a variety of weather-related concerns that might wreak havoc on the expedition. The summit climb route’s narrow South-East Ridge can be quite dangerous.

The journey from South Col to Balcony takes about 4 hours. Upon reaching here, you would need to spend at least eighteen hours to reach the peak. If you plan to stay at the South Col, extra oxygen supplements and other preparations are required.

Trying to stay at a high altitude without supplemental oxygen can be difficult, if not impossible. Our bodies will not be able to function properly in frigid conditions at high altitudes with low air pressure and oxygen. Thus, you will descend through the Hilary step after observing the gorgeous Himalayan region from the summit.

All in all, alongside the natural difficulty of this route, your ability to acclimate will decide the overall difficulty for you.

Having talked about the difficulties, let’s see what makes climbing Everest difficult. 

What makes climbing Mount Everest difficult ?

Temperature

 The air temperature reduces by 0.65 degrees Celsius for every 100 meters climbed in altitude. That implies they should expect a 57-degree drop in temperature at 8,800 meters compared to sea level. That’s a ridiculous simplification that ignores a slew of other issues, but the point is made: it’s chilly up there. The fact that they’ll transition from lying quietly in the dark at night to struggling uphill with the sun bearing down from above and reflecting up from the snow doesn’t help matters.

Climbers will have to contend with subzero temperatures at night and heat reflected up from the snow of the mountains during the day.

The weather at Everest Base Camp is erratic and difficult to forecast. Traveling to EBC throughout the day may expose you to a wide range of temperatures. In the Everest region, however, the nights are substantially cooler than the days. The temperature at the base camp is about -12°C. The Base Camp, on the other hand, has a maximum temperature of 15°C with a wind speed of 5 to 6 mph.

Weather

 Weather in the Himalayas can be the difference between life and death. A solid weather forecast will determine their window of opportunity for summiting, but many climbers have been caught off guard by storms and have waited a bit too long on summit day. They may not be able to control the weather gods, but they can receive accurate forecasts, trust their intuition, and pay attention to early warning signs.

High Altitude or Elevation

Mount Everest is situated at an elevation of 8848 meters above sea level. Lukla’s airport is located at a higher elevation than Kathmandu’s. As you progress up the trail, the height rises by 600-800 meters per day, and the amount of oxygen available diminishes. Acute Mountain Sickness, which is induced by rising altitude, can be fatal if not treated promptly. Taking acclimatization pauses in the middle of your journey will be beneficial.

Altitude sickness

One of the most crucial considerations to consider when climbing Mt. Everest is altitude sickness. It is caused by a lack of oxygen and air pressure, which has a negative impact on your health. As you ascend the route, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases. Because the Death Zone over 8,000m has very little oxygen, many climbers will need to bring extra oxygen on this climb.

Acclimatization

During this expedition and trek excursion in the Everest region, acclimatization is required. Altitude sickness can be avoided by walking gently and without rushing. Dehydration can be avoided by drinking enough water while on the trail. This is a good approach for first-time trekkers who have never done a high-altitude trip to prepare. These numerous acclimatization procedures can help with altitude sickness.

Long Duration

Mt. Everest expeditions take roughly 60 days or two months of planning and preparation. Extremely cold weather, low freezing temperatures, and challenging climbing conditions are just a few of the challenges. Before you can reach the top and return, you’ll need to acclimate for a lengthy time.

Late March is the start of the Everest expedition season. They start when you get to Everest base camp after flying to Lukla. Before arriving at EBC, we travel through Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep. The trip begins at the Southern Everest Base Camp (5,300 meters).

Climbers must overcome obstacles such as the ice and its shifting maze. At various points along their route, climbers will acclimate to the camps. They acclimate to the base camp for 4 to 5 days before climbing halfway above the Khumbu glacier. They climb up to camp 1 after many days of acclimatization.

They’ll spend two nights at camp 1 acclimating before returning to base camp. This is done in order for them to become accustomed to the high-altitude conditions found in the Everest region. They return to camp 1 and spend the night there before beginning their ascent to camp 2, which lies at the base of Mt. Lhotse.

You will be prepared for the summit climb by ascending, acclimating, and then descending. The most dangerous route to the peak takes you to an altitude of more than 7925 meters, often known as the “Death Zone.” Because the risk factor is so great, the Mount Everest trip takes about two months to accomplish.

A normal guided trip prior to the excursion will cover roughly 15 kilometers per day. You’ll be traveling through rocky, difficult terrain that can become snowy at times. You’ll mostly be climbing upwards as you gain altitude in this area. Your stuff is carried along the way by porters or mules. As a result, you should get ready for the climb to Everest Base Camp.

Avalanches

Avalanches are another feature of Everest. There are some regions where they are more common than others. These are the North Col and South Col on the Mount Everest routes. Khumbu Ice Falls, often known as “Suicide Passage,” is also present. To reach the peak, they must be traversed.

You can’t avoid them, but you can cut down on their time spent in certain regions. Early in the morning, before the sun has warmed the snow, try to cross. Ice and rocks falling from the sky can be dangerous, especially if they take the Southeast route from Nepal. Near the Khumbu Ice, There are multiple avalanche-prone areas in the Falls, as well as the South Col beneath the Lhotse Face.

Falls

Falls are one of the most hazardous components of the Mount Everest trek. It’s also one of Everest’s leading causes of death. Climbing high peaks and staying in higher camps might be risky.

One of the dangers is stepping out of their tent into the dark, icy ground. Climbing Mount Everest necessitates maintaining footwork, double-checking knots, and using carabiners. Aside from that, prior snow and ice experience is essential.

Crevasses

Climbers can be swallowed by crevasses, which appear in glacial ice, and can swallow them if they are not careful. The infamous Khumbu Ice Falls and the Western Cwm may be found on the Nepalese side. To securely cross these crevasses, expedition teams connect ropes so that if someone falls, they may be dragged.

Summit Fever

The temptation to push on when you are struggling in mountains is quite real. But putting so much effort into high altitude conditions and the danger-ridden slopes of Mount Everest can lead to increased risks and challenges.

The mountain climbers can set a “turn around time” so that they know when to stop and head back down. You should be realistic when setting time and head back no matter how close you are to the summit. Keeping in mind motivations for being on the mountain also helps you a lot during the climb.

If you keep these things in perspective, then you might find your way less challenging, and it will also stop them from getting carried away. Do not risk your life, as it can get fatal quickly in high altitudes of Everest summit and especially if you are not trained professionally.

Lack of Training

Mt. Everest demands considerable training beginning at least six months before the trek. This expedition is preceded by a trip to Everest Base Camp, which adds to the difficulty of the adventure. Hiring a personal trainer and spending time in a gym would greatly assist you in climbing. Climbing Mount Everest is a significant undertaking that necessitates thorough planning.

You should begin training as soon as feasible. It is critical to engage in activity that improves your fitness, strength, and stamina. Jogging, hiking, cycling, swimming, and other activities will greatly assist you. Lightweight training might also help you achieve your fitness goals. Hiking up and downhill will improve your lung capacity while also increasing your stamina.