Mount Everest

Towering at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet), Mount Everest is Earth's highest peak and the ultimate mountaineering achievement. Located on the Nepal-Tibet border, it draws adventurers worldwide despite extreme dangers like -60 degree Celsius temperatures, hurricane-force winds, and the lethal "Death Zone" above 8,000m, where oxygen levels drop to fatal lows. The first confirmed ascent was in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, but today, over 6,000 people have summited, with 322 deaths recorded. The climb demands months of acclimatization, $35,000– to $130,000 in costs, and survival skills for hazards like the Khumbu Icefall's shifting crevasses.

Geological Formation & Height Debate

  • Age: ~60 million years old (formed when the Indian tectonic plate collided with Eurasia).
  • Growth Rate: ~4 mm/year (still rising due to tectonic activity).
  • Height Controversy:
    • China's 2020 measurement: 8,848.86m (includes snow cap).
    • Nepal's traditional claim: 8,848m (rock height).
Fun Fact: Everest isn't technically the tallest mountain—Hawaii's Mauna Kea is taller from base to peak (10,211m), but most is underwater!

The Death Zone: Science of Survival

Above 8,000m, the human body literally dies:

  • Oxygen Levels: 33% of sea level to cells starve.
  • Effects:
    • Brain swelling (HACE).
    • Lung fluid buildup (HAPE).
  • 90% of deaths occur here.
  • Survival Time: less than 48 hours without supplemental oxygen.
Climber Quote: "It's like running a marathon on an empty stomach while suffocating."

Sherpa Culture & Unsung Heroes

Famous Corpses & Landmarks

Ethical Dilemma: Retrieving bodies costs $30,000-$70,000 and risks more lives.

Climate Change Impact

Prediction: Everest could become unclimbable by 2050 due to extreme weather.

Surprising Things You'll Encounter

Emergency Info