The climbing season on Mount Everest has officially ended, with mountaineers leaving the world’s highest peak on Wednesday. This year’s season, which broke multiple records, also witnessed the loss of eight climbers, according to tourism officials and expedition organizers.
More than 600 climbers and guides successfully reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit, as confirmed by Rakesh Gurung from the tourism department, though the exact number is still being verified. “Teams have packed up and the route will be closed now,” Gurung told AFP, indicating the end of the season.
Despite the significant number of summits, this year’s death toll of eight was considerably lower than last year’s tragic count of 18 fatalities. Among those who lost their lives were climbers from Mongolia, Kenya, India, and Nepal. Additionally, three individuals—a British climber and two Nepali guides—are missing and presumed dead.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, attracts hundreds of adventurers each spring, thanks to favorable weather conditions. This season saw several remarkable achievements, including Nepali climber Phunjo Lama’s record-breaking ascent of Everest in just 14 hours and 31 minutes, the fastest ever by a woman. Briton Kenton Cool extended his record for the most non-Nepali summits with his 18th climb, and Polish climber Piotr Jerzy Krzyzowski became the first to summit both Lhotse and Everest without supplemental oxygen.
Mountaineering guide Tsering Pemba Sherpa, who reached Everest’s summit for the 11th time, highlighted the challenges posed by a dry winter, which increased the risks of wider crevasses and rockfalls. The season was marked by images of climbers queuing in the “death zone,” where thin air and low oxygen levels heighten the risk of altitude sickness. Guide Vinayak Malla attributed the crowding to narrow windows of favorable weather, which caused climbers to aim for the summit simultaneously.
This year, Nepal issued over 900 permits for its mountains, including 421 for Everest, generating more than $5 million in royalties. Despite the challenges and tragedies, the season also celebrated significant accomplishments and the enduring allure of Everest.
