16 Shocking Facts About Mt. Everest

Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, and it has captivated adventurers, climbers, and explorers for over a century. But, despite its fame, there are still many surprising and shocking facts about this iconic peak. Here are 16 of the most interesting and unexpected:

1. Mount Everest is not the only tallest mountain on Earth

While Mount Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level, there is another mountain that is taller from base to summit. Mt. Mauna Kea in Hawaii is such a mountain, which measures over 33,000 feet (10,058 meters) from the seafloor to its peak. However, because much of Mauna Kea is underwater, Mount Everest is still considered the tallest mountain on Earth from a traditional perspective.

2. Mount Everest is still growing

Mount Everest is still growing about a quarter of an inch (0.6 centimeters) every year due to tectonic activity and the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Over millions of years, this continuous upward movement has resulted in the formation of the Himalayas, of which Mount Everest is the tallest peak. However, this growth is not perceptible to the naked eye and requires precise measurements using advanced technology.

3. The first to attempt to climb Mount

The first attempt to climb Mount Everest was made in 1921 by a British expedition led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Howard-Bury. The team included mountaineers and Guy Bullock, as well as photographer and filmmaker John Noel. George Mallory, he died on the mountain in 1924, and his body was not found until 1999. However, the expedition was plagued by bad weather and logistical difficulties, and they were unable to reach the summit.

The first successful ascent of Mount Everest was made by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa of Nepal, on May 29, 1953, as part of a British expedition led by John Hunt.

4. Mount Everest is also known as Chomolungma and Sagarmatha

Mount Everest has different names in different languages:

In Nepal, the mountain is known as Sagarmatha, which means "forehead of the sky" or "goddess of the sky" in the Nepali language.

In Tibet, the mountain is known as Chomolungma or Qomolangma, which means "goddess mother of the world" in the Tibetan language.

The mountain was named after Sir George Everest, a Welsh surveyor and geographer who was the Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, by Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. The mountain was previously known as Peak XV before being named Mount Everest.

5. The numbers

More than 4,000 people have climbed Mount Everest since 1953, and over 300 people have died while attempting the climb. Mount Everest is one of the most challenging climbs in the world, and only a few hundred people make it to the summit every year.

6. The first woman to climb Mount Everest

The first woman to climb Mount Everest was Junko Tabei, a Japanese mountaineer. She reached the summit on May 16, 1975, as part of an all-female team from Japan. Tabei was 35 years old at the time of her ascent.

Tabei had to overcome various challenges and obstacles, including cultural biases against women climbers in Japan, as well as a severe avalanche that struck the team's camp during the climb. However, she persevered and became a trailblazer for women in mountaineering.

7. There is a "death zone" on Mount Everest

There is a "death zone" on Mount Everest, which refers to elevations above 26,247 feet (8,000 meters) where the air pressure is so low that the human body cannot survive without supplemental oxygen.

8. Mount Everest Height Controversy

There has been some controversy over the exact height of Mount Everest, as different surveys and measurement techniques have yielded slightly different results.

The most widely accepted height of Mount Everest is 29,029 feet (8,848 meters), which was determined by a survey conducted in 1954 by the Survey of India. This measurement has been widely accepted and recognized by the international community, including the Nepalese and Chinese governments.

However, in recent years, some new measurements and surveys have suggested slightly different heights for the mountain. In 1999, a National Geographic Society expedition used GPS technology to measure the mountain's height as 29,035 feet (8,850 meters), which is slightly higher than the previous measurement.

In 2020, the Nepalese government, in collaboration with China, conducted its own survey and measured the height of Mount Everest as 29,031.69 feet (8,848.86 meters), which is slightly lower than the previous measurements.

Despite these slight differences in measurements, the widely accepted height of 29,029 feet (8,848 meters) remains the official height of Mount Everest for most purposes, including climbing and mapping.

9. Wedding on the Everest Summit

The wedding on the summit of Mount Everest was between Moni Mulepati and Pem Dorjee Sherpa in May 2005. The couple, both experienced climbers, had dreamed of getting married on the world's highest peak for years and decided to make their dream a reality.

The wedding was not without challenges, as the couple faced extreme weather conditions, high altitude sickness, and technical difficulties on their way to the summit. However, they persevered and eventually reached the top, where they exchanged vows in front of a small group of fellow climbers and sherpas.

Their wedding was a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to their love and commitment to each other. It also inspired many others to attempt similar feats, although it is important to note that climbing Mount Everest is a dangerous and challenging endeavor that requires careful planning, preparation, and experience.

Overall, the first wedding on the summit of Everest was a historic and unforgettable event that will be remembered for years to come.

10. Helicopter landing on the Everest summit

Didier Delsalle is a French helicopter pilot who made history on May 14, 2005, by landing his Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter on the summit of Mount Everest. Delsalle accomplished the feat as part of a private expedition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

Delsalle's helicopter was equipped with a powerful engine that allowed it to operate at high altitudes. He took off from the base camp at 17,192 feet and ascended to the summit, which is 29,035 feet above sea level. He landed on the summit for about two minutes before taking off again.

The landing was a controversial and widely criticized event, as many people saw it as a dangerous and disrespectful stunt that endangered the lives of climbers and sherpas who were attempting to summit Everest. The Nepalese government also banned helicopter landings on Everest in 2005, citing environmental and safety concerns.

Despite the criticism, Delsalle defended his achievement, saying that he had carefully planned the landing and took all necessary safety precautions. He also noted that the landing was a symbolic gesture to honor the accomplishments of the early Everest climbers and to showcase the capabilities of modern technology.

In any case, the landing has gone down in history as one of the most daring and controversial feats in the history of mountaineering.

11. Traffic jam on Mount Everest

In recent years, there have been reports of traffic jams on the summit of Mount Everest, which is the highest peak in the world at 29,029 feet (8,848 meters). The congestion is caused by the large number of climbers attempting to reach the summit during the narrow window of good weather each spring.

The main cause of these traffic jams is the limited number of days each year when the weather is good enough for climbers to attempt the summit. During this time, a large number of climbers attempt to summit the mountain, causing congestion in areas such as the Hillary Step and the summit ridge.

In addition, the increase in the number of climbers attempting to summit Everest has led to a lack of regulation and control on the mountain. This has resulted in inexperienced climbers attempting to climb the mountain, causing delays and endangering themselves and others.

The traffic jams on Mount Everest's summit are a serious concern for the safety of climbers. The lack of regulation and control on the mountain, combined with the limited number of days each year when weather conditions are favorable, has led to dangerous and sometimes deadly situations. It is important for the climbing community to work together to address these issues and ensure the safety of all climbers on the mountain.

12. A Bitter Truth: Mount Everest is covered in trash

Mount Everest is covered in trash left behind by climbers, including oxygen tanks, food wrappers, and even human waste. In 2008, the Nepalese government instituted a rule requiring climbers to bring down all their trash from the mountain, but enforcement has been inconsistent.

13. The Two O'Clock Rule on Mount Everest

The Two O'Clock Rule on Mount Everest refers to a commonly accepted turnaround time for climbers attempting to summit the mountain. The rule dictates that climbers should turn back no later than 2:00 pm, regardless of their progress towards the summit.

The reason for this rule is to ensure that climbers have enough time to descend safely before nightfall, as descending in the dark increases the risk of accidents and frostbite. It also helps prevent climbers from getting caught in the notorious high-altitude storms that can occur in the late afternoon.

The Two O'Clock Rule is just one of the many safety protocols that climbers must follow when attempting to summit Mount Everest. Other protocols include acclimatization periods, the use of supplemental oxygen, and strict adherence to climbing ropes and anchors.

Despite these safety protocols, climbing Mount Everest is still an extremely dangerous endeavor, and climbers face a variety of risks including altitude sickness, avalanches, and falls. As such, climbers should only attempt the climb with extensive training, experience, and the guidance of an experienced guide or expedition company.

14. Climbing Mount Everest is an expensive expedition

The cost of climbing Mount Everest can vary greatly depending on several factors, including the type of expedition, the level of support and services provided, and the experience and reputation of the guiding company. However, in general, climbing Mount Everest can be an extremely expensive undertaking.

The cost of a basic permit to climb Everest from the Nepalese side is $11,000 per person. However, this is just the cost of the permit and does not include the many other expenses associated with the climb. For example, climbers will need to purchase or rent specialized gear and equipment, pay for transportation to and from the mountain, pay for food and lodging during the expedition, and pay for the services of a guide and support staff.

The total cost of a typically guided expedition to Mount Everest can range from $30,000 to $100,000 or more per person. Some of the highest-priced expeditions can cost upwards of $150,000. However, it is important to note that these prices may not include other additional expenses such as travel to and from Nepal, visa fees, insurance, and other incidental expenses.

It is also worth noting that while some climbers may attempt to climb Everest on their own, most choose to climb with the assistance of a reputable guiding company, as this greatly increases their chances of success and helps ensure their safety on the mountain.

15. The Summit of Mount Everest is a borderline

The summit of Mount Everest, which is the highest point on the Earth's surface, sits directly on the border between these two countries, Nepal and China.

In fact, the international boundary between Nepal and China runs across the summit of Mount Everest, which means that climbers who reach the summit have technically crossed from Nepal into Tibet (or vice versa, depending on which direction they are coming from).

16. Ban on solo climbers and climbers with disabilities

In December 2017, the Nepalese government implemented a new set of rules for climbing Mount Everest, which included a ban on solo climbers and climbers with disabilities from attempting to climb the mountain.

The new rules also required climbers to be accompanied by a qualified guide and to obtain a medical certificate stating that they were physically fit to climb the mountain. Additionally, the Nepalese government increased the minimum amount of experience required for climbers attempting to climb Everest, requiring them to have previously summited at least one peak above 6,500 meters.

The decision to implement these new rules was in response to a number of safety concerns on the mountain, including a high number of deaths and injuries, as well as reports of unscrupulous guiding practices and an increasing number of inexperienced climbers attempting to climb Everest.

While the ban on solo climbers and climbers with disabilities has been controversial, many experts agree that the new rules are necessary to improve safety on the mountain and to ensure that climbers are properly prepared and equipped for the challenges of climbing Everest.

 

In conclusion; Mount Everest is an awe-inspiring peak that has fascinated people for decades. However, the climb to the summit is not without its risks and challenges. Despite its popularity, overcrowding and trash on the mountain have become major issues in recent years. With the continued growth of adventure tourism and climbing expeditions, it is important to balance the desire for exploration and adventure with respect for the natural environment and the safety of climbers. Nevertheless, Mount Everest will continue to be a symbol of human achievement and perseverance, inspiring people around the world to push their limits and strive for greatness.

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