Mount Everest climbers line up despite new dangers
Delayed start to the season
The first expeditions arrived at base camp back in April. At 5,300 meters (about 17,400 feet), climbers and Nepalese guides are battling the cold, wind and thin air. This year, there is an additional threat: a towering block of ice — known as a serac — blocked the path through the Khumbu Icefall. Although the route is now open, the situation remains extremely precarious.
Risk of collapse
For more than two weeks, the route to the summit was blocked by the towering block of ice in the Khumbu Icefall that threatened to collapse. The Khumbu Icefall is already considered one of the most dangerous sections of the Everest route. Huge crevasses, shifting glaciers and ice walls as tall as houses make every step a risk.
Mountaineering for a living
As the weather improves in the spring, the climbing season on Everest begins. The world's highest mountain attracts people from all over the world. Nepal has issued nearly 500 permits for this season — more than ever before. For Nepal, climbers are a major source of revenue.
Pricey climb
For many climbers, however, the dream of reaching the highest point on Earth outweighs the increased travel costs resulting from the Iran war and the high permit fees, which now stand at $15,000 (some €13,000). The number of climbers aiming to scale the 8,849-meter-high Mount Everest is matched almost exactly by the number of Nepalese guides who accompany them.
Local residents bear the risk
Mountain guides are often members of the Sherpa ethnic group, who are native to Nepal. They prepare the route, carry equipment through the ice fields and secure ladders over deep crevasses. Without them, an ascent would be virtually impossible.
Limited routes in 2026
Mount Everest lies between Nepal and China. However, China has closed its northern route this year. As a result, all expeditions are crowding onto the Nepalese southern route. There, hundreds of tents, fluttering prayer flags and long lines of climbers await the decisive ascent.
