Everest is a circus. Honestly, that’s the first thing you’ll hear from anyone who has spent more than twenty minutes at Base Camp lately. It’s crowded. It’s expensive. It’s littered with empty oxygen canisters and, occasionally, the frozen remains of those who didn't make it back down. Yet, every spring, hundreds of people climbing Mount Everest converge on the Khumbu Glacier, driven by a mix of ego, ambition, and a genuine, soul-deep desire to stand on top of the world.
It’s a strange phenomenon.
You’ve seen the photos of the "human snake"—that long, agonizing line of climbers clipped into a single rope near the Hillary Step. It went viral a few years back thanks to Nirmal "Nims" Purja. That image changed the public perception of the mountain forever. It turned a feat of endurance into a symbol of over-commercialization. But there is so much more to the story than just traffic jams.
The Brutal Physics of the Death Zone
When we talk about people climbing Mount Everest, we are talking about biology failing. Once you pass 8,000 meters, you enter the Death Zone. Your body is literally dying. Cells are starving for oxygen faster than you can replenish them. Even with bottled O2, you’re basically operating on a fraction of your normal capacity.
The air pressure at the summit is roughly one-third of what it is at sea level. Imagine trying to run a marathon while breathing through a cocktail straw. That is the reality. It’s not just the lungs, either. Your brain swells—High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)—and your lungs fill with fluid—High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). It’s messy. It’s terrifying.
Expert mountaineers like Ed Viesturs, who famously climbed all fourteen 8,000-meter peaks without supplemental oxygen, often emphasize that getting to the top is optional, but getting down is mandatory. Most deaths occur on the descent. Why? Because the adrenaline wears off. You’ve used 80% of your energy getting to the peak, and now you have to navigate the technical descent with a brain that is essentially functioning in a fog of hypoxia.
Why the Cost is Skyrocketing
If you want to join the ranks of people climbing Mount Everest, bring your wallet. A standard guided expedition will set you back anywhere from $45,000 to $100,000. Some "VVIP" packages even top $200,000.
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Where does that money go?
- Permits: The Nepalese government charges $11,000 per person just for the piece of paper that says you're allowed to be there.
- Logistics: You need a small army. Sherpas, cooks, base camp managers, and porters.
- Oxygen: Each bottle of "Os" costs hundreds of dollars, and you’ll need at least five or six.
- Gear: Down suits that look like spacesuits, boots that cost a month's rent, and specialized electronics.
It’s a massive industry. For Nepal, Everest is a primary source of foreign currency. This creates a tension between safety and revenue. The more permits the government issues, the more money they make, but the more dangerous the mountain becomes.
The Sherpa Perspective: The Real Backbone
We need to be real about who is actually doing the heavy lifting. People climbing Mount Everest usually aren't carrying their own tents, food, or extra oxygen. The Sherpas are. They are the elite athletes of the high Himalaya, genetically adapted to thin air over thousands of years.
Kami Rita Sherpa has summited the mountain 30 times as of 2024. Think about that. Thirty times into the Death Zone. Most "climbers" do it once and call it the achievement of a lifetime. For the Sherpa community, it's a high-stakes job. They fix the ropes. They carry the loads. They rescue the wealthy tourists who realize too late that they are in over their heads.
There’s a growing movement for better pay and insurance for these workers. In 2014, after a tragic icefall collapse killed 16 Sherpas, the community effectively went on strike to demand better conditions. The power dynamic is shifting, and it’s about time.
The Trash Problem and the "Green" Everest
People leave stuff behind. It’s a fact of human nature, especially when you’re struggling to survive. For decades, Everest was called the "world's highest junkyard."
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However, things are changing. The Sagarmatha Next project and various "Bally Peak Outlook" initiatives have started removing literal tons of waste. There’s now a rule that every climber must bring down 8kg of trash in addition to their own waste. If they don't, they lose their deposit.
Human waste is another issue. At Base Camp, it's managed, but higher up? It's been an environmental disaster. Newer technology, like portable solar-powered toilets and mandatory "wag bags" (waste bags) at higher camps, is starting to gain traction to prevent the Khumbu Glacier from becoming a frozen sewer.
The Psychology of "Summit Fever"
Why do they do it? Honestly, the psychology is fascinating.
Psychologists often point to the "Sunk Cost Fallacy." You’ve spent $60,000. You’ve trained for two years. You’re 300 meters from the top. The weather is turning, and your guide says you need to turn around. Do you listen?
Many don't. That’s how tragedies happen. The 1996 disaster, chronicled by Jon Krakauer in Into Thin Air, was a perfect storm of ego, timing, and bad luck. It serves as a permanent warning. You don't "conquer" a mountain. It just lets you be there for a few minutes if you’re lucky.
The Gear Revolution: Technology in 2026
Modern people climbing Mount Everest have it "easier" than Hillary and Tenzing did in 1953, but only in a relative sense.
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The gear has evolved. We now have hyper-accurate weather forecasting. Instead of guessing, expedition leaders receive satellite-linked updates that can predict a window of clear weather down to the hour. This is why you see the crowds—everyone is waiting for the same three-day window of low wind.
Heated socks, GPS trackers, and lightweight carbon-fiber oxygen masks have made the environment more survivable. But the cold is still -40 degrees. The wind can still blow you off a ridge. The technology is a safety net, not a guarantee.
What to Actually Do If You’re Thinking About It
If you’re genuinely considering joining the ranks of people climbing Mount Everest, don't just book a flight to Kathmandu. That’s a recipe for disaster.
- Build a Resume: You shouldn't even look at Everest until you’ve climbed several 6,000m and 7,000m peaks. Try Aconcagua or Denali first.
- Vet Your Agency: Don't go for the cheapest option. Look for companies with high Sherpa-to-client ratios and a proven track record of turning people around when the weather turns.
- Physical Conditioning: We aren't talking about "gym fit." We are talking about "weighted-pack-for-ten-hours-at-a-time" fit.
- Understand the Ethics: Consider the impact of your climb. Are you supporting a local agency? Are you prepared to carry your own waste?
The mountain is still there. It's beautiful, deadly, and increasingly crowded. But for those who respect it, the experience of seeing the curvature of the Earth from the top of the world remains the ultimate human endeavor. Just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons, not just for the Instagram photo at the Hillary Step.
The most important insight is this: The summit is only the halfway point. True success is defined by walking back into Base Camp on your own two feet, with all your fingers and toes intact. Everything else is just ego. No mountain is worth a life, and the most seasoned climbers are the ones who know when to say "not today."