Year: 2024

Summits continue, but multiple climbers are missing near the Hillary Step after some sort of route collapse. Through May 22, Everest has seen 379 summits, compromising 214 Sherpas, or 56% and 165 members or 43%.  The largest summit days so far were May 19, with 100 summits, and May 21, with 104 summits. Nepal issued Everest permits to 414 foreigners. Perhaps another 60 to 100 people may summit on May 23, and activity will quiet down quite a bit. #everest2024

Taking some personal liberty during this Everest 2024 season coverage, I want to share my 2011 Everest summit with an overview, narrative and Podcast. I hope you enjoy it. #everest2024

I used to call the weather windows “Summit Waves,” but they are more like Tsunamis with the occasional puddles this year. Usually, we see hundreds of summits each day, but this year, it can be as few as two people for the entire day. The summit winds continue to be fickle this spring. May 21, 2024, was a huge day for Everest summits, with an estimated 160 summits, and tomorrow may exceed it, with some estimates of over 300 climbers positioned at the South Col. One death was reported, but I have not been able to confirm it. #everest2024

The weather continues to be fickle this spring. Unexpectedly high winds caused a few teams to cancel their move to higher camps while others pushed through and summited. But the fear of crowding has emerged with a vengeance. May 23 has become the new target summit day for many teams.#everest2024

As expected, with low winds, scores of climbers are summiting Everest. This Sunday, May 19th, morning, it’s estimated that over 100 people stood on top of the world. #everest2024

Expedition operator 8k Expeditions found the bodies of their clients Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 31, near the South Summit, around 8,550m and his climbing partner, Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 53, near the Balcony at 8400 meters. More climbers summited on May 13th and 15th, taking the total to 97 Everest summits from the Nepal side and the Tibetan rope team on the Tibet side.  #everest2024

High winds were in the forecast from multiple services and internet sites, but some teams either didn’t believe them or ignored them and made a summit push on Tuesday, May 15 – around fifty people turned back, and two climbers have been missing for days. Almost every team is targeting this weekend for their summit push; thus, we can anticipate significant crowding. #everest2024

Multiple media outlets report that two Mongolian climbers are missing. Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 31 and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 53, were using base camp-only services from 8K Expeditions and climbing together without supplemental oxygen or Sherpa support. They left for the summit from the South Col at 8:45 a.m. on May 13 and haven’t been heard from since. High winds were reported at 70-80 kmh/45-50 mph. A search team has been dispatched by 8K. #everest2024

As many as fifty people made the summit of Everest on Monday morning, May 13th. Nearby, Lhotse also saw summits. Teams arrived at the base camp on the Tibet side, while a French climber sadly lost his life on Makalu. Winds are coming, so the action will slow for a few days.  #everest2024