Thursday, May 15, 2025, was a blustry day for Himalayan summits, with low winds. However, some teams will wait a few more days, after May 20th, for a longer window of stable weather, while others will thread the weather needle and try on the 18/19.
While there were summits, there were also deaths, the first of the season for a member on Everest and also two more Sherpas. Everest has over 90 summits, with at least 35 today. An upper respiratory infection appears to be circulating in EBC, Nepal, with multiple members abandoning their climbs.
Round Up
There were summits on Makalu, Lhotse and Everest today.
Climbing The Seven Summits noted a whopping 30 Everest summits made up of eight members, with twenty-two (!!!) Sherpas. This was a member-to-guide ratio of 1:2.75. They also had three Lhotse summits, with one member accompanied by two Sherpas. Of note, American Emma Schwerin broke the record as the youngest American woman to summit Everest, aged 17 years, 2 months and 24 days and completed the Seven Summits.
Pioneer Adventure claimed five Everest summits, two members with three Sherpas.
Dawa Sherpa of Seven Summits Treks reports that Prakriti Varshney and Phurtenzi Sherpa have successfully reached the summit of Lhotse. 8K Expeditions put eight more (4 Sherpas and 4 members) on the summit of Lhotse a day after summiting Everest, bringing their Everest total to 21.
Seven Summits Treks got what may be the last Makalu summits this season with two members and two Sherpas on top today. It may also be over on Kanchangua with Altitude Junkies reports of chest-deep snow thwarting today’s summit bids.
Deaths
Filipino Philipp II Santiago, 45, reportedly died of unknown causes at C4 on his Everest ascent with Nepali operator Snowy Horizon. This is their second client death this season, with the other on Ama Dablam.
The Himalayan Times reported that Nepal’s Ministry of Tourism reported that earlier this season, two unnamed Nepalese employees of unidentified expedition operators died in a Kathmandu hospital after being evacuated from EBC by helicopter. This lack of transparency is typical of the Ministry’s approach to tempering bad news that could harm business.
Endless Waves
Multiple teams are preparing or are already staged at high camps on the Nepal side for their summit pushes; They include:
- Dreamers Destination Treks and Expedition Pvt. Ltd
- Elite Exped
- Furtenbach
- Kaitu Expedition
- Madison Mountaineeering
- Mountain Professionals
- Summit Clim
- Seven Summit Treks
- 7 Summits Club
On the Tibetan side:
Other teams on the Tibetan side that will ascend before the end of the month include Alpenglow, Climbalaya, Kobler & Partner, and a Chinese team of 28. We have no updates on the xenon-powered team that leaves the UK on Friday.
Cover photo of Everest North 2025. Courtesy of Jason Weiss Photography LLC.
Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything
Death Total–Ten across the Himalayas
1, 2. April 8–Annapurna: Rinje Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa, avalanche on Annapurna while working for Seven Summits Treks.
3. April 26–Ama Dablam: Austrian Martin Hornegger, 64, died descending Ama Dablam after summit.
4. May 12–Kanchenjunga: French climber Margareta Morin, 63, died ascending Kanchenjunga, climbing with Peak 15 Adventure.
5. May 5–Makalu: American Alexander (Alex) Pancoe, 39, died at Camp 2, climbing with Madison Mountaineering.
Everest–Five Deaths
1 April 2–Nepali Lanima Sherpa, 55, reportedly died due to high altitude sickness at EBC with an unidentified expedition operator.
2. Early May, Ngima Dorji Sherpa died at EBC from reportedly a brain hemorrhage. He worked for Seven Summits Treks.
3 May 4–Pen Chhiri Sherpa reportedly had a heart attack at Camp I while working for TAG Nepal.
4. May 15–Filipino Philipp II Santiago, 45, reportedly died of unknown causes at C4 on his Everest ascent with Snowy Horizon.
5. May 16, 2025, West Bengal, Indian, Subrata Ghosh, 45, died near the Hillary Step after summiting with Snowy Horizon.
The Podcast on alanarnette.com
You can listen to #everest2025 podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Anchor, and more. Just search for “alan arnette” on your favorite podcast platform.
Previous Everest 2025 Season Coverage Posts
- Everest 2025: More Everest Summits and Three Deaths Reported
- Everest 2025: Mass Everest Summits, with More to Come
- Everest 2025: Earthquake, Summits, Rescues and a Death
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update May 11–Summit, Summits and more Summits
- Everest 2025: Lhotse Summits, Everest Soon & Anticipation
- Everest 2025: Managing the Crowds for a “Summit Weekend”
- Everest 2025: Pumori Avalanche, Makalu Death
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update May 4–Waiting on the Ropes
- Everest 2025: Climbers to Watch and a Death on Ama Dablam
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update May 4–On the Move!
- Everest 2025: Climbers to Watch and a Death on Ama Dablam
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 27–On the Move!
- Everest 2025: Remembering The Day Nepal Shook–10 Years Later
- Everest 2025: When Will They Summit?
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 20–Base Camp Sprawl
- Everest 2025: April 18, A Day to Remember
- Annapurna 2025: Podcast with John Black on Sherpa Deaths
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 11
- Annapurna 2025: Summit and Missing Sherpas
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 6
- Annapurna 2025: Risky Decisions – April 5 Update
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update March 30
- Everest 2025: Weekend Update March 23
- Everest 2025: Welcome to Everest 2025 Coverage – an introduction to the Everest 2025 Spring season
Background
- Everest by the Numbers: 2025 Edition – A deep dive into Everest statistics as compiled by the Himalayan Database
- Comparing the Routes of Everest: 2025 Edition – A detailed look at Everest’s routes, commercial, standard and non-standard
- How Much Does it Cost to Climb Everest: 2025 Edition – My annual review of what it costs to climb Everest solo, unsupported, and guided
The Most Common Mistakes Climbers Make
The most common mistakes climbers make include underestimating the effects of altitude on their bodies and overestimating their physical abilities. Summit Coach can help you achieve a balanced approach to preparation and clarify the confusing advice often found online. Please visit the Summit Coach website for information on prices and offerings.
3 thoughts on “Everest 2025: More Everest Summits and A Death Reported”
The xenon powered UK team posted an update from Heathrow Airport on Friday, with beers in hand. Another interesting approach to preparation! See (at) alcarns on X.
Why is there a reported death of phurba sherpa with an article linked to the year 2023. Is here some error?
Thanks for you updates, love to read them all season.
You are correct Julian, the was 2023. I appologize for the mistake and corrected the post. Thnak you.
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