{"id":49362,"date":"2026-05-17T14:09:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T20:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/?p=49362"},"modified":"2026-05-17T16:39:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T22:39:20","slug":"everest-2026-may-17-weekend-update-climbers-to-the-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alanarnette.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/17\/everest-2026-may-17-weekend-update-climbers-to-the-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Everest 2026: May 17 Weekend Update – Climbers to the Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
With the ropes to Everest and, now, Lhotse in place, there were multiple summits, including records on Sunday morning, May 17, 2026. With the weather improving, the route in, team after team has left base camp to be in position for their summit. While the major impact of the jet stream has passed, fragments could still create bitter windchill and frostbite, so climbers will need to be prepared to bail if the jet stream suddenly returns.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
The Everest summits for the season total is around 86, with 54 Sherpas and 32 clients. \u00a0The ratio is skewed by the large rope team, entirely comprised of Sherpas. Nepal has issued 492 Everest permits, surpassing the 2024 record of 479. There is climbing on the Tibet side of Everest.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Big Picture<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Leading clients from 14K Peaks, Kami Rita Sherpa<\/a>, 55, summited for a record 32nd time Sunday, while Lhakpa Sherpa<\/a>, 52. climbing with Seven Summits Treks<\/a> (SST), broke her own women’s record with an 11th summit. Climbing with no O’s, Kristin Harila<\/a> summited Nuptse (7,861 m). Now she moves to Everest and Lhotse. \u00a0She climbed with Mingtemba Sherpa.<\/p>\n

Asian Trekking<\/a> also summited Nuptse, a rare feat:<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Asian Trekking warmly congratulates all climbers and team members on today\u2019s successful summit of Nuptse (7,855 m). This achievement was made possible through close cooperation between Asian Trekking and Seven Summit Treks, who worked together to fix the route on Nuptse. The three rope fixers who opened the way to the summit today were Ming Temba Sherpa from SST, Wangja Bhote and Sukra Tamang from Asian Trekking.<\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n
Also summiting today were Tenzing David Sherpa, Director of Asian Trekking, and husband-and-wife climbers Chen Tao \u201cQiangzi\u201d and Chang Huan, supported by Thilen Bhote and Tenjing Bhote. Kristin Harila, climbing with SST, also summited today without the use of supplemental oxygen. This summit is a proud milestone for Chinese mountaineering, with Qiangzi and Chang Huan becoming the first Chinese climbers to summit Nuptse. This also completes Qiangzi\u2019s triple crown achievement of summiting all three peaks: Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Other summits on Sunday included:<\/p>\n