Everest 2025: When Will They Summit?
The Khumbu is busy. Base Camp is filling up. Climbers are posting selfies and are already acclimatizing at Camp 1. Everest 2025 is underway, but when will they summit? #everest2025
Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 20–BaseCamp Sprawl
The 2025 season is well underway, and more teams arrive at Everest Base Camp each day. The Icefall Doctors have the fixed line to Camp 2, where 8K Expeditions will take over and fix the route to the summit. I expect them by early May. It’s a tough job, to be sure. Also, a short narrative on the puja ceremony.
This may go down as the season of stunts, pleasing those who have called Everest a circus for years. Game on!
#everest2025
Everest 2025: April 18, A Day to Remember
On April 18, 2014, at 6:35 am, an ice serac released a small section onto the Khumbu Icefall. 16 Sherpas were killed in a moment as tons of ice fell, leaving the mountain workers with few options and nowhere to hide. Historically, on April 18, there was no climbing to honor the fallen, but memories fade, and today, eleven years later, in 2025, there is climbing on Mt. Everest. Only a few guides, mostly Western, acknowledge the day on their sites. #everest2025
Annapurna 2025: Podcast with John Black on Sherpa Deaths
As I previously reported, two Sherpas lost their lives when struck by an avalanche on the 8000er, Annapurna, on April 7, 2025. Ngima Tashi and Rima Rinje were swept into a deep crevasse between Camps 2 and 3. Four days later, Sherpas located their bodies using RECCO reflective technology after several helicopter searches proved unsuccessful. Retrieval was not attempted due to the bodies being inside a deep crevasse and the ongoing avalanche danger. In the Podcast are multiple still images from his climb, plus a video of the actual avalanche taken by John. #annapurna2025 #everest2025
Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 13–Icefall In, Summits and Deaths
It was a tough week in the Himalayas. We saw summits on two 800ers, two Sherpas died, and the Icefall Doctors finally got the route to Camp 1 through the Khumbu Icefall. Also, it feels like the early predictions of a record and crowded Nepal side are coming true, with more permits issued at this time than last year. #everest2025
Annapurna 2025: Summit and Missing Sherpas
Multiple teams, including 8K, Imagine, Pioneer, and Seven Summits Treks, reported summits on April 6 and 7, perhaps over 45. However, as of 8:ooPM, April 7 local time, two Sherpas are missing between Camps 2 and 3 due to an avalanche. This area was the most concerning for everyone, as South Africans Warren Eva and John Black posted an excellent video update from base camp. Warren summited while John turned back.
#annapurna2025. #everest2025
Everest 2025: Weekend Update April 6–1st 8000er Summits
Despite ominous weather and route conditions, various media reports have at least four climbers summiting Annapurna on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Early reports of disturbing conditions on Annapurna seem to be mirrored on Everest. The Kumbu is buzzing with activity, and the Icefall Doctors are struggling again this year to get the route through the Icefall. In other words, busy as usual in the mid-2020s. #everest2025
Annapurna 2025: Risky Decisions – April 7 Update: Summits and Missing Sherpas
According to long-time Sherpa climbers, Annanupurna is experiencing some of the worst conditions ever. After an abnormally dry winter, the lower mountain, usually snow-covered, is bone dry, and the upper mountain is hard-packed, blue ice. Climbers are not using their mountaineering boots or crampons to reach Camp 1.
Also, large, wide, and deep open crevasses pose problems. Then, in a twist, heavy snowfall is predicted in a few days, forcing teams to either rush or delay their summit plans. The fixed ropes are only to Camp 3, and it’s been deemed that the traditional Camp 4, from which all summit pushes began, should not be put up. This will make for an extraordinary long summit push.
It will be interesting to see how the dry winter impacted Everest and Lhotse this year. I expect a similar dry climbing scenario.
#annapurna2025. #everest2025
Everest 2025: Weekend Update March 30
Early data suggest Everest will see a record year, primarily driven by Chinese and Indian clients. I won’t be surprised to see over 1,000 total summits from both sides. The Icefall Doctors are already at work. Sherpas are setting up Base Camp, which is starting to look like a small city.
The Himalayan winter was warm and dry, causing the snow line on Everest to move higher and increasing the chances of rockfall. Climbers need to be very aware and stay safe this season. #everest2025
Everest 2025: Weekend Update March 23
This is the Weekend Update for Everest 2025. The season is about to get started in earnest. Climber after climber and team after team are leaving home. In many cases, scores of Sherpas are on their way to Everest Base Camp to begin the arduous process of establishing a home for over 1,000 people this spring season. The Icefall Doctors are already at work. #everest2025