Everest Madness: 274 Climbers Conquer the Peak in One Epic Day!

On Wednesday, a record 274 climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Nepal side, setting a new milestone for the world's tallest mountain. The climbing season started later than usual this year because of weather problems that blocked the route. But when the weather improved, many climbers took the chance to try for the top. The climbs began at 3 a. m. and continued for 11 hours, according to Khimlal Gautam from Nepal's tourism department. This new record beats the previous one set in May 2019, when 223 climbers reached the summit from Nepal in a single day. That same day in 2019, 113 climbers also made it to the top from the northern side in Tibet, but this year, China closed that route to foreign climbers.

This year, Nepal gave permits to almost 500 foreign climbers, which is also a record. Most climbers go with at least one Nepali guide, who do not need permits. Photos shared on social media show long lines of climbers moving slowly up the snowy slopes in the 'death zone,' which is the part of the mountain above 8,000 meters. At this height, the air is very thin, and most people need extra oxygen to breathe. Experts warn that it is dangerous to stay in the death zone for more than 20 hours. Even though the permit fee went up to $15,000 this year, more people than ever are trying to climb Everest. The fee had been $11,000 for many years before this increase.

Some people are worried about the risks of having so many climbers on the mountain at the same time. Expedition organizers say that if teams bring enough oxygen, the crowds can be managed. Lukas Furtenbach, who runs a climbing company, said that other mountains in the Alps see thousands of climbers each day, so 274 is not a huge number for Everest, which is much bigger. This season, both experienced mountaineers and first-time climbers reached the summit. Kami Rita Sherpa, a famous Nepali guide, climbed Everest for the 32nd time, breaking his own world record. Lhakpa Sherpa, known as the 'Mountain Queen,' climbed for the 11th time, setting a new record for women. Russian climber Rustam Nabiev, who lost both legs, reached the top without prosthetics. However, the season also saw some deaths, including Bijay Ghimere, the first climber from Nepal's Dalit community, and two guides, Phura Gyaljen Sherpa and Lakpa Dendi Sherpa. Climbing Everest is still very dangerous, but the dream of reaching the top continues to attract people from all over the world.