Mount Everest Climbing Notes
Mount Everest climbing notes shared by Mountain-Forecast users
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(NOTE: Texts may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
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December 02, 2025
Altitude Junkies from Nepal
Hey everyone,
I wanted to put together a quick, friendly rundown of what it’s actually like to climb Everest from the Nepal side—the kind of stuff that’s useful to know if you’re thinking about it someday or just curious how it all works behind the scenes.
So first off, getting to Everest isn’t just “fly to Kathmandu and climb.” You fly to Lukla, which is that famously tiny mountaintop airport, and then you hike for over a week up the Khumbu Valley. Honestly, that part is beautiful—Sherpa villages, prayer flags everywhere, yaks with bells, and a mix of pine forests and huge mountains towering above you. Nights are in simple teahouses: wooden rooms, thin mattresses, and lots of dal bhat. Wi-Fi exists… sometimes… kind of.
By the time you reach Base Camp (~5,350 m), it already feels like a small tent city. Teams have massive dining tents, cooks, heaters, solar panels, and even espresso machines (depending on who you climb with). The glacier under the whole thing groans all night, and the sound of seracs cracking becomes weirdly normal. You end up living here for a month or more, going up and down the mountain to acclimatize.
The climb itself starts with the place everyone talks about: the Khumbu Icefall. It’s basically a frozen river of giant ice blocks slowly moving downhill. The route changes constantly. You walk across crevasses on aluminum ladders tied together with rope, and everything is held in place by fixed lines. This is one of the most dangerous parts, so you go through it early in the morning before the sun softens the ice.
Above the Icefall is Camp I, then a long, flat glacier valley called the Western Cwm, which feels like a solar oven. That leads to Camp II, where many teams spend a lot of acclimatization time. After that, the route gets serious on the Lhotse Face—hard blue ice at 40–50 degrees—which brings you to Camps III and IV.
Camp IV (South Col) feels like another planet. The wind is relentless, the air is brutally thin, and everything is loud, cold, and uncomfortable. This is where you switch to supplemental oxygen (unless you’re one of those ultra-elite no-O₂ climbers). Summit day usually starts around midnight. You climb in a long line of headlamps, and key landmarks like the Balcony, the South Summit, and the final ridge are absolutely unreal—narrow, exposed, and dramatic. The Hillary Step isn’t really the big block it once was, but the area is still steep and technical.
Reaching the top of Everest doesn’t feel like triumph as much as disbelief—and you only stay a few minutes, because the real goal is getting back down safe. The descent is just as tiring and, honestly, more mentally draining.
A few things I’d tell any friend:
Be in the best shape of your life. Everest is long, cold, and unforgiving.
Pick a good, experienced operator—it makes everything safer.
Acclimatize slowly; rushing is how people get hurt.
And above all: stay humble up there. The mountain doesn’t care how strong you are.
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October 28, 2021
Marlette de Jager from South Africa
Hi.
What a great goal Abbas.
I agree with what everyone has said. I summited Everest this year on 12 May.
Before that I had climbed 5 of the 7 summits and did lots of endurance and strength training.
Alan Annette runs a climbing blog and coaches climbers if you wish to look his info up. All the best. Marlette @mollyandthemts
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May 22, 2020
Huey from United States
After multiple high altitude summits including Aconcagua, I was able to reach just below the Everest balcony on May22nd 2019. Short weather window, long lines and physical limitations forced an abort decision. My recommendations are simple. Climb as many alpine Mountains as you can. Get comfortable with suffering. Build tremendous stamina. Then go enjoy Everest. Good luck.
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May 23, 2017
mechelle from United States
Abbasi I've read there is a training facility in Nepal to train sherpas to climb Everest and other 8,000 meter peaks. I'd contact them and ask if you could join the program. Since this is all they do I'd bet you could learn all you need to to climb 8,000 meter peaks as well as practice. After that I'd start climbing easier 8,000 meter peaks to be ready for Everest. Also there are good books to read and experienced climbers with blogs that can answer all questions. Good luck and I'll be watching for your name in the 2022 Everest expedition teams.
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February 22, 2017
Abbasi Mirza from Singapore
My Name is Abbasi Mirza. Indian National but currently residing in Singapore. I am 36 years old and currently heavily build up. Started working out on losing extra few kilos.
I always wanted to climb mountain but somehow couldn't get started until now....now very much determined....Climbing Mountain Everest is the ultimate goal....I know it takes 2-3 years training & preparation to be in Everest fit Shape...
I am very reasonable to my goal and expecting to do it in 2022...but i need guidance from you experience people here as about how do I start and where to join for training...everything that is needed to be done for achieving my goal...
Will love to hear from anyone of you people here, many thanks in advance.
Cheers!!!
Abbas
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September 21, 2014
Vidiya from Spain
Will be doing base camp trek 2/10/14 any tips on weather etc? Many thanks!
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October 01, 2013
Sarah Hochstetler from United States
I'm wanting to climb Mount Everest hopefully in two or three years. I've already began training. Would like to know what it's like from others to actually climb this big mountain because I want to climb it. Lets remain realistic and positive.
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June 11, 2013
Rohan Sharma from India
I want to climb Mount Everest in 2014.
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May 13, 2012
Anil Retawade from India
Those who are waiting for Everest summit climb on 14 May & summit on 16 May. Otherwise you need more waiting for a clear window. Be positive and move towards summit.
(NOTE: Texts may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Altitude Junkies from Nepal
Hey everyone,
I wanted to put together a quick, friendly rundown of what it’s actually like to climb Everest from the Nepal side—the kind of stuff that’s useful to know if you’re thinking about it someday or just curious how it all works behind the scenes.
So first off, getting to Everest isn’t just “fly to Kathmandu and climb.” You fly to Lukla, which is that famously tiny mountaintop airport, and then you hike for over a week up the Khumbu Valley. Honestly, that part is beautiful—Sherpa villages, prayer flags everywhere, yaks with bells, and a mix of pine forests and huge mountains towering above you. Nights are in simple teahouses: wooden rooms, thin mattresses, and lots of dal bhat. Wi-Fi exists… sometimes… kind of.
By the time you reach Base Camp (~5,350 m), it already feels like a small tent city. Teams have massive dining tents, cooks, heaters, solar panels, and even espresso machines (depending on who you climb with). The glacier under the whole thing groans all night, and the sound of seracs cracking becomes weirdly normal. You end up living here for a month or more, going up and down the mountain to acclimatize.
The climb itself starts with the place everyone talks about: the Khumbu Icefall. It’s basically a frozen river of giant ice blocks slowly moving downhill. The route changes constantly. You walk across crevasses on aluminum ladders tied together with rope, and everything is held in place by fixed lines. This is one of the most dangerous parts, so you go through it early in the morning before the sun softens the ice.
Above the Icefall is Camp I, then a long, flat glacier valley called the Western Cwm, which feels like a solar oven. That leads to Camp II, where many teams spend a lot of acclimatization time. After that, the route gets serious on the Lhotse Face—hard blue ice at 40–50 degrees—which brings you to Camps III and IV.
Camp IV (South Col) feels like another planet. The wind is relentless, the air is brutally thin, and everything is loud, cold, and uncomfortable. This is where you switch to supplemental oxygen (unless you’re one of those ultra-elite no-O₂ climbers). Summit day usually starts around midnight. You climb in a long line of headlamps, and key landmarks like the Balcony, the South Summit, and the final ridge are absolutely unreal—narrow, exposed, and dramatic. The Hillary Step isn’t really the big block it once was, but the area is still steep and technical.
Reaching the top of Everest doesn’t feel like triumph as much as disbelief—and you only stay a few minutes, because the real goal is getting back down safe. The descent is just as tiring and, honestly, more mentally draining.
A few things I’d tell any friend:
Be in the best shape of your life. Everest is long, cold, and unforgiving.
Pick a good, experienced operator—it makes everything safer.
Acclimatize slowly; rushing is how people get hurt.
And above all: stay humble up there. The mountain doesn’t care how strong you are.
Marlette de Jager from South Africa
Hi.
What a great goal Abbas.
I agree with what everyone has said. I summited Everest this year on 12 May.
Before that I had climbed 5 of the 7 summits and did lots of endurance and strength training.
Alan Annette runs a climbing blog and coaches climbers if you wish to look his info up. All the best. Marlette @mollyandthemts
Huey from United States
After multiple high altitude summits including Aconcagua, I was able to reach just below the Everest balcony on May22nd 2019. Short weather window, long lines and physical limitations forced an abort decision. My recommendations are simple. Climb as many alpine Mountains as you can. Get comfortable with suffering. Build tremendous stamina. Then go enjoy Everest. Good luck.
mechelle from United States
Abbasi I've read there is a training facility in Nepal to train sherpas to climb Everest and other 8,000 meter peaks. I'd contact them and ask if you could join the program. Since this is all they do I'd bet you could learn all you need to to climb 8,000 meter peaks as well as practice. After that I'd start climbing easier 8,000 meter peaks to be ready for Everest. Also there are good books to read and experienced climbers with blogs that can answer all questions. Good luck and I'll be watching for your name in the 2022 Everest expedition teams.
Abbasi Mirza from Singapore
My Name is Abbasi Mirza. Indian National but currently residing in Singapore. I am 36 years old and currently heavily build up. Started working out on losing extra few kilos.
I always wanted to climb mountain but somehow couldn't get started until now....now very much determined....Climbing Mountain Everest is the ultimate goal....I know it takes 2-3 years training & preparation to be in Everest fit Shape...
I am very reasonable to my goal and expecting to do it in 2022...but i need guidance from you experience people here as about how do I start and where to join for training...everything that is needed to be done for achieving my goal...
Will love to hear from anyone of you people here, many thanks in advance.
Cheers!!!
Abbas
Vidiya from Spain
Will be doing base camp trek 2/10/14 any tips on weather etc? Many thanks!
Sarah Hochstetler from United States
I'm wanting to climb Mount Everest hopefully in two or three years. I've already began training. Would like to know what it's like from others to actually climb this big mountain because I want to climb it. Lets remain realistic and positive.
Rohan Sharma from India
I want to climb Mount Everest in 2014.
Anil Retawade from India
Those who are waiting for Everest summit climb on 14 May & summit on 16 May. Otherwise you need more waiting for a clear window. Be positive and move towards summit.
