Mount Everest is the world’s highest mountain (above sea level) standing at an astonishing 8,848m (29,029 ft) and the peak I am hoping to summit next year, on my biggest adventure yet…
In preparation for the challenge, I have discovered some incredible facts about Mount Everest to share with you all.
1. Mount Everest is actually NOT the tallest mountain in the world
Yep, it’s true! Although Everest is definitely the highest mountain above sea level, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is technically the worlds tallest mountain base-to-peak, standing at an enormous 10,210m (33,500 ft) above sea level!
2. It costs a minimum of $30,000 to climb Mount Everest
It’s definitely not cheap and this is the minimum it can cost (It can actually be much much more!) If you love hiking and climbing it’s important to know the cost of reaching the summit of Everest. The cost comes from a breakdown of insurance, guides, transportation and professional gear.
3. It takes around 10 weeks to Summit Mount Everest
To summit Everest, adapting to the high altitude is fundamental. Due to this, training between the base camps is an important part of the climb, which means you hike between camps repeatedly to get your body acclimatised. Then, when you’re ready and the conditions are correct, you can take on the peak.
4. The first woman to summit Mount Everest was from Japan
Junko Tabei, a Japanese woman, became the first woman to summit Mount Everest in 1975!
5. Everest has been summited more than 7,000 by over 4,000 people
Since the first recorded person summited Everest in 1953, more than 4,000 people have reached the peak over 7,000 times!
6. The average death rate is 4%, with over 300 people dying on the mountain
Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for people to die whilst attempting this great challenge. Most people have died due to falling into crevasses, avalanches and severe altitude sickness. What is also interesting, is that most of them actually died whilst descending.
7. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Everest in 2014, killing 16 Sherpa and climbers and injured 61 people.
This was one of the biggest tragedies to ever hit Everest. The deaths were caused by an avalanche at base camp that was triggered due to the earthquake.
8. Everest grows 44 millimetres per year!
This phenomenon occurs due to the continuous shift of the planets tectonic plates, which pushes the Himalayas upwards.
9. Kami Rita Sherpa holds the record for the most summits, at a total of 24!
Kami Sherpa’s most recent successful summit was in May of 2019. The record for the most successful summits by a woman is held by mountain guide Lhakpa Sherpa at an impressive 9.
10. The fastest summit recorded was just 10 hours and 56 minutes
The record is held by Lakpa Gelu Sherpa who climbed the South Side of the mountain in Nepalin 2003, in a crazy record time of 10 hours and 56 minutes!
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