It’s 3:20am as I tiptoe down the creaky stairs of the Buddha Lodge teahouse in Gorak Shep and push the front door open to an icy blast of alpine air.

“Good morning,” says Jonathan Davies, who’s already waiting outside in the dark with two of our Himalayan guides, his headlamp strapped to his head in anticipation of our pre-dawn hike.

The celebrated Welsh rugby player and I have been trekking in Nepal for the last eight days with a small group pulled together by his friend and mentor, Rhys David, the new CEO of EverTrek, an adventure company that Davies has recently become a brand ambassador for.

Yesterday, we finally reached Everest Base Camp, at 17,598ft (5,364m) above sea level, where we hugged, high-fived, and clambered giddily onto a famous boulder for a group photo. After an hour or so ogling the Khumbu icefall and the smattering of yellow tents that remain late in climbing season when most mountaineers have summited or been repelled by the mountain one way or another, we hiked back down to Gorak Shep to spend the night before beginning our descent.

Before we do that, though, Davies and I have opted in to an excruciating alpine start to climb another 1,000ft (300m) higher than Base Camp up Kala Patthar to watch the sun rise over Everest and Lhotse. Our trekking companions have, quite sensibly, chosen to remain in bed.

The last scrum

The 37-year-old, affectionately known as 'Foxy' – a nickname he tells me people are often disappointed to learn he only earned because his parents owned the Fox and Hound Pub in Carmarthenshire and nothing more salacious – recently retired from a hugely successful 18-year rugby career. After signing with the Llanelli Scarlets immediately out of high school, his impressive stint saw him play for Wales 96 times, as well as in four Six Nations tournaments, two grand slams, and two Lions tours.

In May of 2024, right around the time his first son was born, Davies played his last game with the Scarlets, and decided to take a break to spend time with his growing family and think about his next move.

“I’ve been around for so much more than a lot of new dads get, and that’s the most important thing,” says Davies.

“There’s a bigger purpose in my life now. So it was great timing.”

After nearly six months, he says he knew that the more time he spent off the pitch, the more he realized he didn’t miss the game. Davies announced his retirement from the sport in October 2024, and tells me he did so without any regrets or reservations.

“I look back at my career and there’s not much else I could have done, so I’m happy, very fortunate.”

A fox on the trot

When we begin our starlit march across the high alpine desert terrain to Kala Patthar, it’s been almost exactly a year since his last game, and if you’ve been watching him play for a long time, it shows. In a 2024 interview with the BBC, Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel describes the first time he set eyes on Davies when he made his debut aged 18.

"There was a lot of talk of this kid coming through from Bancyfelin, and when he turned up to training, he was a monster," says Peel.

"It was a shock because of how big he was physically. He was more developed than most of the senior team.”

Though he’s still dedicated to physical conditioning – one of the first things he does when we get back to Kathmandu after 11 days of trekking is hit the hotel gym – with the intense training of his professional days behind him, he’s slimmed down to 210lb (95kg). But this lighter version of Davies turns out to be as strong and nimble as ever, and no less afraid of a challenge.

“I had one eye on Kala Patthar the whole time because it was that little bit higher than Base Camp, and I wanted to see if it would stress me,” he tells me of his decision to take our guides up on the optional extra hike.

Breaking the elastic

The walk up Kala Patthar itself is relatively short, with just over a mile of climbing, but in that time, we gain more than 1,300ft (396m) in elevation, and we’re quickly subdued into a breathless silence.

As minutes tick by, the silhouettes of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Ama Dablam, and more start to loom out of the receding darkness, and I become aware of a growing distance between myself and the rugby player. Perhaps I expected to have an edge over him, what with my many decades of experience trekking around the world, but as we near the ridgeline and every breath becomes an effort, I can’t help but slow down while he digs in. In professional cycling, something we’re both big fans of, there’s a term for this: “breaking the elastic”.

Knowing that sunrise is mere minutes away and if he keeps slowing down for my sake, he could miss it, I give Davies the nod, and within seconds, the elastic is in shreds, he and one of our guides have all but disappeared from view as they scurry up to a radio tower that marks the highest point. Myself and our remaining guide clamber weakly up to a ridgeline where I plop down on a frosty rock, my heart pounding, and watch the snow on the biggest mountains on earth turn dusky pink.

“The size of the whole mountain range is just breath taking, but I think Kala Patthar was the exclamation mark on it all,” says Davies later, after we’ve regrouped, met up with our trekking companions, and walked another eight miles down to Dingboche to spend the night.

A love of the outdoors

For fans used to seeing Davies scoring tries and spot-blitzing in his ever-present scrum cap (something his mother insisted he wear after his family witnessed a rugby player losing an ear during a tackle in a freak accident), images of him wearing hiking boots from The North Face might seem like something of a departure. But for those who know him, seeing Davies getting outdoors more these days is no surprise.

“When I’m outdoors, whether I’m on a mountain or in the woodlands, even on the beach, I feel calm. I wouldn’t say I’m uptight, but it just seems to take me away from everything else.”

Davies and his wife, Lou, first got bitten by the outdoor bug in 2019, during a nearly month-long trip to America’s west coast, where they discovered the tumbling waterfalls of Yosemite, endless salt flats of Death Valley, and glittering Lake Tahoe.

In Vancouver, the couple did the Grouse Grind, a popular fitness challenge where hikers see how quickly they can cover a 1.8-mile ascent with 2,800ft (853m) of elevation gain – something they enjoyed so much they did it again to beat their previous time a couple of years later when they returned to the Canadian Rockies on their honeymoon.

“I just feel so comfortable when I’m with the family outdoors or with friends exploring new areas of the world,” says Davies, who spent months before our trek training in the mountains of north Wales and on the trails of Cornwall with his son loaded up in an Osprey carrier.

“If I’m doing something, I really focus and try to get the full benefit from it.”

Reaching new heights

Despite his efforts in the lead up to the trek, Davies is the first to admit that spending nearly two weeks walking over 80 miles without a rest day and at high altitude is a totally different ball game to his previous adventures.

“This is on a far bigger scale than anything I’ve done before,” he tells me.

Trekking to the foot of Everest via the standard Khumbu Valley route we’ve taken isn’t exactly technical, but it requires, at minimum, six hours of hiking each day carrying a backpack, the dexterity to leap off the trail at any moment to avoid the sharp horns of a herd of yak, and the effects of ever-decreasing oxygen levels. At Kala Pattahr, we’re getting 50 percent less oxygen with each breath than we’d get down at sea level back in the UK.

“You can train as hard as you want, but you just don’t know how altitude is going to treat you, so that was a real worry of mine,” says Davies, who says he was "apprehensive" as to how he'd react after his days at rugby training camps in Switzerland. He knows from experience that altitude can be an unpredictable beast no matter how conditioned you are.

Of course, at camps with altitude-adjusted rooms, players can simply open their hotel room doors to get more oxygen after a long day of training. Here in Nepal, there’s no such option, and none of our group, guides included, escapes the crushing headaches, racing heart, and broken sleep that increasing altitude bestows upon the intrepid Base Camp hiker.

Big deep breaths outdoors

I’ve spent a lot of the last eight days looking at Davies’ calf muscles. Not because I’m a creep, but because he’s generally towards the front of the pack. Davies walks steadily, day after day, head up and unencumbered by the trekking poles most of the rest of us rely on.

His demeanor is steady, too. He’s happy to join the banter, even when it’s at his expense (he earns the nickname “Peter Andre” owing to a physique that could put the 1990s Australian pop star to shame). He’s just as at ease with more serious conversation, periods of silence and reflection.

“I’m very comfortable in my own skin,” he says. “I never wanted attention.”

Davies isn’t immune to the challenges an experience like this poses (though he may hide it better than the rest of us), but his years on the pitch have also reinforced a certain in-built resilience that’s a huge merit when you’re walking through this unforgiving landscape. He views the demands as an opportunity for self-inquiry rather than grumbling, and this is one of the things he says he loves most about exploring the outdoors.

“You have time to think about things, process things, it helps with your next steps, and it clears your mind.”

When I ask him if he thinks hiking could help professional athletes bridge the gap between structured days and constant time in spotlight to the new life that awaits them after retirement, he’s keen not to downplay the importance of mentorship, but adds that in some ways, hiking can be “like cheap therapy” that could be hugely beneficial for retiring athletes.

“Just going for a walk with friends and talking things through, that helps. I think it gives you a connection to yourself. There’s nothing more refreshing than big deep breaths outdoors.”

Foxy's kit for Everest Base Camp

• Ayacucho merino wool base layer
• Montane Fireball Lite softshell jacket
• Montane Anti Freeze XT down jacket
• The North Face Hedgehog hiking boots
• Osprey Talon 33 backpack

• Best hiking boots: hit the trail
• Best base layers: the foundation of your hiking garb

Garmin inReach Mini 2: first impressions 

If you're heading out into the backcountry in any season, one thing you can't rely on is cell service, and that's why a satellite communicator is such a vital piece of equipment. There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Garmin is the gold standard in satellite messengers – handheld devices that allow you to signal for help, and sometimes more, even when you're far from civilization.

Early satellite communicators simply allowed you to trigger an emergency alert and relay your location, but these devices have grown more sophisticated in recent years. In 2017, after acquiring DeLorme, the Garmin inReach SE+ and inReach Explorer+ were the first from the brand to utilize inReach satellite communication technology, which meant two-way messaging in addition to SOS alerts and GPS navigation capabilities, all using the Iridium satellite network.

Today, Garmin says it receives over 10,000 SOS alerts from inReach devices each year, and the brand has set about making the devices smaller and lighter for backcountry use. The Garmin InReach Mini lived up to its name and presented the communications possibilities in a smaller package. Then the Garmin inReach Mini 2 came along, boasting a larger 1.75-inch display for easier in-device use, a friendlier app, a better battery life, unlimited Cloud Storage, and TracBack routing with off-course alerts.

This device has a small screen that allows you to tap out a message to a loved one or communicate with mountain rescue, and you can also communicate via the Garmin Messenger app on your phone, which is easier and faster. It comes with an all-important SOS button that can trigger an alert to emergency crews and communicate your location.

As long as you have a clear view of the sky above you and aren't under a rocky overhang or a dense canopy of trees, no matter where you are on the planet, you can send a message via the small antennae. A quick caveat here, though: there are a few countries where its use is regulated, and a few hikers have even been arrested for trying to bring one into India so do read up on which countries are embargoed before you buy.

Anyway, assuming you're using your inReach in a country that allows them, if you have an emergency, you'll press the SOS button and a message will go first to the satellites in space, then down to the Garmin Response center in Texas.

Garmin Response will contact the closest emergency services to you to activate mountain rescue, and provide updates to your selected emergency contacts. But that's worst-case scenario. The rest of the time, you can use this device to stay in touch with friends and family, either typing out your own messages or using preloaded ones.

We've used this on the trek to Everest Base Camp and from Swiss mountain cabins and found it all fairly straightforward, plus the battery lasts for months, presuming you're turning it off between uses. Messages take a few minutes to go through, and your loved ones will be able to send you messages back as long as they have the Garmin Messenger app installed. It stands on its own base if you want to set it aside while your message sends and it comes with a carabiner so you can clip it to your backpack if you want to keep it within easy reach.

A full keyboard would make this device even more user-friendly, but would also make it bigger, and of course, the app removes that issue. On the other hand, reliance on the app also means your phone needs to be in good working order. This is also a pricey model that requires a subscription plan – we've compared the different options for you below – and these start at $7.99/month.

That may seem like a big price to pay to go for a hike, but it's a small price to pay for your life, and we think if you're heading out into the wilderness, it's crucial to carry a satellite communicator, and this one has certainly earned its title as one of the best out there.

Garmin inReach Mini 2: in the field 

When I was offered the chance to trek over 11 days to Everest Base Camp, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to test out the Garmin inReach Mini 2. After all, just getting to the trailhead requires air travel, and from remote Lukla airport, I'd be heading another 40 miles into the Himalayas. While the trek is better serviced than I'd imagined, there certainly wasn't any cell service, so it seemed the ideal scenario to test the device's legendary functionality.

A few weeks after my return from Nepal, I also took the inReach Mini 2 on a yoga and hiking retreat in the Swiss Alps to a cabin where I knew there wasn't any service or WiFi and for good measure, I've taken it along on a few hikes in the Scottish Highlands but if I'm being honest, I usually have service there.

Now that I've tested this out in three countries and two continents, I think I can confidently deliver my opinion on it.

Here’s how it performed:

Design and features

The Garmin inReach Mini 2 looks like a tiny version of the walkie-talkies you might have played with as a child. It fits easily in the palm of my hand and has a small screen that displays messages and a small antenna that connects to the satellites in space.

On the top is a power button and on left-hand side are two buttons: one to navigate up on the screen and the other to navigate down. On the right-hand side is a select button (labelled with OK) and another to go back, plus that all-important SOS button. That one is actually sheltered under a cap, as shown below so you don't accidentally press it, but it's easy to just peel it back and signal for help if things go wrong.

Those buttons, which aren't that unlike the controls found on most Garmin watches, let me send messages to loved ones while on my travels and gave me some peace of mind as I ventured further afield, but there are loads of other features too.

From the home screen, you can use the up or down buttons to scroll through the menu, which includes checking messages, navigation (I checked the digital compass was accurate but won't pretend I used it to bushwhack my way across the Khumbu Valley), turn on live location tracking and get a weather forecast, which is super handy. There's also TracBack routing, which helps find your way back to your start point if you get lost or find yourself in the fog, much like what you can find on the Garmin Fenix 8.

You can send photographs to loved ones via the Garmin app, but not in the device itself and even link your Facebook account to your Garmin app and post directly to social media, but I have to admit I preferred to skip this feature.

Weight and portability

At just 3.5oz (100g), the Mini 2 is comparable to a bar of soap or a deck of cards, meaning I didn't notice it in my daypack on my treks, and it's super portable too. It's small enough that I usually just stash it in the lid pocket of my Osprey Tempest 33, but it comes with a carabiner, which makes it really easy to clip onto the shoulder strap.

I wasn't in such treacherous terrain that I felt I needed to carry it this way, but certainly if I was picking my way across a steep trail where I felt rockslides were a possibility, I can see why I might want it within instant reach. For the purposes of thorough testing, that's how I carried it in the Alps and again, it's so small and light that I didn't even notice it.

Ease of use and messaging

I tend to think the litmus test for usability is whether or not you can figure out how to work a device without reading an instruction manual, and I'm pleased to say that with a little practice, I found the Mini 2 straightforward to use.

I did play around with it a little at home once my subscription was activated and as I set up the Garmin Messenger app on my phone, and I sent a few messages using the app on my phone during my first couple of days, but the first time I used the actual device properly was just after leaving Tengboche Monastery. It was the fourth day of my trek and I had just had a chance encounter with Tenzing Norgay's son Jamling, just a few days before the anniversary of his father's first ascent of Everest. Giddy with excitement, I sat down on a rock and powered up the inReach to tell my editor about the fortuitous meeting.

The device comes preloaded with a few messages such as "I've arrived!" and "I'm having a great time" – you can also preload your own messages at home on the app – but obviously, none of these would do the experience justice. So using the up/down and select buttons, I started typing out the message "I just met Tenzing Norgay's son" using the alphabet down the left-hand side of the screen. If you were born before a certain date, this is just like typing out text messages on an old cellphone, and if you were born after a certain date, the closest thing I can liken it to is searching for a video on YouTube or Netflix.

Anyway, I found it all quite painless, though I can imagine it being more challenging to some elderly users and those with vision problems because the screen is quite small. It does come up with predictive text that's reasonably helpful, so you may not have to type every word, and you've got 160 characters to convey your message, which is less than you'll get on Twitter.

I hit send and then went to turn off the device, when it warned me that the message hadn't been sent yet, so I set it aside, and only a couple of minutes later, I had received a response.

It's definitely easier to use the app, but to me, the whole point of the device is reducing reliance on my phone. I used it again in the Alps to send a few messages and found they took a little longer to go through (perhaps 5 to 7 minutes), but the more I use it, the easier it all becomes.

Battery life

Improved battery life is one of the advantages of the Mini 2 over the Mini, and I charged the device fully using the USB-C cable provided before setting off for Nepal in early May. Since then, I've turned it on and off no more than a dozen times to send and receive messages, and at last check, it still had 64% battery left.

Obviously, if you're using it as your primary means of communication, you like to send a lot of messages from the wild and keep it on all the time for tracking and navigation purposes, it's going to drain faster, and Garmin's guide suggests that you'll need to charge it roughly every 14 days in that scenario.

Personally, I can't really understand why you'd use it as your primary means of navigation when GPS watches and maps exist, so I'd suggest keeping it mostly off and saving it for check-ins and emergencies so you never have to worry that you'll run out of juice if you get cliffed out.

If you keep it off and just bring it with you on every adventure as a standard part of your kit, Garmin says you can expect a full year out of a single charge. I believe them, but I still think it's vital to check before you go out.

Value

With a retail price of $399.99 / £289.99, I can understand why people hesitate over making this purchase. It's certainly cheaper than most GPS watches and smartphones you're likely to buy these days, but since those increasingly come with SOS functionality, it makes sense that some people don't want to cough up.

Of course, that one-off payment isn't the whole story, because you need a subscription plan to use your inReach. Every plan carries a one-time activation fee, and then the cheapest plan is $7.99 (£7.99) per month, which does add nearly $100 (£100) a year. But the plans are quite flexible, and though regular mountaineers should probably just have an ongoing plan, you can also go month-to-month, which means you could activate it for a trip like mine, or only in the months when you tend to be out in the backcountry a lot.

In short, it does add up the more you want to use it, but as a journalist who often writes about hikers whose lives have been saved thanks to an inReach device, I think that when you tumble down that canyon or find yourself in whiteout conditions on Mountain Washington, the last thing you'll be thinking is how glad you are to have saved a few hundred dollars.

There are cheaper satellite devices available such as the Zoleo (though this one has a more expensive subscription so I think it all comes out in the wash) and if you have a newer iPhone with SOS, you could keep it in a waterproof case and carry a portable charger at all times and you might be pretty well-serviced. But I think the bottom line is that this device does what it says on the tin, does it well, and you won't regret owning it if you find you're faced with spending the night on a mountain.

Garmin inReach consumer subscription plans

• How Advnture tests products

Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL trekking poles: first impressions 

When you're in the market for a new pair of trekking poles, Leki is likely one of the first places you'll look if you're seeking quality and reliability, and the Skytera FX Carbon SL is yet another model worth commending for those who want to move fast and light but feel supported.

Designed for fastpackers and thru-hikers, these poles are extraordinarily light – so much so that we're using them for trail running as well as hiking. Built from carbon with a foam grip, they barely register in your hands or your pack, but when you're seeking stability on rough ground, they get the job done.

Combining Z-shaped and telescope design approaches, these poles only come in one size, but they are extremely versatile, adjusting between 43in and 51in (110cm and 130cm) in length, which means they're long enough for very tall people and different activities.

They comprise three sections that are each less than 16 inches long, which makes them easy to pack into the mesh bag provided and stash in the side pocket of your backpack. When you want to use them, you can extend them by pulling until you hear a click, and then adjust them to your desired length using the telescoping.

The wrist leashes are easy to adjust with a tug and the ergonomic foam grips are a joy to hold in the hands, even over a long day on the trail. The tips are made from carbon too and provide good traction on rock as well as grassy trails, while the minimalist baskets provide just enough width to keep you from sinking in on muddy trails.

It's true that carbon poles can be more prone to breakage, but only when you use them incorrectly and place weight on them in a horizontal position. In our months of field tests on the trek to Everest Base Camp, in the Swiss Alps, Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Scottish Highlands, we've experienced nothing but high quality and resilience with these poles. You can learn more in our article on aluminum vs carbon fiber trekking poles.

Of course, for all that, you'll pay a high price, and the only mark against these poles is the cost.

Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL trekking poles: in the field 

I've been using Leki poles since I tore my ACL in a skiing accident nearly 10 years ago, but my original pair are starting to show the signs of the many hundreds of miles I've put on them, and one has an annoying habit of collapsing when I put weight on it. So when I signed up to trek to Everest Base Camp this spring, I decided it was time for a new pair.

Luckily for me, Leki had recently released the Skytera FX Carbon SL, and I got these a few months early which meant I could train with them. By the time I flew to Nepal I had put about 100 miles in with them, and since I've returned I've continued hiking and trail running with them in Scotland, during a trip to the Swiss Alps and on a five-day thru-hike in the Lake District National Park.

Here’s how they performed:

Design and adjustability

In the past, trekking poles were either telescopic, meaning they extend and retract using sliding sections but don't fold up, or they were z-shaped, meaning they collapse into sections. With the Skytera, Leki has combined these two approaches so these poles are both very adjustable and can be folded away easily when not in use.

To deploy them, you just hold the handle and the top of the highest section of the shaft and and pull until you hear a click (I did have to find a YouTube video to get this right the first time, but after that it's easy). Then you can adjust the length and secure them with the locking mechanism. To fold them up, you just do the same in reverse. The wrist leashes are also easy to loosen or tighten with simple tug and stay in place when I'm putting weight on them.

Sometimes you sacrifice functionality when you try to do too many things at once – for example, a multi-tool is a great thing unless you need a really great blade, in which case a pocket knife is a better choice – but as far as I can see, this is a winning formula.

These poles can be really long, which makes them ultra versatile for different activities and different users. My older poles are great for me, but I'm 5'4", so they're too short for my nearly-six-foot boyfriend. These new poles can be telescoped out so that they're long enough for him, and I use them on the shorter end.

Weight and packability

At just 36oz (170g) per pole, these are significantly lighter than any of the trekking poles for hiking that we've tested, and they're comparable to – or lighter than – most of the running poles we've taken out in the field too. They feel extremely light in the hand and it makes them really easy to use all day.

Even though Leki doesn't advertise them as suitable for running, I quickly decided to try them out on a run. I didn't previously run with poles, but having had my aforementioned knee surgery, I had a feeling that doing so might give me more confidence, and I was right.

Not only have these taken over from my old poles for hikes, I've started bringing them with me for hill running where I even like using them on steep downhills, and they're so light I can happily just carry both in one hand for gentler descents. Their light weight also means that I don't even notice them when they're in the side pocket of my backpack or my running vest and they're slim enough when folded away to fit in most pockets.

Comfort and durability

I've put some pretty long days in with these poles – for the 11-day trek to Base Camp we typically spent six hours a day walking, and I've had them out on some long training hikes too. Probably the most helpful thing I can say is that I don't really notice them in my hands, thanks to the foam that Leki has developed and the ergonomic design.

With my older poles, I'd sometimes get a bit of rubbing and even a blister after very long days but these don't seem to have any issues at all. They've also been comfortable whether it's hot and I'm sweaty or in the rain, when they don't get slippery.

Carbon poles have a reputation for not being as durable as those made from aluminum, and I'm sure that if you load these in the wrong position, they could break, but I have a sense that most outdoor kit would fail if you use it incorrectly, so this isn't something I'd detract points for, especially since it's the reason they're so light. All I can say is that with several hundred miles of use, they're still operating normally and I'm hoping they stay that way.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

When the UTMB finals starting list was revealed last week, we were thrilled to see how much trail running talent is going to be lining up in Chamonix in just a few weeks' time, but a little surprised to see Fuzhao Xiang on the 100k CCC list instead of the 100 miler – turns out she's got loftier goals in mind this year.

The Chinese trail running star recently placed a very admirable second at this year's Western States, marking her second consecutive silver buckle at the California race. Her 2024 time of 16:20:03 was the third-fastest female finish in history. She placed fourth at the 2023 UTMB race around Mont Blanc, but DNF'd last year, so we were hoping to see her come back for some redemption.

Over the weekend, however, Xiang revealed she's currently switched out her trail running shoes (the Hoka Rocket X Trail shoes if we're being exact) for crampons as the 34-year-old posted a video of herself on the summit of Muztagh Ata, a 7,000m peak in China.

Standing at 24,757ft (7,546m), Muztagh Ata is located at the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, and Xiang says it took her just over 13 hours to reach the summit, where she encountered 43mph (70km per hour) winds.

"The original plan was a no-oxygen speed ascent, but in the final 100 meters I chose to breathe supplemental oxygen in response to how my body and the weather felt. It was both a fresh challenge and a brand-new beginning," says Xiang.

Though for experienced mountaineers, the mountain is considered one of the easier 7,000m peaks to climb, Xiang reveals that for her, it's just a training run, really: "Next peak: Mount Everest—see you there."

We don't yet have any details on when Xiang plans to summit the world's highest mountain, but we'll be cheering her on during this next chapter.

• The best trail shoes for ultra runners: these robust and comfy rides are built for serious outdoor adventures
• The best hydration packs: on-the-go refuelling for your runs

Osprey Tempest 33 women's backpack: first impressions 

A great backpack is as essential to a hiker as air to breathe, water to drink, and a trail underfoot – but finding the right model can be surprisingly challenging. We think we might have found the perfect one in the Osprey Tempest 33.

According to Osprey, this women's hiking backpack (the men's version is the Talon 33) is designed for adventurers who want a comfortable pack that works across different adventures, from day hiking to fast overnights and even skiing. That's a tall order, but after wearing this from the Himalayas to the Alps, I think they've come pretty close.

This backpack is astonishingly comfortable, even when worn all day for multiple days in a row, and Osprey says that's all down to the injection-molded AirScape backpanel, but I'm quite fond of the EVA foam lining in the straps and hip belt too. The suspension system provides a precise fit that you can fine-tune to your own specifications, which means it moves with you, and it's also super breathable on hot days.

All this means you can load it up with the gear you need for a day on the trail – or even a night in a backcountry hut – and trot off into the wild in total comfort.

Next up, let's talk storage. The main compartment is roomy and enhanced by various practical pockets including two stretchy mesh side pockets that hold large water bottles securely (though they're not that easy to reach while wearing the pack), two in the hip belt that fit an iPhone, a spacious top lid, hydration bladder pocket and an awesome stretchy mesh front pocket, where you can stuff waterproofs and maps.

It's also got all the attachment points for ice axes and folded trekking poles, meaning it's viable for winter and alpine adventures too. At 33L, it's big enough to squeeze in ultralight sleeping bags and pads if you must, but just small enough that you can cram it under the seat in front of you if you're flying budget and don't want to pay extra for overhead space.

While you can load it up with tons of gear, the pack itself won't weigh you down, weighing just 2lbs 10oz (1.19kg), which means you can pick up the pace with the Tempest, if you want to.

Like most backpacks, it's not totally waterproof (though it will fend off a not-too-heavy shower), and I do wish it came with an integrated rain cover. But that aside, I think it lives up to the hype as one of the most comfortable, functional and versatile backpacks around, and it's Bluesign-approved to boot.

Osprey Tempest 33 women's backpack: in the field 

When I was offered the chance to trek over 11 days to Everest Base Camp, I soon learned, to my relief, that I wouldn't need to carry all of my gear on my back – porters would carry my extra clothes, sleeping bag, and toiletries in a duffel between stops. But I would need a 33L pack for all my day gear, and it needed to be comfortable enough to wear for at least six hours a day for 11 consecutive days. So I got my hands on the Osprey Tempest.

Fortunately, I got this backpack several months before my trip, so it ended up being my training pack for hundreds of miles in the Scottish Highlands, where I established it would be the right choice. And since my adventure in Nepal, I've taken it on a hiking and yoga retreat to a hut in the Swiss Alps and recently used it again on a five-day thru-hike in the Lake District National Park.

All this is to say, I've given this backpack a really solid test on trails across the globe, and I think I can confidently deliver my opinion now.

Here’s how it performed:

Sizing and fit

This backpack comes in one size, and usually I'd say that's a mark against it, but this one seems to be so adjustable as to accommodate nearly any torso. I say that because, while I'm on the smallish end at 5'4" and it fits me great, I've also made my 5'11" broad-shouldered boyfriend wear it for a hike, and he's done so in comfort.

Thanks to adjustable shoulder straps, hip belt, and a chest strap that can be moved up or down to get it out of the way, I had zero problems getting this cinched up nice and neatly. I wear it so it sits up on my hips to keep the weight totally off my shoulders and when I lean my head back, it rests on the top of the pack but the pack doesn't interfere with my ability to move my head.

I've had some issues with the shoulder straps on other packs being too close together so they dig into the sides of my neck, but these ones manage to be perfectly positioned. You can see from the photo below that it really contours to my body once it's on and fastened so it's very stable even when the ground beneath me is not.

Comfort and breathability

The biggest selling point for this backpack is how incredibly comfortable it is. I'm definitely a little prone to bruising on my hips and collarbones from some backpacks, but I've never had any discomfort during (or after) wearing this pack, even after multiple consecutive days.

Basically, the design means that even when it's full, I don't notice it on my back, and when the trail requires more scrambling, it just moves with my body, so it never throws me off balance or gets in the way. Out of necessity (meaning, I lost track of time and needed to get down a mountain for dinner), I've even done a bit of trail running wearing it, and it actually handles a faster pace quite well.

I've also worn it on some pretty warm days, with temperatures reaching the 80s when I was in Switzerland. Of course, my back got sweaty, but I only noticed when I stopped and took my pack off. I'd say the back panel is as breathable as any I've tried.

Storage and fastenings

Comfort might be key, but that's no good if you can't fit in all your gear, and a 33L pack can be a bit of an odd size. On the one hand, it can seem too big for a day hike, but on the other, it's not quite big enough for backpacking. However, I'd say this pack has the perfect amount of storage for most of my adventures.

I never run out of room on day hikes, even on the way to Base Camp where I was often carrying a lot of extra layers, multiple water bottles, and valuables that I'd been instructed not to leave in my duffel bag. That said, it has also proven to be big enough to fit my backpacking tent, lightest and smallest Therm-a-Rest pad, and camping quilt for an easy overnight.

There's not much to say about the main compartment except that it's spacious and functional, but it's all the extra pockets that give it added value for me. The lid has roomy pockets on the outside and inside, which can handle my wallet, keys (with clip), Garmin InReach, tissues, hand sanitizer, passport, and whatever I want close to hand. The side pockets are deep enough that my water bottles never fall out, but I admit I've only used the hydration bladder pouch for my laptop so far. The hip belt pockets can take my iPhone and portable charger, and I just love the front mesh pocket where I usually stuff my waterproof jacket, rain pants and map.

If it's not too full, there are plenty of compression straps to cinch it all tight so my gear isn't rattling around, and I've flown with it as my carry-on twice quite comfortable. While the overhead lockers just swallow it up, I've even managed to cram it under the seat in front of me so I had everything to hand on a shorter flight to Geneva.

The fastenings are all fairly straightforward, meaning plastic buckles, zippers and toggles, and that's a huge relief for me as I've found some modern backpacks so complicated I needed an instructional video just to figure out how to get them open.

Durability and weather protection

I might only have been hiking with this pack for six months, but it's seen a lot of action. Hundreds of miles of hiking (and being thrown around on planes and dusty trails) and it's not showing any signs of wear and tear at all. I've been hiking with a smaller Osprey daypack since about 2009, and it's still in decent shape, so I'm hoping for similar robustness here.

Like most backpacks, it isn't waterproof (which is why it's so light), and that's not a problem. I've worn it in plenty of rainy weather, and my gear has remained dry. My only gripe is that it doesn't come with a rain cover, which almost everyone needs at some point. I bought an Osprey cover to go with it, but I'd rather they just built it in and adjust the price accordingly.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

You only need to open Instagram to know that adventure travel is in its heyday. Your feed is probably filled with images of friends discovering distant peaks, rafting white water, or cross-country skiing under the Northern Lights. By some estimates, adventure travel generates more than $400 billion a year, and that figure is projected to nearly triple by 2030.

“There’s been a big shift in people wanting to experience things, as opposed to just lying on a beach,” says Rhys David, CEO of EverTrek.

EverTrek is a Welsh company that takes people on treks all over the globe, from Kilimanjaro to Machu Picchu, and earlier this year, I joined them on their marquee adventure to Everest Base Camp. Many iconic trekking destinations like Base Camp now require a licensed guide, but that’s not the only reason to go with an organized tour: mountains, jungles and oceans hold plenty of potential dangers within their beauty, and a guide can help you minimize and manage the risks.

But go online and search for an adventure travel guide, and you’ll find the internet is awash with companies offering their services, from premium-priced luxury outfits that promise to tend to every detail, through to budget operators that will get you from A to B without breaking the bank, but leave you with a lot of improvisation to do.

Over the course of my 11-day adventure in the Himalayas, I witnessed the entire range of experiences on offer, from miserable-looking trekkers slogging it up the mountain carrying all their gear and struggling to communicate with their guide, through to high flyers catching helicopters from viewpoint to viewpoint. It gave me a lot to think about regarding what to look for – and what to sidestep – when it comes to choosing an adventure travel company.

Trust

When you’re searching for a company that’s going to take you into wild spaces, you need to really trust them, so take some time to get to know who’s behind any outfit you’re seriously considering using.

EverTrek was founded by Andy Moore after his first trek to Everest Base Camp, just after the 2015 earthquake. He left Nepal with a desire to support the people he’d encountered and to help more people like him discover the Khumbu region. I could tell straight away he has a real passion for the adventure his company is founded on.

“You genuinely want to connect with a company, and trust is the biggest thing in travel because you go into these mountains and they’re dangerous places and you want to know that you’re going to be okay,” says Moore.

When you’re looking at a company’s website and social media accounts, consider whether it looks professional or is full of spelling mistakes and broken links. Are they simply a broker that will take your fee and then hand you over to a local outfit, or will they hold your hand every step of the way?

And – needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) – read the reviews.

Price

Once you’ve found a company you like the look of, the first thing you’re going to check is how much they charge. Prices for a single destination can vary wildly: I checked out the top five search results for Everest Base Camp and learned that pricing ranges from $1,100 to $6,500.

If a company is out of your price range, you’re going to need to look elsewhere, but if there’s one piece of advice I can give above all else, it’s don’t give in to the temptation to cut too many corners.

EverTrek charges around US$3,300 (£2,300) for the Base Camp trek. You buy your flight to Kathmandu and secure your visa and insurance, and from the moment you arrive until you leave, that covers just about everything else. It’s not cheap, but it meant that we had two guides for our group of five, and porters carrying our duffel bags.

“I think you’ll see a difference by having a sizable team around you. It takes all the stress away, so all you have to think about is putting your rucksack on and getting out there in the morning,” says David.

There are cheaper ways to do it, but it’s important to consider that the more you slash your budget, the more you’re likely to be sacrificing, whether that’s safety, comfort, or ethics. And don’t forget that if your trip has an attractive price tag but includes less, you may end up paying double in the end by the time you’ve covered other costs yourself.

Communication

When I ask David how you know whether a company is the right choice, he has a simple answer: "Pick up the phone."

Any reputable company will have multiple ways for you to contact them, and it's reasonable to expect a human on the end of the line who can answer all your questions, no matter how small.

“A good company will be able to talk with great confidence about the route you’re likely to go on, the accommodation itself and the food you’ll be presented with,” says David, who joined us on the trek, just months after taking on his role, exactly so he could get this intimate level of knowledge of his company's offering.

“Don’t rush into it. When things are going well, it’s all fine. It’s when things go wrong that the quality of the business really stands out.”

Once you’ve chosen a company, it’s also reasonable to expect ongoing communication to help prepare you for the trip. Most people sign up for a trek to Base Camp at least 12 months in advance, according to David, and during the window between sign up and take off, they receive weekly emails with tips and invites to monthly online webinars where they can ask questions. This is all optional, but it means that you won’t be left in the dark about any aspect of your trip (unless you want to be).

Safety

No matter whether your chosen adventure involves hiking boots or ice axes, it’s going to carry some inherent risk: extreme weather, high altitude, sprained ankles, the list goes on.

“If you go on a challenge like this and you are pushing yourself out of your boundaries, there are going to be difficulties, and that’s really what makes it an adventure,” says Moore.

But there are always things you can do to reduce your risk. Make some enquiries and find out whether your guides have the appropriate training and equipment to handle emergencies. Does every guide carry a first aid kit with basic medications? Do they have access to a satellite communicator to signal for help in the backcountry?

“It’s when things are going wrong that you want to be with a company that prioritizes safety,” says David.

And safety, unfortunately, does cost money.

“In retrospect, if things go wrong, if you could have spent $500 more to ensure your safety, you would.”

Preparation

If you want a beach holiday, you can essentially click your computer mouse a couple of times, and before you know, you’ll be at the beach. If you want to trek to the roof of the world or deep into the jungle, you’re going to need to do a lot more planning, even with a guide at the helm.

If you’re paying a little more, a lot of details should be handled by the company, but make sure that your guides provide you with thorough kit lists so you know what gear you need. You will need to be specific about what size backpack you require and whether it's necessary to bring your own water filter, for example.

Another crucial point here is that you must get travel insurance that covers the type of activities you’ll be doing, and a good travel company should be able to give you several recommendations for trusted options.

Sustainability

On this warming planet, we need to be thinking hard about the impact our endless thirst for adventure has, and it should be a priority to look for companies with clear sustainability initiatives that go beyond mere lip service.

I’ve written more specifically about making the trek to Everest Base Camp more sustainable to give you some ideas, but as an example, EverTrek guides filter their clients’ drinking water along the route, so no one ever has to buy a single-use plastic bottle, and that cuts down on hundreds of bottles per trip.

Wherever you’re going on the globe, find out if there’s a plan to handle waste so that it doesn’t stay out in the wild. If your trip entails a lot of internal travel, consider how that’s done and whether there are greener alternatives available.

Ethics

It should be important to you that the company prioritizes ethical treatment of the humans that facilitate your bucket list adventure.

Again, the attractive price of a low-budget choice comes into question here, because that may indicate that your guides aren’t being paid a fair wage. You need to be sure that your guides are being adequately compensated and have insurance so that if they get injured, their family won’t suffer as a result of lost wages. This can be tricky to verify, but a company that’s proud of treating its guides well is likely to advertise it, and it’s usually clear if your guides are happy.

One of the most important factors in this regard is employing local guides, which ensures that at least some of the money you spend goes into the local economy. Stay at lodgings owned by locals and eat food prepared by locals. This, of course, also buys you a major advantage on any trek, as it means you get the best expertise about the region you’re exploring.

“Local knowledge is the best thing in the world,” says Moore.

• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
• The best sleeping bag liners: added warmth, protection and comfort

When I first signed up to trek to Nepal’s Everest Base Camp, I was excited to see some of the planet’s most spectacular natural features, from giant glaciers to soaring peaks, but I was also a little apprehensive. In recent years, news stories of mountains of human waste, abandoned tents, and overcrowding on Everest have hijacked the social narrative surrounding the world’s tallest peak. Was I going to be hiking through pristine environments or picking my way through mountains of garbage?

If you have the same concerns, I’ll cut straight to the chase here and let you know that the trek to Everest Base Camp is not heaped with trash. Various sustainability initiatives have been put in place to improve the conditions on the mountain, from making it more difficult to join an expedition to banning many single-use plastics. And it’s important to remember that the trekking industry and route that takes people along the Khumbu Valley is a whole different story from the landscape between Base Camp and the Summit.

But that’s not to say that there’s nothing to worry about. For starters, during peak trekking season, as many as 50 flights a day land at Lukla airport, the usual starting point for trekkers. Helicopters constantly buzz overhead to ferry gear, summit teams and trekkers in and out. There are reports of unnerving sights: black rocks appearing where once there was snow, and plans to move Base Camp downhill to get it off the increasingly unstable Khumbu Glacier.

As a trekker, you'll need to acknowledge the realities of a changing climate and think about how your actions affect the environments you want to explore.

How can you make your trek to Base Camp more sustainable?

The most sustainable thing anyone can do is not to travel by air at all, but when I mention this to Andy Moore, founder of EverTrek, the company I went to Nepal with, he’s quick to point out that for this particular region, that spells a different kind of emergency.

“People not coming here is a killer, really,” says Moore, who saw the effects of a halt in travel on the Khumbu Valley during the pandemic, which has built a whole industry around supporting trekkers.

It’s also true that those who can make the biggest difference in the fight against climate change are giant corporations and not individual hikers, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t and shouldn’t each do our part.

“I suppose it’s all about education and getting people involved,” says Moore.

His company prides itself on responsible travel and treks to Base Camp now include a stop at the Sagarmatha Next hub, which aims to change perceptions around waste in the region through its learning center and waste management initiatives.

“We’re not perfect. People have to travel here on planes, but we’re always trying to help in some way," says Moore.

The good news is that there are actions you can take to check off your bucket list trek without leaving too big of a footprint.

Drink responsibly

On the trek to Everest Base Camp, you’ll typically walk for 80 miles and make your way up to nearly 17,600ft (5,364m), which means you need to drink a lot of water. That presents a sustainability issue, because the water on the trek isn’t potable.

You’re encouraged to drink at least three liters of water a day, so if you’re drinking bottled water that you buy from teahouses and shops along the trek, even a small group of six people could go through nearly 200 plastic bottles in one trip, and that’s not counting the water consumed by your guides and porters.

Those bottles can be packed out and recycled, but even that uses resources, and most importantly, Nepal doesn’t recycle bottle caps (though Sagarmatha Next recycles them into cool moulds of the Everest region that you can buy). So, responsible trekking organisations have increasingly been looking for solutions to cut down on plastics.

“We used to use chlorine tablets, but the fact was nobody liked it because it was like drinking a swimming pool,” recalls Moore.

In 2019, EverTrek became the first UK company to bring water filters along on treks. For my trek, I was instructed to bring either a hydration bladder or two water bottles (I brought my Contigo Cortland Autoseal which is easy to drink from and a Yeti Yonder water bottle which holds more water) and our guides would take them after each meal and fill them up with clean water for us.

If your guide doesn’t provide this service, you can bring your own, just remember that not all filters work against viruses. We recommend the Grayl Ultra Press, which we gave full marks in our guide to the best water filters to ensure you’re caring for your own health as well as that of the planet.

Pack it out

Even without disposable water bottles, your trek is likely to generate some waste, from wet wipes to electrolyte mix wrappers. A program between Sagarmatha Next and Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee has established regular trash cans and recycling bins along the way that have helped to clean up the trail, but that’s not the whole story.

According to data from Sagarmatha Next, in 2019, the Khumbu Valley saw more 60,000 tourists in addition to the guides and other workers. That generated about 790kg of waste per day during the trekking season, and historically, that’s trash that has been buried and burned in the Khumbu region, only consolidating the environmental harm.

When you’re entering any wild space, you can minimize your impact by planning ahead and reducing the amount of single-use anything that comes with you. That might mean thinking seriously about bringing loads of snacks (we ran into an American couple that had brought a couple of resealable bags of homemade beef jerky instead of tons of granola bars) and you should bring a small trash bag with you to pack out your own waste (old dry bags work well for this).

To take things a step further, you can join the Carry Me Back program where you pick up a 1kg bag of waste when you’re leaving Sagarmatha National Park, tie it to your backpack, and transport it back to Lukla. From there, Tara Airlines will fly it back to Kathmandu, where the social enterprise Blue Waste to Value collects it for recycling at their facility.

Skip the chopper ride

Despite its large visitor numbers, the Khumbu region is remote. Helicopters do a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of getting supplies in and out of the region, and even if choppers have reduced emissions over the years, it’s still not a carbon-free process.

I was surprised to learn that many trekkers use helicopters to make their trek easier, bypassing the madness of Lukla airport, or cutting down on the amount of time spent away from home. For as little as $800, you might be able to fly from Gorak Shep, just a few kilometers from Base Camp, or from Namche, all the way back to Kathmandu and skip up to 40 miles of walking. But that comes at a cost to the environment.

The most sustainable approach is to leave the choppers for transporting goods and emergencies and do what you came here to do: trek. Invest in a good pair of hiking boots (I loved my Lowa Renegade Evo GTXs), break them in before you go, build in plenty of time for delays, and you’ll feel really good about yourself at the end of your adventure when you've done the trek both ways instead of one.

Support local

Meeting the local people is truly one of the best parts of trekking to Base Camp, and you should do everything you can to give back to them. Start by hiring a local guide (the Nepali government has introduced new legislation that requires trekkers to go with a guide) and you'll get the best knowledge about the area and support the economy of the place you’re visiting.

There are environmental reasons for hiring local guides, too, since they won’t have to travel as far to begin the trek. Our group had two guides and three porters, and all were Nepali. At the end of our trek, only one flew with us back to Kathmandu while the rest returned to their villages on foot or by bus.

While we’re on the subject of guides, remember that when you go with the cheapest option, it’s often the workers who suffer. Choose a reputable trekking company and inquire as to their practices and policies surrounding worker conditions and whether guides and porters are paid a fair wage. If you’re negotiating directly with a guide, don’t be tempted to try to undercut them to save a little money – they are humans with families doing a hard job that they deserve to be paid well for.

Also choose local food when you stop for meals at teahouses – and by that, I largely mean Dal Bhat, but also anything with potatoes. This is another way to cut down on your footprint, since it’s cooked with ingredients grown in the region, whereas that pizza or Snickers bar has to be flown in.

And bring a little cash for gifts along the trek. Yes, there are lots of shops back in Kathmandu, but a hand-knitted yak made by a local woman who has set up a trestle table along the trail has a personal touch, and your purchase could really help a local family.

Get right with gear

There’s no two ways around it: trekking to Everest Base Camp requires a lot of gear. I set off from Lukla in a T-shirt and by the time I reached Base Camp I was glad to be bundled up in my Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Anorak. Believe it or not, all the kit you buy is likely to count for most of the carbon emissions of your entire trek.

According to a 2018 report published in Sport Management Review, outdoor enthusiasts have a 40 percent bigger carbon footprint than athletes from other individual sports, and participants in nature sports had the highest emission levels of all. This is down in part to all the gear we buy and how much of a beating it takes when we’re out battling the elements, but there are ways to cut down on your footprint here.

You definitely don’t want to skimp on gear – that down sleeping bag or waterproof jacket could save your life – but it is important to think carefully about everything on your list. Do you need to buy everything new, or can you shop second-hand? If it’s something you’re certain you’ll never use again, like gaiters or crampons, can you rent or borrow it?

If you get to the end of your trek and have gear you know you won’t use again, you may be able to donate it – our EverTrek guides collected anything we didn’t want to be distributed between them and the porters, which means they’re better protected for their next job. You can also donate to Keep Nepal’s Porters Welfare Program. No matter what you do with your gear, take good care of it to improve its lifespan and keep it out of the landfill.

Don’t follow the herd

Stepping off the side of the trail to let herds of donkeys and yaks pass is part and parcel of the trekking experience on the way to Base Camp. These animals are used to transport goods, materials, and waste up and down the valley. It’s a more sustainable option than a helicopter in terms of emissions, and these animals don’t have the devastating impact on the environment as livestock from large-scale agriculture, but it’s still a good idea to reduce your dependency on them.

They’re often not well-treated and it’s common to see them walking on broken hooves and being beaten by their owners. Animal welfare and sustainability go hand-in-hand, so when you’re choosing a trekking company or guide, inquire as to whether they use animals or porters to carry your gear. It’s a hard job for humans, but they can consent to the position and do get paid for it, while animals do not.

Thinking about trekking to Everest Base Camp?

Learn more in our articles on trekking to Base Camp with tips on making the experience more comfortable, plus what to expect on the trail and how to train for 11 days of hiking at high altitude.

• The best trekking poles: take the pressure off when you're out on the trails
• The best base layers: the foundation of your hiking garb

A GPS watch isn’t essential for trekking and thru-hiking, but it can provide some great benefits, from providing navigational assistance and showing how far you still have to walk each day to understanding the impact of the trek on your body.

As an outdoor journalist, I get to test the best GPS watches on the trail, so when I was offered the opportunity to trek to Everest Base Camp, it wasn’t so much a question of whether I was going to wear a watch, as which watch I was going to bring.

Fairly quickly, I settled on the Garmin Fenix 8, which came out in 2024. I had already given it a thorough test over a three-week period earlier this year, so I knew it was a showstopper, brilliantly built and fantastically featured. But because I’d only used it for day-long adventures, I was curious to see how it would perform on an 80-mile, 11-day trek.

For the Fenix 8, Garmin took the winning formula of the near-perfect Fenix 7 and added extra navigation tools plus the option of a crystal clear AMOLED display, voice commands, and more smartwatch functions like the ability to take and make phone calls. On the trails of Scotland, I found it to be rugged, responsive, accurate and easy to use, but how would it perform in the remote Himalayas?

On the morning that we flew from Kathmandu to Lukla to begin the trek, I strapped the Fenix 8 onto my right wrist and, for control purposes, kept my considerably more humble (but very much beloved) Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist. This way I’d be able to compare metrics like heart rate and distance.

En route to one of the highest points on the planet, I found four standout features I really loved about the Garmin Fenix 8.

Altimeter

For a long-distance mountain trek, it’s helpful to know what altitude you’re at for navigation purposes and to understand why you might be feeling out of sorts. On the trek to Everest Base Camp, you start at about the elevation of Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado and keep climbing until you reach 17,598ft (5,354m), so altitude plays a really crucial role in your experience.

Thanks to its built-in barometric altimeter, whether the Fenix 8 is in activity mode or daily use, it automatically shows what altitude you’re at on the main screen, which I used more than any other feature.

While this is generally true for adventure watches, it’s not the case for all Garmins. In fact, another trekker in my group had a Garmin intended primarily for playing golf, which didn’t display what height we were at, and fitness-based models like the Vivoactive 5 have left it out to keep costs down.

As a result, I ended up assuming the unofficial but very useful role of Chief Altitude Information Officer for the trek, keeping my companions informed about our height.

LED flashlight

Lots of watches I’ve tested (for example the Suunto Race S) claim to have a flashlight, but what they actually have is a white screen. It’s marginally useful if you just want to find something on your bedside table at night without waking your partner, but you wouldn’t use it to navigate on the trail.

The Fenix 8, on the other hand, has an actual LED flashlight, which was one of my favorite features during my initial testing period. This proved invaluable on the trek, from finding my way to the shared bathrooms in the teahouses at night without having to strap on a headlamp, to getting organized for early alpine starts.

At the time of year we were trekking, the days were long and we typically started in daylight, but one of the most special days of the trip – the hike up Kala Patthar to watch the sun rise over Everest – had us setting off in the pitch darkness at 3am.

I started out wearing my headlamp, but it was so overly bright that I quickly realized my watch was a better choice. I switched off my Petzl, double-pressed the top left button on my Fenix 8 to turn on the flashlight, then turned it down to red light mode. Thanks to the clear skies, this provided enough illumination for me to walk safely, not blind my companions, and still let my eyes adjust to the stars above, so I could really appreciate the stunning views.

Visibility

The biggest difference between the Garmin Fenix 8 and its predecessor is the option of that bright, AMOLED display, which makes it easy to view in just about any weather conditions you might encounter. The Coros Pace 3, on the other hand, features a Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) display, which can be harder to read in low light conditions.

For the trek to Base Camp, we were mostly treated to bright skies, but that meant I was always wearing a brimmed sunhat and my SunGod FORTY2s sunglasses to protect my face and eyes. Though SunGod uses what it calls its 8KO Iris photochromic lenses, these are essentially polarized lenses that can make it hard to see certain watch faces. This proved no problem at all for the Fenix, but if I’d been hiking with only my Coros, I’d have been removing my shades every time I wanted to find out what altitude I was at.

Accuracy

Because I was trekking with two watches on, I was able to get two different reports of each day’s activities, and it quickly became clear there was a discrepancy between the two watches in terms of distance data.

This isn’t uncommon; in fact, hike with anyone also wearing a watch and you’ll almost always notice a slight difference due to variances like GPS signal limitations, environmental interference, watch settings and the improbability that you both start your watches at exactly the same time.

I noticed that my Coros consistently showed my distance every day to be about 0.2 miles less than the Garmin. That doesn’t sound like a huge difference, but in metrics it’s close to half a kilometer, or one lap of a high school track, and I hadn’t noticed this discrepancy when I’d previously tested the two watches together, so it was enough to make me investigate.

Without a yard stick, it would be impossible to say for sure which watch was more accurate, but by speaking to my local guides, comparing distances with other people in my group and looking up the trek distances on route reports online, I became as certain as I can be that my Garmin was giving me the most accurate reflection of distance.

This isn’t a make-or-break feature, but for long treks in remote places, it is nice to feel confident that you’re getting the most accurate readings possible.

Battery life

I had a lot of fun testing the Fenix 8 in the Himalayas, but it wasn’t perfect, and there were some features that would make me pause and consider a different watch next time. For starters, battery life.

In general, the Fenix 8 model has a better battery life compared to the 7, but since there are different sizes and models, it's hard to compare them accurately and it turns out that the 43mm model I was testing is a bit of a downgrade compared to the similarly-sized 7. It claims up to 28 hours of battery life when you’re using it in GPS mode with gesture (meaning it only lights up when you lift your wrist). Obviously this is plenty when you’re using it for day hikes and regular runs.

For this trek, I had it on GPS mode (with gesture) for at least six hours a day, and I didn’t activate any of the settings to save battery life. In real terms it meant that I had to charge it every third day, and it died during one of the hikes. In comparison, I charged my Coros just once during the whole trek.

Charging my watch wasn’t a huge deal, as I was carrying three portable power banks, but it was more than I’d have liked. This is an issue that could theoretically be solved (or at least improved upon) by going with a solar option, but honestly the jury is really out as to how much of a difference a solar Garmin really makes.

Weight and size

The Fenix 8 is currently available in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes, and there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a big, bulky watch. This is the trade-off for having every feature imaginable, a better battery and a brighter screen. But it did mean I found it annoying.

The profile of the watch is just big enough that it got caught on the strap of my backpack every time I put it back on, which was multiple times a day. It also meant that as we got higher, and the weather got cooler, it was a hassle to pull my multiple sleeves up to view the screen.

Now the bigger you are, the less huge the watch looks – one of my trekking companions wore the same watch, but he’s much taller than I am, and perhaps it was less unwieldy for him. But there’s no getting around the fact that it’s a brute of a watch, and heavy enough to really hurt when you drop it on your toe, as I have discovered the hard way.

Is the Garmin Fenix 8 right for your trek?

If you’re a Garmin junkie, you’ll have noticed that most of the features of the Fenix 8 that I loved – altimeter, flashlight and razor sharp GPS – are available in the Fenix 7, while the Enduro 3 has the same features and boasts better battery life. So if you’re not too fussed about the AMOLED screen, there are other Garmin models that will perform similarly (or even better) for a lower price.

Despite my battery charging woes, I still thought the Fenix 8 was a super fun tool for my trek, and if I happened to have a lot of cash lying around, I’d certainly consider buying it. That said, one feature that I think would really send premium Garmin watches over the edge would be the option to review my routes in 3D video animation.

This comes free with the Suunto app and I’ve really loved having it while testing the Suunto Run lately, but it looks like it’s only available using third-party apps with Garmin watches. Now that Base Camp is becoming a distance memory, I’d love to be able to look back at each day of trekking and watch the terrain I crossed in a miniature movie.

You can read our full Garmin Fenix 8 review here.

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Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid hiking boots: first impressions 

When you've been handcrafting hiking boots for over a century, like Lowa has, you know when you're onto a good thing, and that's why the German brand has revisited its highly acclaimed Renegade.

Designers of the Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid have added innovative technology to improve the fit, comfort and performance of the boot, and I think it excels on all counts. To be fair, we already loved its predecessor when we tested it back in 2022, with our expert reviewer calling it a 'modern classic' and concluding that it was sturdy, well-built and comfortable. With the recent upgrades, I'd say the Evo is as close to perfect as a boot can be for everything except technical winter hill hiking.

I tested this boot in the Highlands of Scotland and the hills of the Himalayas, from late winter to early summer, and found it to be comfortable both straight out of the box, and months later, even when I wore it for hours at a time and many days in a row. The dual-layer Dyna PU midsole is by no means the softest and plushest I've ever hiked in – in fact, you get quite good trail feel – but it's flexible and protective, and I've never experienced anything close to foot fatigue in these boots, even after seven hours of walking.

The comfort factor is also aided by customizable lacing zones and what Lowa calls its Monowrap support frame, which the brand says provides a three-dimensional cradle to guide and protect your foot over uneven surfaces. A higher than usual ankle cuff is more supportive than many boots I've tested, but remains very comfortable.

Speaking of uneven surfaces, for traction, the EVO boasts an exclusive Vibram outsole designed specifically for this model called Rene TRAC, and I've had no issues with grip whether I've been climbing over frosty rocks during alpine starts or romping across boggy British hills.

The Nubuck leather upper looks good even after more than 200 miles of walking, thanks in part to fewer seams in the construction, which the brand says cuts down on potential failure points. The upper manages to be breathable in warm weather, despite a Gore-Tex lining that kept my feet dry while wading through shallow streams.

It's not the lightest boot I've tested, and that's mostly down to it being a leather boot rather than synthetic, but it's by no means heavy either, and of course the trade off is a more durable construction. It also isn't a winter hiking boot, and in the coldest of weather, I did notice the lack of insulation. But it doesn't claim to be engineered for snow, we're just letting you know in case you need something for frigid temperatures.

It's also on the pricey end, but again, I'd expect to pay more for a higher quality boot that should last years.

In conclusion, this model is a big step forward from an already-great hiking boot and I've loved every step I've taken in it.

Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid hiking boots: in the field 

When I was offered the chance to trek over 11 days to Everest Base Camp, I knew I'd need a solid pair of hiking boots. I wanted something with more flex than my Hanwag Makra Trek boots for the long days, but suspected I'd need something sturdier than my super comfortable Columbia Konos TRS Mid.

I was already testing these boots, which I received from Lowa UK, and after wearing them on a two-day training hike in the Scottish Highlands, where I did nearly 20 miles (30km) in them without sore feet, I realized they were going to be perfect for my trek.

Between training for Base Camp in Scotland and the trek itself, I put over 200 miles (322km) in these boots from late winter through early summer to give them every chance to show me what they're capable of, and recently wore them again on a five-day thru-hike in the Lake District National Park. Here’s how they performed:

Sizing, fit and comfort

I tested these boots in a UK 4 (US 6), which is what I usually choose. It's a half size up to give my feet room to swell, and I'd say these boots fit true to size. I've worn them with fairly thick hiking socks and still had enough room for my toes, though I suspect I could have gotten away with going up a full size. Lowa also offer both wide and narrow options in select colorways so you can customize the fit.

When they arrived, I was worried that the toe box looked too narrow, but this hasn't been an issue at all. My higher arches often mean I suffer pain on the tops of my feet, but I've had no problems at all in these boots, and that may be down to the two independently adjustable lacing zones (one on the forefoot and one on the upper) that allow me to tailor the fit.

Though these boots don't have the plush, bouncy midsole of something like the Hoka Kaha 3s or my Columbia Konos, I'm able to wear them for at least six hours a day and over multiple consecutive days without ever experiencing any rubbing, blisters, or even foot fatigue. In fact, I don't recall once having that feeling of just wanting to tear my boots off at the end of the day, which is saying something. I put this down to the supportive fit, protection and just the right amount of flex in the sole.

Breathability and protection

These boots are waterproof, so I was a little worried about breathability, especially as we mostly experienced shorts weather on the trek to Everest Base Camp. I needn't have worried, however, as I never experienced overly sweaty feet (beyond what you'd expect while hiking in warm weather) and that remained true whether I was wearing wool or synthetic socks. Based on their performance in Nepal, I'm planning to continue hiking through the summer in the Renegade EVO GTX Mids.

Fortunately we didn't get much rain in the Himalayas, but I've put the Gore-Tex lining through its paces over the past few months here in Scotland, making a point to stand in a few streams as much to wash my boots as to test the membrane and I can say with confidence that it's watertight.

The clever sole manages to have a little flex and give a nice amount of trail feel, but still proves protective when I'm walking over rockier terrain, and of course the upper has added reinforcements around the toes.

I'm not someone that needs all my walking footwear to have ankle protection, but I'd say the higher ankle cuff gives good protection and stability while still being really comfortable.

The only time I noticed a chink in the armor was when I got up at 3am to hike Kala Patthar, which is even higher in elevation than Base Camp. It was a cloudless night and absolutely frigid out, and I did have some nippy toes by the time I reached the top. It was a short hike and wasn't a real issue, but just to underscore the point: these aren't winter boots.

Grip and stability

The yellow Vibram stamp on the outsole was a good indication to me that these were going to keep me on my feet come rain, mud or frost, and the Italian brand hasn't let me down. Whether I've been on slick, boggy terrain or steep, crumbly slopes, I've yet to slip in them. I can't say how much traction you'll get in snow and ice, but on the Khumbu glacier and over frosty rocks at Kala Patthar I had no issues with grip.

As for stability, I can't say I was aware of the frame that's been engineered to guide my foot until I read up on the specs, but I can say that I've been able to walk confidently across all types of terrain, from lumpy bogs to alpine tundra without a rolled ankle (although I do hike with trekking poles).

Value

There's no getting away from the fact that these aren't the cheapest boots on the market, but they're also far from the most expensive. Certainly, the price tag does exclude some customers, but you're getting a high-quality, long-lasting boot for the price.

That means Nubuck leather, a Vibram outsole, made in Europe and without any intentionally added PFAS, all of which I'd be happy to pay extra for, and I'm pleased to see that the sole has some recycled components to it.

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Jimmy Chin’s talents seemingly know no bounds. His adventurous career makes a mockery of the perception that you have to focus entirely on one pursuit in order to master it. Where Chin is concerned, it’s a case of Jack of all trades – master of all trades. He’s an individual who commands the respect of both America’s greatest mountaineers and climbers, while he’s also responsible for bringing us some of the most spectacular climbing films the world has ever seen.

Chin is probably most famous for Free Solo, the documentary film that captured Alex Honnold’s quest to climb El Capitan without protection. Working alongside his wife Elizabeth Chai-Vasarhelyi to create the 2018, Oscar-winning phenomenon, he directed, produced, captured footage for and co-starred in the film, and had previously done the same for 2015’s critically acclaimed Meru. However, as is obvious from his own climbing exploits in Meru, filmmaking is just one of Chin’s fortes.

This is a man who’s skied from the summit of Everest, been part of the North Face’s Athlete team for more than 20 years, written bestselling books, and been on adventures in places as far flung as Antarctica, the Karakorum, Borneo, Tibet, Mali and Baffin Island. Oh, and in 2024, he discovered the remains of Sandy Irvine, George Mallory’s climbing partner from the fateful 1924 Everest expedition.

Here we delve deeper into Chin’s remarkable career, detailing the highlights and revealing more about one of the adventure world’s most multi-talented individuals.

Early exploits and an introduction to film

Jimmy Chin was born in Mankato, Minnesota in 1973 to Chinese parents, both of whom worked as librarians. After graduating from Carleton College in 1996, he became something of a climbing and skiing nomad, living in a 1980 Subaru Loyale and chasing conditions between places like Yosemite, Red Rocks, Bozeman and Jackson. This seven-year period was the foundation for his adventures to come.

In 1999, he sold his first adventure photo to Mountain Hardwear and undertook his first forays into the Greater Ranges, completing a duo of big wall climbs in Pakistan’s Charakusa Valley. Further climbs followed, including a first ascent of 3,500-foot Tahir Tower in India’s Kondus Valley in 2000 and new routes on Mali’s Hand of Fatima, the world’s greatest freestanding sandstone tower, in 2001. In the same year he became part of the North Face Athlete team and teamed up with Conrad Anker and Brady Robinson to attempt an ascent of the Karakorum’s K7, only to be trapped on a portaledge for five days by a storm.

Circumstance played into Chin’s hands when, in 2002, he was invited by Anker to join a 300-mile trek across Tibet’s remote Chang Tang Plateau, along with photographer Galen Rowell, Rick Ridgeway and film director David Breashears. Rowell would go on to become Chin’s mentor, while Breashears was unable to make the expedition. In his stead, Chin was handed the role of cinematographer, despite having no experience with a film camera. The rest, as they say, is history. National Geographic, impressed with his work, awarded Chin an Emerging Explorer grant.

Everest adventures, the Himalayas and beyond

Over the next few years, Chin would enjoy some remarkable adventures on Everest and on other mountains in the Greater Ranges. In 2003, he and Stephen Koch were almost killed in an avalanche while trying to take on an alpine-style, direct line up Everest’s immense North Face.

The next year, he was back on Everest and reached the summit alongside Ed Viesturs, another American mountaineering legend, while shooting scenes for the 2015 feature film Everest. In 2005, he joined Viesturs again, first on Cho Oyu, where Chin suffered a cerebral edema due to the high altitude and had to retreat before the summit bid. Nonetheless, he recovered to accompany and photograph Viesturs on the top of Annapurna. This summit marked the end of Viesturs’ quest to ascend all fourteen 8,000-meter (26,242ft) peaks, the first American to do so and all without supplementary oxygen, emulating the great Reinhold Messner.

Perhaps Chin’s most remarkable Everest adventure was in 2006, when he and wife-and-husband Kit and Rob DesLauriers became the first Americans to ski from its top. Kit had successfully completed her incredible project to ski from the summits of the world’s Seven Summits.

Chin also enjoyed several climbing adventures alongside Alex Honnold and Mark Synnott during this period, notably in 2009 when they were mugged at knifepoint in Chad’s Ennedi Desert. In 2010, he took the iconic shot of Alex Honnold on Half Dome’s Thank God Ledge, which featured on the cover of both an issue of National Geographic and Honnold’s Alone on the Wall book.

Meru

A long-time project of American mountaineering legend Conrad Anker was Meru’s Shark’s Fin, a stunning big wall climb on a blade of granite in India’s Garwhal Himalaya. Anker first attempted the route in 2003 with fellow mountaineers Doug Chabot and Bruce Miller and was back in 2008. This time, he’d recruited Chin and climber Renan Ozturk to take on this much-coveted climb. The trio formed a formidable team but severe weather curtailed their attempt after 19 days on the wall, just two pitches beneath the glittering prize of the summit.

By the time the team returned to the mountain in 2011, the situation was less than ideal. Chin had narrowly escaped death in an avalanche while skiing in the Grand Tetons, while Oztruk had suffered skull and spine injuries in his own skiing accident. However, against all the odds, and having dealt with Ozturk suffering to a mini stroke high on the face, the trio made it to the summit.

The resulting 2015 film, directed by Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi, who he married in 2013, was a great success. It became the year’s highest grossing independent documentary, won an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival and garnered critical acclaim. However, the husband-and-wife team’s next film would propel them to much greater renown.

Free Solo

In terms of filmmaking, Chin’s greatest achievement is undoubtedly 2018's Free Solo. Not only did he direct and produce the film alongside Chai Vasarhelyi, he also featured prominently in the narrative. The documentary followed Alex Honnold’s journey on his way to to free soloing El Capitan in 2017. A monumental success, it went on to gross more than $28 million worldwide, capture the imagination of people way beyond climbing circles and win dozens of awards, including both the Oscar and the BAFTA for Best Documentary.

Part of the intrigue that makes Free Solo so riveting is the internal struggles that those around Honnold, including the filmmakers themselves, go through as he squares up to the incredibly dangerous task of free soloing El Cap. This makes it a very post-modern production, in that it turns the camera on itself, exploring the ethics behind filming the risky business of someone performing on the very edge.

The fact that Chin is one of the leading cast members, shows how self-aware the production was. In the film, Chin even admits: "It’s hard not to imagine your friend falling through the frame to his death." However, the team behind the film thought "very, very carefully" before deciding to go ahead and document Honnold’s exploits.

More adventures and creative exploits

Often tasked with capturing stunning photographs and film, Chin’s talents have taken him around the world with some of the adventure world’s elite. From deep water soloing along Oman’s Musandam Peninsula with the likes of Ozturk, Synnott, Hazel Findlay and Mike Shaefer in 2013, to pulling off a 4,000ft (1,212m) big wall climb alongside Anker on the sensational rock fang of Ulvetanna in Antarctica’s Queen Maud Land in 2017.

Chin’s 2021 photography book There and Back was an immediate success, quickly becoming a New York Times bestseller. In the same year, he and Chai Vasarhelyi released The Rescue, which documented the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue of twelve members of the youth football team and their coach in Northern Thailand.

Their first scripted film, Nyad, premiered in 2023 and tells the tale of Diana Nyad's swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida at the age of 64. More recently, the duo co-directed the 2024 documentary Endurance, telling the story of Ernest Shackleton’s great Trans-Antarctic expedition and the discovery of the ship in 2022.

Sandy Irvine’s boot

In September 2024, Chin made a startling discovery on the Central Rongbuk Glacier in the shadow of Everest’s mighty north face. He was there as part of a National Geographic documentary team and was searching the icy expanse along with fellow climbing filmmakers Erich Roepke and Mark Fisher, when they caught sight of a boot. This was no modern mountaineering boot but a remnant of a golden, ancient era of exploration. The boot belonged to Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine, George Mallory’s climbing partner from the fateful 1924 expedition, 100 years ago.

On June 8, 1924, Mallory and Irvine were heading along the Northeast Ridge towards the summit of Everest, somewhere in the vicinity of the First Step. Cloud obscured the watching expedition member Noel Odell’s view and the pair were never seen alive again. Whether or not they’d made it to Everest’s summit is mountaineering’s most enduring mystery. If they had, they’d have been the first in history, as it’d be 29 years before Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay achieved the official first ascent, on May 29, 1953.

Irvine’s ice axe was found just below the First Step but no evidence of the pair’s fate was unearthed until Conrad Anker discovered Mallory’s body in 1999. Clues suggested that Irvine and Mallory had been tied together and taken a fatal fall.

Chin’s discovery failed to comprehensively solve the mystery, though it’s thought the the Kodak Vest Pocket Camera that Irvine had been carrying may be hidden somewhere nearby. However, Chin and his team have refused to share the exact location of their discovery to discourage trophy hunters.

If you’re trekking to Everest Base Camp, it ought to be because you’re seeking a big adventure in remote terrain and a harsh environment with a good serving of physical and mental challenge thrown in. If you want comfort and luxury, you should probably go pretty much anywhere else on the planet. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to go for 11 days without charging your phone or seeing a proper toilet.

I spent months before my journey poring over packing lists provided by EverTrek and making sure I had all the right equipment and supplies so that I could be safe and comfortable, but when I arrived, I discovered that a whole industry has sprung up in the Khumbu region to make sure trekkers have everything they need (and want).

I don’t know that I’d have done anything differently if I’d had this knowledge in advance – I’d rather be 100% sure I have everything I need – but knowing how well-serviced the trail is might have cut down on my anxiety levels before the trek.

Whether you’re curious about the sleeping arrangements or how easy it is to send a text, all of your questions about what’s available – and what’s not – on the trek to Everest Base Camp are answered below.

Sleeping

On the trek to Base Camp, you’ll stay at the rather exotic-sounding teahouses that have sprung up throughout the Khumbu region in the decades since Lukla airport was established. These are simple lodges with basic but comfortable rooms that aren’t that far removed from the mountain huts of the Alps, only you don’t have to worry about sleeping top-to-tail with strangers.

As long as you’re trekking with a reputable company, you should have a private double room with a locking door. A surprising number of these rooms are ensuite, though as you get closer to Base Camp, you’re more likely to find shared bathroom facilities.

In my experience, the mattresses are fairly comfortable, and there’s usually a half-decent pillow and a very warm duvet. This should not be seen as a replacement for your sleeping bag, however. Teahouses are not centrally heated – there’s just a paraffin stove in the common area – and it gets cold at night.

I brought the outrageously toasty Big Agnes Torchlight Exp 0 (which I highly recommend, because it’s expandable for sleeping in different positions), and I used it plus the duvet most nights.

Peeing and pooing

Somewhere among the many kit lists I scrutinized before my trek, I read that I might want to bring a pee funnel so I could comfortably relieve myself outdoors. I dutifully packed my SheWee, and assumed that this was a sign that toilets wouldn’t be in plentiful supply. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

Assuming you’re taking the Khumbu Valley route, the trek to Base Camp is lined with lodges and cafes where you can relieve yourself in outhouses. These came along at regular enough intervals that my SheWee never left my duffel bag, and in 11 days, I think I squatted behind a bush twice.

As for the quality of the toilets, it varies from the 'surprisingly not horrifying' variety with a flushing cistern to 'slightly scary' ones that are missing a seat (or have a loose seat that threatens to dismember you with a sudden slip forward) and a bucket of water and jug next to it for inefficient flushing. They get more 'rustic' the closer you get to Base Camp, but if it helps at all, they’re all better than the atrocities you’ll find at major music festivals (we’re looking at you, Glastonbury).

Sometimes there will be a donation jar asking you to help with the maintenance and cleaning, and if you’re not buying coffee or a drink, throw 50 rupees in.

While we’re on this topic, I don’t recall seeing a single roll of toilet paper anywhere, including at the teahouses, so pack your own. Two rolls just about had me covered for 11 days, and you can restock on the trail, but we’re not talking puppy soft Andrex here, so if you’re precious, pack three – I removed the cardboard tube from the middle so they took up less space in my pack.

Finally, though you might sometimes find a dubious looking bar of well-handled soap and a water dispenser outside, it’s not guaranteed, so you’ll do well to bring a small bottle of soap like Wilderness Wash and hand sanitizer for afterwards (slather it on liberally or you might end up, like me, face to face with a 'challenging' toilet for a few hours).

WiFi

Though I had been prepped that there would be some access to WiFi, I bid my loved ones goodbye with the understanding that they might not hear much from me for the best part of two weeks.

In my pack was a Garmin InReach Mini 2 satellite communicator for emergencies that would allow me to signal for help and send messages from anywhere. Fortunately, there were no emergencies and I mainly used it to excitedly text my editor when we met Tenzing Norgay’s son at a monastery.

Despite the incredibly remote nature of the trek to Base Camp, WiFi is plentiful all the way, and just about every lodge and coffee shop will let you log on. It’s generally free to access earlier on in the trek, but once you get past Namche Bazaar, you’ll most likely find that you have to pay for an internet card when you arrive at your teahouse. In 2025, these cost 1,000 rupees ($7) and they last for 24 hours (they even work at the next teahouse, since they’re all on the same network).

I didn’t attempt anything too data-reliant, like streaming movies, but the signal was always ample for exchanging messages and even uploading reels to Instagram. We got lucky with the weather, but the internet will go down if there’s a storm, so don’t be too dependent on it.

Washing

The typical trek to Base Camp entails 11 days of walking in conditions that can be sweaty and dusty, and most of your 'showers' will come in the form of Wet Wipes. That said, I did encounter something resembling a shower in two of my rooms along the way.

The hot water systems feeding these showers rely on solar power, which means that in theory, you can get a warm shower (a trickle, usually) but in practice if it’s cloudy or outside of the afternoon then it’s most likely an icy splash, but I did give my feet a wash once or twice out of respect for my teammates.

That said, if it’s important for you to shower regularly, most lodges will sell you a hot shower, usually for around 400 rupees ($3).

Most importantly, if you are trying to get a proper wash, it’s advised that you do so from the neck down. Viruses in the water can make their way into your system via your eyes and mouth, so save the hair wash till you get back to Kathmandu.

Likewise, if you realize that two pairs of hiking socks aren’t going to get you to the end of the trip, you can have the teahouses launder your clothes, for a few hundred rupees, but be warned that anything containing merino wool may not come back the same size.

Cash

It's a good idea to bring a little spending money on the trek, as there are some lovely gifts along the way and you'll probably want the odd coffee or chocolate bar.

I flew to Nepal with cash (£400, which is roughly $550) which I exchanged into rupees at Kathmandu airport. This was more than ample for the trek, but there are cash machines available in Namche Bazaar if you run out or miscalculate.

Be warned that these can get emptied out, so you may need to try several, but you should be able to get more cash en route.

Eating and drinking

Your accommodation includes your dinner and breakfast, and hopefully the fee you’ve paid to your trekking company also covers your lunches, which will take place at teahouses along the way.

Eating on the trek to Base Camp goes something like this: at first, you’ll be amazed by the variety. In addition to Nepalese fare like Dal Bhat (all you can eat lentils, vegetable curry and rice), noodle soups and sometimes momos (steamed dumplings), there are dishes from around the world like pizza, pasta, french fries and omelettes. Sometimes you’ll even see burgers.

There are lots of vegetables available, like mustard greens, potatoes, radish and tomatoes, and these are grown in the Khumbu region. Be warned, though, that everything else has been flown to Lukla and then brought up on the back of a donkey.

For that reason, with the exception of the first couple of stops from Lukla to Namche, it’s advised you steer clear of all meat and anything claiming to have milk in it (this is usually milk powder mixed with water that hasn’t been purified). We were also advised to avoid fried food because the oil may not be changed very frequently.

By the end of the trek, that varied menu will start to look really repetitive, but the good news is that the food is surprisingly good given what the villages have available and you’ll find plenty of fresh stuff if you eat like a local.

If you need a bit more sustenance, the teahouses will always be happy to sell you a Snickers bar or a tube of Pringles with some elevation taxation thrown in for good measure. Occasionally, these will be three years out of date, but they can do a lot to boost morale.

Charging devices

I’d love to tell you that I used the trek to have a complete digital detox, but I was there to work as well as walk and between my phone, Garmin Fenix 8, Coros Pace 3 (which I use as a control while testing other watches), Kindle and camera, I had something that required juicing up every day.

Most of the bedrooms on the trek don’t have electrical sockets (they do have electricity, but only for illumination), so you have two choices: bring portable chargers or pay the lodge around 300 rupees to charge your devices. I carried three fully charged Belkin portable chargers, and that more than sufficed for the trek.

Replacement gear

Forgotten your trekking poles? Broken your headlamp? Don’t sweat it – you’ll be able to resupply on the trail.

I spent weeks triple-checking my kit list and even made an emergency detour for gaiters on my way to the airport (which I never needed), but there are loads of opportunities to buy outdoor gear.

From Lukla to Namche, you’ll find stores selling useful kit for trekkers, from basics like first aid kits and dry bags to technical gear like crampons and ice axes. There’s even an actual North Face store in Namche. You could in theory get everything you need on the trail and then you wouldn’t have to worry about that 15kg weight limit for the flight to Lukla, but of course the disadvantage is there’s no opportunity to test your gear beforehand, so save it for emergencies and know that you’ll be covered if you forget something.

While we’re on the topic, I highly recommend you stop off at the Sherpa store even if you don’t need anything. This Kathmandu-based brand uses its profits to help educate local children, and their eco-friendly gear is lovely and makes great gifts.

Personal items

Finally, though it’s smart to make sure you have all the medications you need – plus toiletries, hand sanitizer and painkillers – there are pharmacies in the main villages that can help you out in an emergency.

I stopped in and got some (unusually effective) cold medication and extra tissues on my descent, and others in my group grabbed items they’d forgotten like body wash and Vaseline.

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I love putting myself in situations that squeeze me beyond the comfortable: rappelling into a Utah slot canyon and navigating a subterranean maze, riding my bike solo for 80 miles over four Colorado high mountain passes, trekking to the world’s highest base camp over 11 days with four strangers. Strenuous adventures, especially long ones in remote areas, always provide opportunities to examine how you respond to a challenge, and usually show you just how tough you can be – plus there’s loads to learn along the way.

The trek to Nepal’s Everest Base Camp isn’t technical and doesn’t require crampons or mountaineering experience, but it can still feel daunting. There’s the elevation to contend with – at 17,598ft (5,354m) above sea level, it’s higher than nearly every mountain in the US, plus Mont Blanc, Rainbow Mountain, and many Himalayan peaks. That means that by the time you arrive, you’re getting 50 percent less oxygen with every breath than you would at sea level. And that’s enough to turn a substantial number of trekkers back before reaching Base Camp.

It also involves a long journey. We took the 11-day option, which is one of the shorter routes, and still walked for about six hours a day. You’ll sleep in teahouses, but you won’t have the same access to hot showers, clean drinking water, and charging your phone that you might back home.

Like a lot of trekkers, I had my moments of struggle, which you can read about here, but I’d consider my trek to be a success. I managed every step, never got a blister or threw a tantrum, and after 11 days only felt stronger. That's thanks in part my guides at EverTrek. The trekking company is based nearly 5,000 miles away from Everest, in Wales, and they’ve only been around since 2017, but they bring more people to Everest Base Camp each year than any other outfit.

Thanks to their expertise and the advice of our local guides on the trail, I learned loads of tips and tricks to bring this extreme adventure into reach and even make it more comfortable. Following are my main takeaways – informed by my experiences and those of my teammates – to help you trek to Everest Base Camp.

1. Train hard

“There’s just no hiding from the fact that you have to get the steps in,” said Rhys David, CEO of EverTrek, as we stood outside our teahouse in Lobuche, catching our breath.

We’d been walking for a week over rough ground and, according to my Garmin Fenix 8 watch, had already covered over 16,000ft (5,000m) of ascent. That’s more than climbing to the summit of Everest from Base Camp, and more than climbing Mont Blanc from sea level.

I’m not telling you all this to put you off; as David says, the trek is “80 percent very accessible, 20 percent very difficult,” which are quite good odds – but only if you put in some significant mileage in on foot in the months before you set off.

Even if you’re in peak condition, assume the trek will be tougher than you expect and train hard. One of my teammates, Jonathan "Fox" Davies, only recently retired from an 18-year professional rugby career. That’s nearly two decades of top-level training, never mind the fact that he’s seven years my junior and trained seriously for this trek. Compared to the rest of our group, he made it look easy, but when I asked him, he admitted it was anything but.

“Definitely hard. I’ve done steeper climbs and hikes that have taken one or two days, but the unforgiving nature of this has been tough.”

2. Get your gear right

For the first few days, we were joined by EverTrek founder Andy Moore, who first trekked to Base Camp a decade ago and has learned a few things over the years about how to do it well. I asked him which single piece of gear he recommends all aspiring trekkers think hard about, and he was unequivocal in his answer:

“Walking boots are probably the most important thing because if you mess your feet up, you’re going to struggle.”

There are a few non-negotiables when selecting hiking boots (or shoes) for this trek, such as good traction and a waterproof membrane, but beyond those criteria, what you choose to walk in is really a personal choice.

Myself and David have, independently, both opted for the new Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid boots for the trek. I love them because they offer a really good level of protection but still provide some trail feedback, and my feet never feel tired or sweaty in them. Elsewhere in our group, footwear runs the gamut from modern classics (Merrell Moabs and The North Face Hedgehogs) to big and bouncy (Hoka Kaha 3s) and even lightweight trail running shoes, in this case the Hoka Speedgoat 6s.

Whatever you settle on, get a lot of miles in them beforehand – I walked over 100 miles in my boots before I even boarded the plane to Kathmandu – to be totally sure they’re the right choice.

And while you’re breaking in your boots, make sure you test out your other gear too to ensure everything fits properly, is adequate and comfortable and you know how to use it.

“Use your equipment whilst you're training, you don’t want to show up and use your trekking poles for the first time on the trip,” cautions Moore.

3. Slow down and look around

When the trail is steep and the days long, it can be easy to shift into autopilot: dig in, one foot in front of the other, and get it over with. But that’s how you can miss out on some of the natural splendor.

“As you go up the valley, you don’t want to have your head down just trying to get oxygen into your lungs. You want to enjoy it,” advises Davies.

To do that, you have to slow down. Fortunately, we’re paced by Vikram, a local guide who brings up the front of the group, but if you have a choice or control over your speed, choose a low gear. This will help you to acclimate to the increasing altitude, and keep you tuned in to your surroundings.

Walk mindfully and accept every opportunity to sit down and take a water break or stop for tea or coffee at one of the villages where patios are often constructed for you to take advantage of the views. If it’s cloudy, and often it is by the afternoon, the surrounding peaks only make brief appearances, and you want to be ready for them because you never know what’s behind the next passing cloud.

4. Go with a reputable trekking company

Almost every day on our trek started the same way. We packed our duffel bags and three porters began carrying them to our next stop while we had breakfast. Our lead guide Sailesh briefed us on the day ahead while the team filtered water so we had plenty for the trail, then we started walking by 7.30am.

With Vikram up front, Sailesh brought up the rear to make sure no one got left behind. He was always communicating with the other guides and porters, answering our questions and doing whatever it took – even the occasional well-timed song and dance – to help get us up the trail with spirits intact.

It was a big team, and there’s no getting around the fact that that level of service is going to set you back a bit of cash – EverTrek is one of the pricier trekking companies – but it meant that there was always plenty of support available.

The cost of cutting a few corners and taking a more budget-friendly approach could mean you’re less comfortable (you might, for example, have to carry your own gear) but it could also be dangerous if you’re not able to communicate easily with your guide or they don’t have the resources to keep your group together. We always felt safe, and that’s a big deal in such a remote place.

“You go into these mountains and they’re dangerous places, and you want to trust that you’re going to be okay,” says Moore.

A reliable company doesn’t just help you during the time that you spend on the trail – it means you have access to better lodging and can navigate the chaos of Lukla airport at the end of your trek.

“The engine works in a particular way in Nepal, and the more contacts your guides have, the better,” says David.

And, he adds, it means we don’t have to worry about plans and logistics: “You can just focus on putting your rucksack on, getting out in the morning and walking.”

5. Follow the leader

If you’ve chosen a good trekking company, you should be furnished with great local guides – assume they know their stuff and follow their direction and example at all times.

Sailesh was a bit of a rockstar guide, with excellent English, boundless energy and extensive mountaineering experience. He could name every peak and take care of practical details too, constantly reminding us to drink more water, eat even when we weren’t hungry (a common altitude response), and steering us away from dodgy food choices (mainly meat and milk as we got further along the trail).

As the days went by, I realized how important it is to do what your guides do, and not just what they say. If our guides were wearing their waterproof jackets when we met in the morning, I pulled on my Arc’teryx Beta AR and assumed it was going to be either wet or breezy. If they had their neck gaiters pulled up over their faces, I figured the trail was extra dusty and did the same to protect my lungs from the dreaded Khumbu cough. I learned to order Dal Bhat at the teahouses, the national dish of Nepal that Sailesh explains is an excellent source of nutrition, and to step to the uphill side of the trail to let herds of yak pass so I didn’t fall.

As Moore says, no matter where you are, “Local knowledge is the best thing in the world.”

6. Revel in the downtime

There is a flip side to the physical toil of trekking to Everest Base, and that’s a tremendous amount of downtime. Most days, we arrived at our teahouse before 3pm, and from then on, the schedule was open.

At some stops along the trek, like Namche, Pheriche, and Lukla, you’ll find villages with cafes, bars and things to discover, but mostly, once you get to your teahouse, you’re looking at hours of downtime. I can’t emphasize this enough: enjoy it.

If your regular life is a whirlwind of lists, demands and obligations, 6–8 hours of downtime before bed might feel more torturous than all the walking. We’ve built our society around perpetual stimulation, so switching it off can be hard, but as far as I can tell, nothing in the evidence suggests all this busy-ness is any good for us. Short of finding a new planet to live on, this trek is the closest thing I’ve been able to find to a total nervous system reset.

“You have time to think about things and process things,” says Davies.

You’ll probably be able to access WiFi as long as the weather is good, but after sending a message to your loved ones with an update, set the phone down and enjoy the simple life. I plowed through three novels on the trek and kept a daily journal. My teammates and I spent hours playing card games, growing friendships and listening to music, and while I can’t prove it, part of me thinks this was better for us than the actual hiking.

7. Build in time at the end and treat yourself

Though you might be able to grab a freezing cold (or scalding hot) splash along the trek, most of your bathing will be done using wet wipes, and you’ll definitely feel pretty grimey at the end. I can’t imagine anything worse than flying back to Kathmandu and checking into a backpacker’s hostel, or worse, hopping directly on the long flight home.

We built in a few days in Kathmandu at the end of our trip, and even though we were keen to get home and see our loved ones, it was the best way to come down from the incredible high of the trek. We booked into a five-star hotel and I’ll think about that first long, hot shower fondly for a long time, never mind the new appreciation for the luxuries of air conditioning, buffet dinners, and a full-service spa.

Does it add a little extra expense and vacation leave to an already pricey and extended trip? Sure, but at this point, you’ve been well-squeezed from your challenging experience. It’s time to enjoy the juice.

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After an incredible record-breaking summit season, Everest has been on many an adventurer's minds. But if a trip to Base Camp seems out of reach, don't despair - you might just get a chance to race there!

British outdoor brand Inov8 is challenging its community to run or hike as much ascent as possible between June 23 and July 6 in order to win an adventure trip of a lifetime to Nepal and participate in the iconic Everest Marathon. The winner will be selected from those who sign up to the brand's Natural High Everest Challenge.

The Everest Marathon is an annual trail event in Nepal's Khumbu region, home to Earth's highest mountain. The race starts from Everest Basecamp, at 17,598ft (5,364m), and attracts runners from across the world. It always takes place on Everest Day, May 29, paying tribute to the first ascent by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. The race is a hugely tough undertaking, run at altitude and heading downhill from Base Camp along rough tracks and trails.

At the end of the Natural High Everest Challenge, all the ascent clocked up by participants will be logged to reveal how many times the Inov8 community has managed to scale the equivalent height of Everest, which stands at 29,032ft (8,849m). Inov8 has teamed up with adventure travel company KE Adventure to provide one lucky winner with a 19-day group guided trip from Kathmandu, including entry into the race.

Runners and hikers can share photos of their progress on social media using the hashtag #INOV8NaturalHigh. The winner will be selected at random, regardless of how much elevation they've clocked up.

In a press release, Inov8 produce and marketing director, Michael Price, said: "We've all felt the natural high that sport gives us – it’s such a positive, natural drug.

“Let’s come together as one global community and take on this uplifting challenge... Can we climb (Everest's) height every day for two weeks and amass over 100,000m? It's a big ask, let’s aim high.”

The winner will also receive up to £1,500 towards the cost of flights to Kathmandu and an Inov8 kit bundle. All participants who submit their total elevation at the end of the challenge will also receive a gift voucher code for the Inove8 website and the chance to win other prizes.

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In a year that will go down in Everest history, Ukrainian-American climber Andrew Ushakov became the fastest person to reach the top of the world's tallest mountain from sea-level, completing the mega-ascent in just three days, 23 hours and 7 minutes.

While all eyes were on a team of four British ex-special forces climbers who had drummed up publicity with their charity bid using Xenon gas, Ushakov quietly completed the ascent just after them, beating their time. What's more, he did it using only supplemental oxygen.

Even more impressive than the fact he completed the expedition while recovering from a broken hand, the time-poor father and engineer did it without acclimatization rotations in the mountains.

We caught up with him to find out the key to his success and his thoughts on the advantages and risks of 'accelerated ascents'.

Congratulations on your incredible Everest summit! How are you feeling?

Thank you, I’m good now! The expedition wasn’t as long as traditional 45 to 50-day ones, so I recovered pretty quickly.

You attempted a record-breaking summit in 2024 but were forced to turn back just 300m from the top when you lost your vision. How does it feel in 2025 to have finally succeeded?

I’m thrilled to have achieved what many people in the mountaineering world said was impossible, especially after my 2024 attempt.

I hope it shows that you don’t have to be a professional athlete or a full-time adventurer to do something extraordinary. You can hold down a job, raise a family and still accomplish something that pushes the limits of what you thought was possible.

It’s true, I did it despite having a broken arm – I broke it seven places during a recent avalanche. However, I had been signed off by doctors.

When did you first consider attempting to break the record for fastest sea-level to summit ascent?

It was in July, 2023. After climbing Denali, which took 20 days including the commute from New York where I live, I realized that to be absent from my family and work for 50 days for Everest would be too much.

I started to research and found a story about Roxanne Vogel from California, who did the round trip in 14 days. So I started to work with Dr Irina Zelenkova [a sports medical doctor based in Barcelona] on how to ascend Everest faster than 50 days.

Her initial idea was to do it in three to four weeks, she wasn’t sure if it was possible to do it faster. Roxanne’s accounts say that she used an altitude chamber for preparation on top of a hypoxic tent and mask.

I suggested we should test the methods with a lower mountain – Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 22,841ft (6,962m) in January 2024. I thought that if I could climb it way faster than usual, we would try to attempt the sea-to-summit Everest in 12 days.

So, we started to train, and I climbed Aconcagua in just four days (including the commute from New York). After that, I got a green light from Irina.

The Nepal Department of Tourism is investigating the ascent before verifying it as a record. Are you confident it will be verified?

Yes, I am confident they will be able to verify it as I am able to provide all proof.

You’ve spoken about the advantages of training using a hypoxic tent. We’d love to know more about your experience

Dr Irina Zelenkova helped me along the way. This year, I spent approximately 400 hours in the tent, mostly sleeping in there and working out on a treadmill and StairMaster.

These were my methods:

Sleeping: I put a thick mattress inside the tent, so it was quite comfortable to sleep there.

Working out: To climb a high mountain, you need to do workouts anyway, the only difference with a usual workout was that I wore a mask connected to a generator. I wore the mask at the same time as doing my seven to nine workouts a week. All it takes is just an extra 10 minutes to set things up.

I would compare it with techno-diving [a more challenging form of scuba diving in which you can explore greater depths]: you need some experience prior to diving, but then you can dive way deeper and longer than with a traditional diving approach. It's the same here – a little work prior to climbing, but way faster and safer on the mountain.

What other training did you do?

As well as sleeping in a hypoxic tent and doing workouts on a treadmill, StairMaster and muscular endurance exercise with a mask to simulate altitude, I focused on regular things like diet, sleep, water, fresh air, vitamins.

What would you say to those who are skeptical of training using hypoxic tents, who say they don’t work or that they pose health risks?

Hypoxic tents work – the main goal with this project for me was to show other climbers, that if I, a non-athlete with a broken arm and a shoulder, was able to climb Everest in less than four days, including travelling all the way from New York, other people could climb similar mountains in 10 to 15 days instead of 40 to 50 days.

Regarding health risks, I would say it does the opposite. Rather than posing a risk, sleeping in a tent before going to the mountain is a great health check. If you have hidden health issues, you can discover them at home and can deal with them before you are on the mountain. You can decide to cancel the expedition, instead of risking your life up the mountain.

What’s your response to critics who say your achievement is setting a dangerous example for climbers, or that exploiting the science takes away from the sporting achievement?

I 100% agree, it could be dangerous for other climbers if they want to achieve the same results without putting in the same efforts as I did. I climbed Everest in under four days to demonstrate that this is possible – mostly to myself. In my mind, the safe zone is 10 to 20 days, with six to eight weeks of preparation.

What I have done is to demonstrate that it is possible to avoid spending 40 to 50 days on the mountain, thereby staying away from family and work, by pre-acclimatizing at home.

Why did you choose Elite Exped as your expedition company?

This was my first time with Elite Exped and I highly recommend the company. I am delighted with them. Nimsdai Purja inspired my project with his Project Possible – the quest to summit all 14 peaks over 8,000m (26,247ft) in seven months. He showed that it was possible – the previous record before him was seven years. My project is first of all about showing the way, not setting the record. I climbed without Nimsdai, but with another guide from his team, TJ.

On your return trip you were stopped and arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport for carrying a large amount of undeclared US currency. Can you tell us more about this incident?

I can’t say too much about this. However, I am cooperating fully with all authorities and hope it will be resolved soon.

What's next for you?

Nothing major for now – I need to recover and reflect on what happened first. Probably K2 in 2026. You can follow me on social media and through my website, www.everestseatosummit.com.

Altitude simulation training systems

Andrew Ushakov revealed after his summit that he'd used altitude training technology from specialist company Hypoxico. He said that “the ability to acclimatize at home allowed me to attempt and complete this climb in a fraction of the traditional time.”

We spoke to Hypoxico CEO Brian Oestrike on the realities of training in simulated altitude.

Did you have expectations that such an incredible feat such as Andrew Ushakov's could be achieved using altitude training systems?

We were not aware Andrew was attempting to break a record like this, but we had an inkling based on the protocol and usage questions he was asking that he was working towards something significant. We definitely had the expectation this would happen, the limiting component is how fast you can get to the mountain logistically.

When it comes to preparation, how long before an expedition should a climber start using a hypoxic tent?

This really depends on what the goal is, how high and how long an expedition. It's pretty standard to train and sleep with our systems for about six weeks before a climb, but for taller mountains like Everest it makes sense to go longer. Many of our clients and athletes use our equipment for endurance training. We have olympic level athletes that sleep in our tents around 9,000ft (2,740m) and they do this as long as it's practical, which for many of them, is years. For those training for something like Everest, we usually recommend eight to ten weeks.

Are there negative side effects?

Side effects are pretty similar to real altitude sickness, so if you sleep too high too quickly you basically won't sleep and can even get mild headaches or dehydration.

When did mountaineers first start using hypoxic tents for acclimatization training?

When I was at basecamp in 2008, no one at the time was using hypoxic tents. Everyone was acclimatizing on the mountain. We really didn't see this take off until Adrian Ballinger pioneered the use of the technology to pursue rapid ascents beginning around 2012.

You say there are probably up to 250 clients climbing Everest this season who have trained using hypoxic systems – is this more than ever?

It may be more than 250. The growth in usage has been extensive in the past decade and this is likely the highest rate we've seen on Everest, but the numbers continue to climb.

How will this growth the scene on Everest and other great peaks?

We will see more hypoxic tents in the future and my suspicion is this trend towards shorter expeditions will continue.

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A man from Surrey in England who installed a defibrillator on Everest at an altitude of 16,400ft (5,000m) has "shed tears of joy" after hearing it was used to save the life of a French female climber.

David Sullivan received the news via a phone call from a sherpa that the defibrillator had been used successfully. He told the BBC it made the climb to install it the "most amazing thing I've ever done".

A man from the Netherlands apparently saw the defibrillator during the medical emergency and used it, with the help of an Austrian climber, on the French climber.

It was only last month, on April 12, that David, founder of Code Blue CPR, embarked on the groundbreaking expedition to carry the defibrillator to Mount Everest. During his trip he trained more than 260 Nepalese locals, sherpas and foreign climbers in CPR and how to use the defibrillator. He also made a bid for the Guinness World Record highest altitude CPR training. The record is currently going through the verification process.

Incredibly, David became an accidental CPR specialist when he had a life-changing experience helping save a young man’s life on a golf course. He performed CPR for nine minutes and used a defibrillator. Thirty people watched him perform CPR that day and, after relaying the story to a friend, he was invited to defibrillator manufacturer Philips' headquarters in Vienna, Austria, to train as a resuscitation expert.

Since then he has been working to spread lifesaving knowledge in the UK and beyond, spurred on also by the fact he tragically lost four close friends, all under the age of 46, to cardiac arrest.

David said he wanted "to put defibrillators where they are most needed instead of having to have a power supply" and, with the help of son Freddie, developed a groundbreaking cabinet that could withstand cold temperatures. The cabinet uses advanced materials, sometimes found on space missions, to keep defibrillators at an optimal temperature, even in extreme conditions, without power.

"This innovation allows us to place defibrillators in remote locations, such as mountains and forests, ensuring they are ready for emergencies," he said.

David continues with his campaigning today, through his company Creating Lifesavers, to empower others with the skills to save a life in an emergency situation.

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Climbers hoping to scale Mount Everest could soon face even more rules and regulations after Nepal's government vowed to keep the Himalayas clean and safe from the dangers of overcrowding and climate change.

Speaking to more than 100 climbers at the Everest Summiteers Summit, Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey said Nepal had a duty to protect the Himalayas.

“The government is strongly committed to support mountaineering in every possible way by keeping climbers safe, by protecting the natural beauty of our peaks and by helping local communities grow alongside the spirit of adventure,” said Pandey.

Summit attendees had complained about a growing number of climbers on the world's tallest mountain and the mess they leave behind.

Overcrowding has become a major issue on Everest, as most climbs are attempted in a short window from March to May. Queues to the summit, abundant litter, and abandoned human waste have all mired the Himalayan peak in recent years.

One sherpa told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink. We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick."

Everest's highest camp is estimated to house around 88,000lb (39,916kg) to 110,000lb (49,895kg) of garbage. Due to the extreme conditions and weight limitations, climbers often abandon tents, gas cannisters, and other items just under 3,000ft (915m), beneath the summit at the South Sol camp.

Nepal's government has already taken several steps to combat these issues.

In January, it announced a 36% increase in climbing fees for foreign climbers on the mountain, raising the overseas royalty fee to $15,000 (£11,204) rather than the previous total of $11,000 (£8,217).

In a bid to discourage inexperienced climbers, legislation announced in April, which is currently making its way through Nepal's parliament, would also restrict permits to climbers who have already scaled at least one of Nepal's 7,000m (22,965ft) peaks. Medical check-ups from a government-approved hospital or medical facility would also be mandatory.

“These mountains are sacred, and it is our duty to protect them for the generations yet to come," continued Pandey.

The minister also promised to tackle the devastating effects of climate change in the Himalayas.

Earlier at the summit, he said: "Today, climate change and global warming are putting this future at risk. That is why we must act with care, with wisdom and with a deep sense of respect."

The Himalayan region has experienced a dramatic drop in snowfall in recent years. This year alone, snow persistence (the time snow stays on the ground) in the Himalayas has reached a 23-year low.

The dangers were apparent to lawmakers and experts in a recent fly-by, where they witnessed a drastic reduction in snow coverage on Everest and other Himalayan peaks.

"In the past, wherever you looked, you would see snow-covered mountains. But now, black rocky hills have started to appear. The mountains that once looked completely white now appear as black peaks," Nepal's Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, told the Asia News Network.

Our senior staff writer Julia Clarke has been trekking to Everest base camp over the last week and arrived there today. You can follow her exploits here, along with all our summit season coverage, or on the Advnture Instagram account.

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Mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has set an incredible new record with his latest summit of Mount Everest. At 4am local time on Tuesday, May 27, the talented guide, nicknamed Everest Man, reached the 8,849m (29,032ft) summit for the 31st time, smashing his own record for the most climbs up the peak.

Kami Rita, 55, was guiding a group of climbers with Seven Summit Treks. He had attempted to summit a few days earlier but had been forced to turn back due to bad weather.

A Seven Summit Treks Instagram post revealed: "Kami Rita reached the summit of Everest (Sagarmatha) for the 31st time early this morning, at around 4am, under fairly stable weather conditions. Serving as the main guide (Sirdar) for the Army Adventure Wing Everest Expedition [...] Kami Rita Sherpa needs no introduction. He is not just a national climbing hero, but a global symbol of Everest itself."

Kami Rita first summited Everest in 1994 and has done nearly every year since. His father was one of the first sherpa mountain guides.

Elsewhere, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa received a hero's welcome as he returned to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, after making four successful ascents of Everest in just 15 days this season.

The 29-year-old climbed the world's highest peak for the first time on May 9 as part of a rope-fixing team; he then summitted on May 14, 19 and 23.

News of the incredible feats comes as the Everest spring season climbing window closes. Icefall doctors (expert climgers) are due to remove ladders from the Khumbu Icefall soon as changing weather makes snow and ice unstable, and the chance of high winds and snowfall increases. This means that unfortunately for some, their summit bids have ended.

US runner Tyler Andrews had been making a late-season attempt to set the fastest time from base camp to the summit with no supplementary oxygen. It was his second bid in two weeks, but had to turn around.

"At 6:24am on May 24 my safety team made the call to turn me around at 8,200m (27,000 ft) on Mt. Everest due to extremely high winds blowing just above me. For the second time in two weeks, I was under world record pace and within just a couple hours of the summit; but Apu Everest did not want to grant us safe passage," he announced in an Instagram post.

"I am absolutely gutted, devasted, as this project has been many years in the making. I am also tremendously grateful for all the support from my team and sponsors, friends and family, and the strangers who have been following from around the world and sent countless really kind messages."

Ecuadorian ultra-runner Karl Egloff was also unsuccessful. The 44-year-old was attempting to set a new Everest speed record as a part of his challenge to become the fastest person to scale the tallest mountains on all seven continents.

Egloff made a speedy start but was forced to turn around just before camp 3.

His wife told ExplorersWeb that conditions on the day were not suitable for climbing without additional oxygen.

"He followed his instinct and experience to go down when necessary," she explained.

Daredevil Brit Tim Howell, who was attempting to break the world record for highest-ever base jump from neighboring peak Lhotse, also had to turn back for the second year running due to bad weather.

"His team fixed lines all the way to the exit point at 8,300m with the promise of bluebird skies in the forecast," a Jottnar Instagram post reported.

However, Howell shared terrifying footage of the team trying to shelter at 8,300m where they waited for three hours:

"The 22nd was supposed to be a blue bird day after 2pm but the window never appeared. The exit is big, overhung and is waiting for my return. We had slept at 7900m for 3 nights prior to this and had been waiting for the window. Unfortunately it never came," he announced.

Advnture senior staff writer Julia Clarke is currently trekking to Everest base camp. You can follow her exploits and all our other Everest coverage here and on our Instagram account.

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A Ukrainian-American mountaineer, who claimed to have made the fastest ascent of Mount Everest from sea level, has been accused of money smuggling.

According to The Himalayan Times, Andrew Ushakov was detained at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for illegally carrying a large sum of undeclared foreign currency.

He was reportedly stopped at the airport on May 25 while carrying $20,000 cash. He was then arrested by the Department of Revenue Investigation (DRI) for attempting to board a Turkish Airlines flight to the US. The DRI alleges he was trying to smuggle the undeclared foreign currency out of Nepal.

Ushakov, a client of Nims Purja's Elite Exped, claims to have gone from New York to Everest summit in just 3 days, 23 hours and 27 minutes using only supplementary oxygen. He has not posted on his Instagram account since he shared photos of his summit journey (above) on May 23.

According to The Himalayan Times, Ushakov, who works as a structural engineer and was a relatively unknown climber, had hidden the cash in his luggage when it was discovered by police during baggage scanning. They said he claimed he had originally brought the money from the US and intended to take it back after summiting Mount Everest. He has reportedly been issued with a $60,000 fine for violating foreign currency regulations.

On May 26, Ushakov remained in custody, having apparently not paid the fine. Nims Purja and the Elite Exped team are reported to have intervened to try to facilitate his fast release.

Currently the Department of Tourism (DoT), under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, is investigating Ushakov's claims of the record ascent, along with four British climbers who used xenon gas and hypoxic tents to avoid the need for traditional slower acclimatization methods.

Ushakov had attempted to make a fast ascent of Everest in 2024, reaching 8,500m (27,880ft) before developing a vision problem. He failed to complete the climb that time.

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By the time you read this, I’ll be high in the Himalayas, trekking to Everest Base Camp. The 80-mile trek takes 11 days and gains around 8,000ft (2,438m). There are a lot of unknowns to venture into with this next chapter in my storied hiking career, but one thing is for sure: the air will be thin.

As we climb higher, air pressure will go down, and that means the oxygen particles in the air are spread more diffusely, which means I get fewer in each breath. This induces a state known medically as hypoxia, and ideally, my body will increase hemoglobin levels (red blood cells) to help deliver more oxygen to my muscles to offset the effects. If it doesn’t, I’ll suffer the effects of altitude sickness, something I’m eager to avoid.

High altitude and I do have plenty of history. For over a decade, I lived in a Colorado ski town at 8,000ft (2,400m) above sea level and my adventures there frequently saw me venturing higher than 14,000ft (4,267m).

At that elevation, I know that regular hiking feels harder. My breath is more labored even when the trail doesn’t seem all that demanding. My fingers swell up. Living, working and playing at altitude for such a long time meant I became well-adapted to it. But that was then.

A flatlander once more

For nearly five years now, I’ve been living back in Scotland, which, mountainous as it may be, caps out at a measly 4,413ft (1,345m) above sea level on the summit of Ben Nevis. High enough to have big adventures? Sure. But no training ground for serious altitude.

At 17,598ft (5,364m) above sea level, Everest Base Camp is some 3,000ft (914m) higher than I’ve ever been in my life, and we’ll spend just two nights in Kathmandu before flying to the mountains to begin our trek. There is no magic pill for altitude adaptation (well actually, there is, it’s called Diamox, but according to the pharmacy I’m not eligible for it) so I need to look elsewhere for help.

Early on, when I was invited to join EverTrek on the trip, there was talk of me preparing sleeping in a hypoxic tent, but I share a bed with someone I like. And besides, when I asked mountain guide Jon Kedrowski about them, he told me they may make no difference.

“I’ve seen people use hypoxic tents, and they come to altitude and they get sick anyway, and it doesn’t work,” says Kedrowski, who’s been guiding treks to Base Camp for 10 years.

The best thing I can do, he says, is get myself back to Colorado. Kedrowski has just finished guiding a group to Base Camp, and tells me several of his participants from the East Coast spent 10 days out in Colorado with him beforehand, climbing 14ers to prepare. It worked, but sadly, a trip to Colorado was impractical for me this spring, for various reasons.

I sighed. And that reminded me – could breathwork help?

Just breathe

Last year, I interviewed a mountaineer named Umer Latif, who climbed Khusar Gang, reaching nearly 20,000ft (6,096m), after only three days of acclimatization. His secret weapon? A five-week High Altitude Breathwork Training program developed by a US-based company Recal Travel, during which Latif performed short breathing exercises to try to improve his VO2 max.

It may sound unlikely, but this approach is backed by some science – a 2012 study found that slow deep breathing improves oxygen efficiency and reduces systemic and pulmonary blood pressure at high altitudes.

As a long time yoga practitioner, this sounds more like it, and fortunately, this is a practice I’m already experienced in, so I've been implementing ancient deep breathing practices regularly for the past six weeks in the hopes of priming my cardiovascular system for what's to come.

Turn up the heat

Just when I was wondering if breathing deeply will be enough to fuel me as I head towards cruising altitude without a pressurized cabin, I remembered an article I wrote about heat training.

Brian Maiorano, an endurance coach who trains people in using the Core Body Sensor, told me that just like training at altitude, training at a warmer core body temperature increases hemoglobin, and that helps deliver more oxygen to your muscles.

“With altitude training, you obviously need to go somewhere where you're about 2,000 meters. With heat training, you can do it in your own garage no matter what the temperature is. If it's winter, you just overdress."

So a couple of months ago, I fired up my Core Sensor, synced it with my Coros Pace 3 watch, pulled on my Columbia Omni-Heat base layer and Montane Fireball Lite jacket, and hit the trail. It was early spring, so the outside temperatures were mild, and within 20 minutes, my watch told me my core body temperature had reached 101.8°F (38.8C °C). Rather than stripping off, I kept my layers on, and I’ve tried to train (hiking or trail running) in that zone for one hour, three times a week for the past six weeks.

For good measure, I’ve been putting in 15-minute sauna sessions several times a week as well. One 2022 study found sauna use had no additional benefits for hematological adaptations but a 2021 study found that it improved heat tolerance among middle distance runners, so I decided that, since I like saunas and have access to one, I might as well throw it in.

Will heat training help me handle the effects of high altitude? Only time will tell, but if nothing else, at least I’ve been slowly increasing my tolerance to discomfort, and I expect there to be some of that on the trail.

Ultimately, though, Kedrowski’s advice for handling altitude is probably the best answer:

“Really, just slow trekking, not rushing yourself, not carrying a heavy weight can be helpful. And hydrate a lot.”

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Every year, hundreds of climbers attempt to summit Mount Everest. It's a feat seen by many as the ultimate mountaineering challenge but it's high-risk and difficult to complete alone.

While some experienced climbers go solo, the majority use mountain guides called sherpas. These tough local climbers will scout and prepare routes, fix ropes ahead of climbers and carry essential kit, making the ascent as safe and as straightforward as possible.

In the past, these guides, who are exposed to enormous risk and receive salaries that are only a tiny fraction of what climbers pay for Everest expeditions, have often remained faceless. While one-third of those who die on Everest are sherpas, very few are mentioned in Western media.

With new regulation coming into force this year meaning everyone on the mountain must be accompanied by an expert guide, demands on sherpas may grow. And with education and awareness, the importance of these unsung heroes is being recognized and more are achieving worldwide appreciation.

What does sherpa mean?

The word 'sherpa' is often used interchangeably with 'mountain porter' or 'mountain guide'. However, 'Sherpa' (with a capital 'S') is actually the name of an ethnic group of mountain dwellers who live in Nepal, central Asia.

Sherpas are of Tibetan descent and speak a language called Sherpa, which is closely related to the main form of Tibetan. Most Sherpas live in Nepal and speak Nepali, too, and often the language of their climbing clients.

The name Sherpa means 'easterner' and makes reference to their origins in Khams, and area in eastern Tibet. These people began to migrate west from the 15th century, trekking up into the Himalayas to establish settlements in the high-altitude terrain.

Today, the word sherpa is used (by Westerners) as a generic term to describe mountain workers from one of many ethnic groups who live in the Himalayan area and are skilled at climbing.

Why are sherpas proficient climbers?

Sherpas living in the Himalayas have a natural aptitude for climbing that comes from two main things: adapted physiology that makes moving at high altitude easier, and a deep knowledge of the landscape and weather conditions.

Researchers have discovered that sherpas' bodies have adapted so oxygen is transported around their system more effectively, and used much more efficiently, than in the general population. People who usually live at low altitudes find it difficult to access oxygen in their blood when they're above 8,000ft (2,400m), and will start to suffer from symptoms such as headaches, low appetite, nausea, dizziness and sleep disturbance. Severe cases of mountain sickness can cause swelling in the brain and fluid in the lungs. Both conditions can quickly become deadly.

When it comes to the landscape, sherpas know from hard-earned experience how to negotiate icefalls and fix ropes. Having climbed sections of the mountain multiple times, they have also learned the best way to ascend and descend tricky sections, and where the best places to camp are. They have great local knowledge about the way changing weather patterns can affect visibility and access on routes.

Famous sherpas

Despite their natural propensity for climbing, Sherpas did not start scaling the world's biggest peaks until the 20th century. They viewed them as places to revere and respect – the home of the gods. While today they have accepted mountaineering as a way of life, they still have great respect for the mountains. Before an ascent begins, climbers and sherpas take part in the Puja ceremony, a Tibetan Buddhist ritual conducted by the head Lama to ask the mountain’s permission to climb, and give blessings for safety.

While Western mountaineers used guides for expeditions from the 1920s, it wasn't until Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay successfully summited Mount Everest in 1953 that the role of the sherpa shot into the limelight.

Tenzing Norgay (1914-1986)

New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay completed the first confirmed summit of Everest on May 29, 1953. Norgay was Nepali-Indian and has become known as the hero of Everest and the most famous sherpa of all time.

Not much is known about his early years, but at age 19 he completed his first expedition as a porter. In 1935 he accompanied English mountaineer Eric Shipton’s reconnaissance expedition of Everest. He was attached to many more expeditions in the following years.

Following his summit with Hilary, he was awarded the George Medal by the British government along with the Nepal Tara (Star of Nepal) and the Padma Bhushan from India. He died in 1986.

Apa Sherpa (1960-present)

This Nepali mountaineer and guide set a record for most ascents of Mount Everest (21) in 2011. It was surpassed by Kami Rita (below) in 2024. He started working on Everest expeditions in 1988 and first summited during a trip with Peter Hillary, son of Edmund Hillary.

Kami Rita (1970-present)

Kami Rita is a Nepali guide who holds record for most ascents to the summit of Mount Everest. On May 22, 2024 he scaled the mountain for the 30th time.

Lhakpa Sherpa (1973-present)

Lhakpa Sherpa holds the title of most Everest summits by a woman, which stands at 10. Besides scaling the mountain more than any other woman in history, in 2000 she was the first Nepali woman ever to reach the summit. She’s the subject of Netflix documentary, Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa.

Nima Rinji Sherpa (2006-present)

At just 18, record-breaking Nima Rinji Sherpa became the youngest person to summit all 14 of the planet's 8,000m peaks. He broke the record of his uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, who held it for completing the challenge at the age of 30.

What is the role of a sherpa?

Foreign mountaineers chose sherpas for a number of reasons, but ultimately they rely on them to make give their Everest expedition the biggest chance of success possible.

Sherpas have developed strong mountaineering skills. They are physically strong and naturally adapted to trekking at high altitudes, so can carry camp kit at a fast pace ahead of clients. They have a deep knowledge of the Himalayas and know the best routes through high mountain passes.

When it comes to safety, sherpas are highly respected for their ability to keep calm when others around them are struggling physically and mentally. On countless occasions they have gone the extra mile, searching for climbers who have gone off course and rescuing those in danger. With clear heads they can make critical decisions in crisis moments.

Mountaineering roles

• Climbing guides: Sherpas lead climbers up the world's tallest mountains, finding the safest routes and helping climbers use gear.
• Fixers: They carry out the high-risk jobs of setting up ropes and ladders to help foreign climbers cross treacherous parts of the route.
• Porters: Sherpas often work as porters, using their extreme fitness to carry heavy gear, supplies and oxygen. They will usually set up camp for climbers at the end of the day so they can get a good rest, and prepare food for them.
• Search and rescue: Sherpas play a crucial role in search and rescue missions, often acting as first responders.

Other roles

Following increasing global recognition for their skills and knowledge, plus improved access to education, sherpas are more frequently taking on roles such as mountaineering instructors and environmental experts. They have also been able to set up their own businesses – tour companies and hospitality outlets.

The ethical debate

In September 2014, an avalanche in the dangerous Khumbu Icefall killed 16 sherpas. It was the deadliest single loss of life during an Everest expedition, and subsequent expeditions were cancelled for the season. The disaster sparked greater debate on the working conditions of sherpas, who have to repeatedly climb up and down through the most dangerous parts of the lower route to transport gear and supplies to the higher camps to make progress easier for visiting climbers.

The aftermath of the disaster – when tensions between sherpas who had just lost friends and colleagues and Western climbing companies who were making huge amounts of money from wealthy clients (many of whom wanted to continue climbing) boiled over – is shown in extraordinary and shocking real footage in the brilliant film Sherpa, directed by Australian filmmaker Jennifer Peedom (a must-watch movie for anyone interested in the culture of climbing in the Himalayas).

While certified sherpas can earn between $4,000 and $10,000 per climb, each expedition can take up to two months. The wage is high compared to that of the average Nepali, but just a fraction of the price tour operators charge foreign mountaineers, which can reach $76,600. Prices are set to rise too, as a 36% increase in price of permits for the popular South Col route will come into force from September 2025.

There is often little financial compensation offered to families of sherpas who lose their lives on the mountain, while tour operators still profit from expeditions that go wrong.

When it comes to recognition, sherpas have historically been the invisible heroes. While being labelled as 'support' they often do the hardest graft – guiding, carrying and taking the greatest risk scouting and securing safe routes for their clients who often take the international glory when they summit.

Today, the role of the sherpa is becoming more recognized and with that has come an increase in respect and understanding of their social circumstances and what they risk with every expedition.

Sherpas in the media

More recently sherpas have become the subject of documentaries and books that have gained critical acclaim:

• Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa (2023)
  This Netflix documentary follows the only woman to have climbed Everest 10 times.
• The Wall of Shadows (2020)
  Documentary about a sherpa family who risk a lot to take part in an expedition to holy mountain Kumbhakarna to earn money for their son's school.
• Sherpa (2015)
  Documentary from an Australian director that tells the story of Himalayan guides who risk everything to support climbers on Everest.
• Everest (2015)
  A film depicting the 1996 disaster on Everest, including the experiences of sherpas. 

The future for sherpas

An increase in tourism in the Himalayan area means there's more demand for experienced mountain guides and more job opportunities in hospitality and logistics. The government is regulating the industry and there are more calls for improved wages, insurance and working conditions.

Sherpas are now seizing opportunity to start their own businesses, establishing guiding companies, gear shops or guest houses and cafes along popular trekking routes. This means more of the tourism revenue can stay in the local economy.

However, climate change is severely affecting the way of life of the sherpa. Rising temperatures causing melting ice is leading to unstable ground and larger and more frequent avalanches. Snow bridges and ice ledges are more likely to collapse. Melting glaciers are putting more pressure on natural infrastructure leading to flash flooding. Dwindling water resources are impacting agriculture and animal herding – traditional livelihoods that supplement the sherpa climbing income.

Technology is also having an impact. While advancements such as drones and improved communication systems reduce risk and are improving efficiency, they could also take away opportunity and jobs.

For now though, the appeal of summiting Everest seems more popular than ever and with our increasing respect for sherpas and awareness of their role our view of them as essential partners rather than support staff can only improve.

The race is on to see who can get from sea level to Everest's summit in the quickest time possible.

Earlier today (May 21), news broke that four former British special forces soldiers became the first climbers to scale Mount Everest using Xenon gas, which helped them go from sea level summit in an extraordinary five days.

It took the four veterans, in their forties and fifties, just five days from leaving London to reach the top of the 29,032ft (8,848m) peak, leaving them two days to get back to base camp to make their seven-day goal for the entire expedition.

Usually it takes mountaineers several weeks to acclimatize to the high altitudes. The previous record was 21 days, and most expeditions take 70 days to let climbers get used to the thin atmosphere.

But now, Nimral Purja is claiming that a client of his expedition company, Elite Exped, has gone from New York to Everest summit in just 3 days, 23 hours and 27 minutes. What's more, he's claiming that he did it only using supplementary oxygen.

According to Purja, on May 15, Andrew Ushakov, left New York at 10.15am to travel to Everest base camp. On May 16, he and a team of five sherpa guides started the climb and reached Camp 3 on May 17. On May 18 they departed Camp 4 and after 22 hours reached the summit on May 19 at 9.22am.

Purja said in an Instagram post: "Andrew only started climbing in 2020, he is not a full-time athlete, which makes this feat even more impressive."

A full-time engineer and a dad, Ushakov reportedly managed the feat with "dedication, training and lots of preparation and hypoxic training for acclimatisation (*including 400+ hours in a hypoxic tent)".

Xenon on Everest

British veterans Alistair Carns, 45, Kevin Godlington, 49, Anthony Stazicker, 41, Garth Miller, 51, inhaled Xenon gas in Germany before their expedition. The gas is said to help accelerate the acclimatization process by increasing your body's erythropoietin production and boost red blood cell count.

They also slept in specially adapted hypoxic tents to simulate the rarified air found on Mount Everest in the run-up to the trip. On the mountain they used supplemental oxygen.

Anthony Stazicker is the founder of ThruDark a brand that creates high-performance outwear for harsh outdoor conditions. The group's progress was communicated on its Instagram account:

"First day (May 17) was 12 hours long yomp. Pretty punishing 6 hours from getting off the plane. Today (May 18) was 5hrs but another 1km in height gained.

"The Mission: Everest team is currently at Camp 3 and preparing to move to Camp 4 tomorrow (May 20). They’re making great time and morale is high, even dodging an avalanche as they moved through the Khumbu Icefall."

The team summited on May 21 at 7.10am in 35mph winds. They were with a team of fiver sherpa and one photographer.

Xenon gas has been used by guides before but this is the first time it has been used by regular climbers.

Lukas Furtenbach of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures, which organized the expedition told Reuters: "“Xenon improves the acclimatization and protects the body from altitude sickness and the effects from the hypoxic environment.

"Xenon made the climb safer and shorter as it kept the climbers properly acclimatized," he said. “Shorter expedition also means less garbage, less resources, less human waste in this sensitive environment."

Xenon is a gas mainly used in manufacturing of lights, but also as a surgical anesthetic. It is recognized as a doping agent in competitive sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and in May 2014 was added to the Prohibited List of substances.

Adrian Ballinger, American climber and guide from Alpenglow Expeditions company, told Reuters that the use of Xenon was a “stunt ... it’s never seemed like the type of experience we want to provide.”

However, he admitted that “everyone should climb the mountain in a form they are proud of. If these climbers are proud of this style, then that’s their choice”.

The British group are hoping to raise over £1 million ($1,341,000) for veterans charities.

Social media comments on the Elite Exped's posts were not so congratulatory, however:

Matteusstarling commented: "Speed means nothing, that’s just EGO. No respect for setting a dangerous example for climbers. There is a method to keep people alive and healthy and that’s just cutting corners to make headlines. Internet and social media help bring these kind of sadly bad examples to life. But in the mountains, life will be always priority. Congratulations to the courageous climb, but it’s not an example, it’s merely a exemption of someone risking it’s [sic] life and fellow sherpas."

Hornsby_type_r replied: "These “records” are mostly a product of artificially cutting corners most others don’t when climbing mountains. Hypoxic tent before, ~5 Sherpas supporting you and probably a very high oxygen flow rate making the actual altitude relatively irrelevant. Still very hard, but with a lot more aid than most people get when climbing the mountain."

Lanzetta posted: "Well if we’re talking about Sea to Summit I’d say Tim Macartney Snape did it correctly. Walked from the beach to the summit of Everest. If you go by plane it’s not sea to summit, it’s just a quick ascent of Everest."

British MP Alistair Carns told The Sun the xenon team were treating the climb like a Special Ops mission – using every advantage they could get.

He said: “This is like a Special Forces mission. We have the best people, the best training, the best kit and we are at the very cutting edge of science. We’ll go in, hit the objective and leave no trace, no waste.”

"Nursing gave me the qualities to scale Everest"

Elsewhere at Everest base camp, a UK nurse, fresh from her summit, has revealed how it was her nursing profession that gave her the skills she needed to reach the world's highest peak.

Rowena Rowberry, 34, who is a nurse and lecturer in nursing at the University of Derby, is mid-way through her challenge of scaling each of the seven highest summits in the seven continents. Mount Everest was her fourth summit.

She's taking on the challenge to raise money for the Royal College of Nursing Foundation and to shine a light on the hardships of nursing. Rowberry told the BBC:

"I feel battered and bruised, mentally and physically exhausted. I really did struggle on the way down and if it wasn't for my amazing sherpas who kept encouraging me... they were the real machine into making this happen.

"There's so much I've been through and I don't think I would have been able to do this if I hadn't had some of the qualities nursing has given me.

"I wanted to shine a light on the profession and show what we can do."

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Want to see Mount Everest in all its glory? You might need to go sooner rather than later due to the devastating effects of climate change on the world's tallest mountain.

In a recent fly-by, Nepali lawmakers and experts from across the globe witnessed a drastic reduction in snow coverage on Everest and other Himalayan peaks.

The aerial survey was organized by Nepal's Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, to highlight the grave effects of climate change in the region.

Alongside a reduction in snow coverage, passengers witnessed rapidly retreating glaciers as they passed multiple major Himalayan peaks, including Everest, Shishapangma, Makalu, and Lhotse.

"In the past, wherever you looked, you would see snow-covered mountains. But now, black rocky hills have started to appear. The mountains that once looked completely white now appear as black peaks," Thakuri told the Asia News Network.

"This mountain flight has shown the direct impact of climate change on the Himalayas. Foreign experts and guests, too, observed it first hand."

The Himalayan region has experienced a dramatic drop in snowfall in recent years. This year alone, snow persistence (the time snow stays on the ground) in the Himalayas has reached a 23-year low.

A report published in April by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) found "a significant decline in seasonal snow across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, with snow persistence 23.6% below normal - the lowest in 23 years".

The reduction is seriously bad news for the two billion people who rely on Himalayan snowmelt to feed their water sources. The melting cycle fills 12 major river basins that provide water for multiple heavily populated countries like China, Pakistan, and Thailand.

"This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security for nearly two billion people," explains author Sher Muhammad.

"All twelve major river basins, including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, experienced below-average snow cover, with the Mekong and Salween basins losing over 50%."

Climate change in the Himalayan region poses multiple other significant risks, including the destruction of invaluable habitats and dangerous climbing conditions for Everest hopefuls.

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A British mountain guide has broken his own astonishing record for the most Everest climbs by a non-Nepali.

Kenton Cool made his 19th successful ascent of the world's tallest mountain on May 18, more than anyone who's not a Nepali Sherpa. He was joined by multiple Nepali guides and fellow climbers as Everest's climbing season gets going.

Cool, aged 51, began his Everest journey with a maiden ascent in 2004 and has been back every year almost every year since to work as a guide. He's broken his Everest streak just three times in the past two decades, due to the devastating avalanches in 2014 and 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, which forced the cancellation of the climbing season.

You can see him talking about this plans on Instagram below.

The only climbers to scale the mountain more than him are Nepali Sherpas. Record holder Kami Rita has been up the 29,035ft (8,849m) mountain 30 times, and is expected to make his 31st ascent in the coming days.

With spring here, the Everest climbing season is in full swing. Hundreds of climbers and guides head up every April and May, when the harshest weather conditions subside, and the mountain is at its warmest.

Conditions on Everest are still perilous, with temperatures dropping well below freezing, treacherous underfoot terrain, low oxygen levels, avalanches, and plenty of other risks.

Two climbers have already perished this season. Indian Subrata Ghosh and Filipino Philipp Santiago died around the summit late last week.

Out of the 800 or so who attempt to climb Everest each year, roughly five to ten people will lose their lives. Last year, eight people died on the mountain, after a deadly year in 2023, which saw 18 people perish.

Our staff writer and outdoors expert, Julia Clarke is about to trek to Everest Base Camp. Check out how she's prepared here.

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Everest is growing, they say, and so is the mountain of gear in my living room as I prepare to trek to Everest Base Camp. Now, the trip is nearly here, and it’s time to make the final decisions about what’s coming with me when I board the flight to Kathmandu.

When I arrive, I’ll have two nights to recover from the flight and explore by day in 80°F (26°C) weather before I’ll pack everything I need for the trek into a duffel bag and board another flight to Lukla, where it will be significantly cooler – in the 50s (low teens in celsius) – and perhaps drizzly, and I’ll begin the 11-day trek.

If all goes well, I’ll arrive at Base Camp eight days later, where it will be below freezing during the day and sub-zero at night. So, do I just pack every piece of kit I own? Since I'm only allowed 33lb (15kg) for my flight to Lukla, that's a definite no.

The trek will be the longest and highest altitude adventure of my life, and I want to get it right. Luckily for me, the company I’m going with, a Welsh outfit called EverTrek, has furnished me with an elaborate kit list.

In examining it, you could walk away with the idea that you need a lot of gear for the 80-mile trek, but EverTrek Director of Supplier Relations Dave Carpenter warns me this isn’t totally true.

Keep it light

“When it comes to kit, the biggest piece of advice is to pack light,” says Carpenter.

Instead of worrying about bringing two fleeces or three jackets, he advises me to “keep it streamlined.”

“The truth is, you don’t need much. Life in the mountains is simpler, and your kit should reflect that. Focus on staying warm, cool, and dry and leave the extras behind.”

Warm and cool? Yep, I’m going to need layers. I’ve been whittling down my mountain, and here’s where I’ve landed for my clothing:

• Fjällräven Abisko Hybrid Trail Shorts: early on in the trek, it might be warm enough for shorts, and these proved stretchy and comfortable during a mountain hike last week, and like everything from the Scandi brand they’re pretty rugged.
• Patagonia Terravia Peak Pants: as we go higher and the weather cools, I’ll need good leg protection and I don’t know about you, but I prefer to have options for my lower body, adding thermal underwear and rain pants if I’m cold rather than risking overheating with fleece-lined pants. But knowing that I’ll also want something robust, I’ve opted for the new Patagonia Terravia Peak Pants, which are built specifically for multiday trips.
• Fjällräven Abisko Trail Fleece: I’m packing a couple of T-shirts and long sleeved base layers, mostly made from Merino wool, but one of the most important pieces of kit on a trek like this is a mid layer, which provides valuable insulation in cold temperatures, and can double as a light jacket when it’s mild. This jacket combines two different fleece fabrics to add warmth where I need it, but keeps weight and packing volume down, which ensures it wins out over my beloved Houdini Power Houdi. And not that I'll be thinking about this at 17,000ft, but it looks awesome, tailored to fit my body and not a cereal box, for once.
• Fjällräven Expeditions Pack Down Anorak: I’ve got my light and packable Rab Microlight Alpine jacket for when it gets cooler, but after hearing about the -10°F (-23°C) lows at Base Camp, I realized I need something built for polar conditions. This awesome anorak comes down lower than my bum and has a brilliant hood to shelter me against the wind. Despite how luxurious it feels on, it packs down small and even stuffs inside the kangaroo pocket to make a camping pillow, in the unlikely event my Big Agnes Rapide SL pillow isn’t enough.
• Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket Stormhood: Living in Scotland has taught me just how important a weatherproof layer is, and it can be a constant balancing act to find a jacket that’s really durable but still quite light and packable. The Arc'teryx Beta AR Stormhood holds a lot of promise, using Gore-Tex Pro for rugged protection, plus a StormHood that adjusts to move with your head and maximize peripheral vision, and an embedded RECCO reflector for emergency situations.
• Rab Firewall Waterproof Pants: We’re likely to meet with some rain in lower altitudes and as we get higher, a cold wind can rear its head at any time, so for rugged leg protection which provides all the weather protection I’m likely to need, I went with these awesome lightweight pants. Thanks to the 3-layer Pertex Shield fabric, they’ll breathe when we’re climbing and are a bit of a workhorse in terms of durability.

Obviously, there’s more to add, but I consider the above to be the bulk of my layers, and together it all weighs around 2kg, leaving me plenty of wiggle room.

One exception

I’ve been focused on light layers, but one notable exception to my lighter-is-better approach is my sleeping bag. When my friend and fellow Advnture writer Jack McKeown warned me about how cold it can get at night, I hauled out my Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 0 sleeping bag.

It’s not my lightest or most packable bag, but with Sherpas (blessedly) carrying our gear, leaving me just to carry my daytime essentials in my Osprey Tempest 33 pack, I decided it was the best option. This toasty bag, from a Colorado brand I’ve known and trusted for years, can be expanded with an added zip, which means more options for sleeping positions and something I think is vital when I’m going to be using it for 11 nights straight.

Boots on the ground

The piece of kit I’ve spent the most time agonizing over is, of course, my hiking boots. As an outdoors journalist, I’ve got a pile to choose from, but unlike my hiking shorts, this is a choice that could easily make or break my entire trek. Blisters on a day hike are already insufferable, but on an 11-day trek? No thanks.

I want something protective but not too heavy, waterproof, and with enough cushion for long days. Needless to say, I’ve been doing a lot of hiking to prepare my body for the journey, and that’s given me time to test out different boots. I’ve finally settled on the Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid, which I’ve now put about 100 miles in. This is the newly updated version of the light, synthetic bestseller from the German brand.

They’re actually not the cushiest boots I own, and even provide a little trail feedback, but I’ve been able to put in back-to-back long days in them several times this spring without foot fatigue. Add to that the fact that they have a roomy toe box, and I might even get through the hike without losing too many toenails, plus with a mid-height cuff, they offer good protection.

Also on my feet, I’m taking the advice of my sister-in-law, who has historically suffered from bad blisters on long walks and I’m armed with several pairs of Injinji toe socks to cut down on rubbing (I’ll bring plenty of vaseline for that too). I’ll start in the lighter Injinji Liner Crew socks and work my way up to the Injinji Outdoor Midweight Crew Wool when it gets cooler. Thanks to the wool content, I won’t have to worry about smelly feet.

Here comes the sun

The thought of being cold is the one that keeps me up at night, and I’ve been hyper-focused on staying warm, but having lived in the Rockies for many years, I’m also preparing myself for how intense the sun can be. Long sleeves and sunscreen are of course a crucial start, but I also want to protect my skin from sunburn and my body from additional dehydration with a hat and sunglasses.

Last year I received the Columbia Bora Bora II Booney sun hat for a trip to the Swiss Alps, but it was a little too safari for my liking, so I put it aside in favor of a ball cap. Now that I’m seeking to really maximize sun protection, however, I’m appreciating the merits of a brim that goes all the way round, plus it has a chin strap so I don’t have to run back down to Lukla chasing it on a breezy day.

Since I’m now resigned to looking decidedly uncool in this hat, I’m just going to complete the look with the new SunGod FORTY2s sunglasses, which are actually trail running shades but I like that they provide all-day comfort, lots of crucial eye protection and a fair amount of coverage.

A secret weapon?

I’ve spoken to a few friends and colleagues about gathering kit for my trek, and each one has a “secret weapon.” For Carpenter, it’s a knee brace – like me, he’s been the recipient of a new ACL, but I find my awesome Leki Skytera FX Carbon SL trekking poles provide me with all the support I need.

Mountaineer Tracee Metcalfe, who recently became the first American woman to summit all 14 of the 8,000m peaks in the world, had a secret weapon idea that sounds like it could improve the quality of my experience:

“I would recommend hiking with a buff around your neck as much as you can, as it helps protect your throat and lungs from all the dust on the trail.”

When I speak to Jon Kedrowski, who’s been leading treks to Base Camp for years, he echoes this sentiment, explaining that the yaks along the trail are what can make the “dust” quite harmful.

“That livestock is pooing all over the trail, and that dust gets kicked up, and then you’re breathing that dust in and you’re breathing in feces, basically.”

Eager to protect my nasal passages and lungs from it all, my Buff Thermonet Multifunctional Neckwear is likely to be a permanent fixture around my neck.

A line to the outside world

I won’t lie, I’m looking forward to a bit of a digital detox on the trek, as signal is said to be spotty, but being away from my family for so long in a remote area, I do want to be contactable – and be able to get a message out if I need to. So I have a Garmin inReach device for this trek, which is a satellite communicator that allows me to send and receive messages.

Hopefully, I’ll just use this to keep in touch and won’t have any emergencies that can't be solved with Imodium, but I have some peace of mind knowing that it’s safely in my pack.

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There’s an old mountaineering joke that says the Himalayas make great training ground for the Scottish Highlands, so it stands to reason that the opposite is true. Next week, I’ll get to put that theory to the test.

I’m joining a small group from the Welsh trekking company EverTrek for an 11-day trek along the classic route from Lukla to Everest Base Camp. The journey covers a distance of 80 miles round trip and climbs to more than 17,000ft above sea level.

I’ve previously trekked across Lapland, hiked the 96-mile West Highland Way, and run a 40k circuit in the Swiss Alps, but this is the longest hike I’ll ever have undertaken, and I’ve spent the past three months trying to make sure I’m in the best shape of my life. Here’s what I’ve been doing physically prepare for trekking to the base of the world’s highest mountain:

Walking on tired legs

I recalled something ultra runner Lucy Sholz told me when she was getting ready to do the Speed Project, a gruelling 300-mile race across the desert from LA to Las Vegas: “I’m just trying to get used to running on tired legs.”

In recent years, I’ve got into a pattern of following bigs days in the hills with rest days to recover. There’s plenty of research supporting this approach, and it keeps my general fitness up, but means my legs pretty much always feel fresh for a summit or long run. But on my Base Camp trek, there won't be much opportunity for recover.

I'm not running 300 miles in a competitive environment, but I want some advice on this, so I talk to mountaineer Tracee Metcalfe. She's the first American woman to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000m peaks, and she says getting used to being tired and hiking anyway is the number one thing I need to focus on in my training.

"You should be prepared to do back-to-back days of hiking without proper recovery. The trek itself is amazing, and I am sure you will love it, but the hard part is you have to keep going day after day without a break or proper recovery."

So for the past couple of months, I’ve been reorganizing my training into consecutive long sessions whenever possible so that on day two, I can train myself to keep going when I'm fatigued. That might mean double-day backpacking escapades, doing two long hikes in the same area with a hotel stay in between, or even putting in a long trail run after work on a Friday, followed by a big hike on Saturday. The first time I did it, my legs felt a little heavy on day two, but I’m amazed at how quickly I’ve gotten used to walking on tired legs.

Pulling back on pace

You might think that when you’re training for a big effort, the goal is to learn how to go faster, but when I spoke people who’ve done the trek before me, everyone agreed that slow and steady is best.

Dave Carpenter, Director of Supplier Relations and Product Development at EverTrek, recalled a fellow who’d wanted to challenge himself by storming ahead, and very nearly didn’t make it as a result.

“The poor guy was really struggling on the last day,” he says.

Going slow doesn’t just help conserve energy, it’s important on a practical level too – the slower I go, the more time my body will have to adapt to altitude and the lower the likelihood I’ll struggle with altitude sickness.

Luckily, my training has coincided with a lot of GPS watch testing, and on every hike I’ve had my Coros Pace 3 on my left wrist and the watch du jour (the Garmin Fenix 8, Coros Pace Pro, Amazfit Active 2 or Suunto Race S) on my right wrist, which has made it easy to keep an eye on my pace and heart rate and remind myself to cool it.

With the exception of a recent experiment where I practically flew up Ben Nevis aided by an exoskeleton, my training hikes have mostly entailed multiple, languid hours to stroll a many-mile circuit, taking in lots of new Munros in a day. They’ve been thoughtful, challenging, and helped me get used to spending a lot more time than normal on the trail.

Racking up the miles

Instead of maintaining my fitness with daily short sessions and squeezing in longer hikes when I feel like I have time, I’ve started prioritizing big days in the hills. Walking isn’t the only way to get fit for hiking, but it’s a good start, and I’m generally a big believer in the idea that whatever you’re doing more of is what you’re getting good at.

That means doing mountain rounds where I tackle several peaks that are close together in one go, instead of just picking one peak, and choosing mountains with a long approach rather than those I can tick off in a morning. I’ve also switched from running on rolling trails to mountain running, where I hike the uphills, and make sure I’m out for two hours in the evening instead of one.

It’s taken a little more of my free time than usual, but without quitting my job, somehow I’ve managed to rack up nearly 300 miles (500km) on the trails this year and I’m starting to feel cautiously optimistic that I can manage to stave off foot and leg fatigue for the first 4 to 5 hours of each day in Nepal.

This has also given me plenty of time to decide which hiking boots I’ll be wearing – I’ve settled on the Lowa Renegade Evo GTX Mid for their awesome comfort, breathability and wide toe box – and thoroughly break them in.

Am I ready for Everest Base Camp?

I’ve got two weeks left and I plan on two more long hikes this week, then I’ll make like a marathon runner and start tapering. Altitude, Delhi belly, blizzards and sprained ankles could fell me without warning, but one thing’s for sure – if I don’t make it to Base Camp, it won’t be because I’m not fit enough.

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May 29 1953 is arguably the most important date in mountaineering history. At around 11:30am, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary became the first people to stand on the summit of the world’s highest mountain, Everest.

It’d be 22 years before Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei would become the first woman to stand on the summit, which she achieved on May 16 1975. Three years later, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler became the first people to summit without supplemental oxygen, on May 8 1978. Fast forward to 2019, and it’s thought that a record 358 people reached the summit on a single day alone: May 23.

You don’t need Sherlock Holmes’ knack for deduction to figure out that May is obviously a good month to try your hand at ascending the world’s tallest mountain. In fact, according to the Himalayan Database, around 80% of the approximately 13,000 successful summits has occurred in May.

To get to the bottom of why this is, we asked one of our mountaineering experts to delve a little deeper into why May is such a favorable month to climb Everest and to see if there are any other good times. Naturally, we also couldn’t resist revealing when the worst times to climb Everest are.

When is the best time to climb Everest? And why?

Mid-May is the best time to climb Everest, during the pre-monsoon ‘summit window’. This is thanks to the movements of the jet stream, which drifts north during this time, bringing calmer winds and warmer temperatures to the mountain. This window, which usually lasts between a week and about 10 days, closes with the arrival of the Asian monsoon. If you were to bet on the best day, it’d be May 19, with 13% of all successful summits, more than any other.

At 29,030ft (8,849m) tall, Everest extends beyond the upper troposphere and into the stratosphere, a place where wind speeds in excess of 100 mph are common. It's only when the jet stream shifts that extended periods of relative calm can be expected. May also experiences less rainfall and better visibility than other months. All of this means that climbers have better odds of succeeding during May – it’s as simple as that.

However, it’s likely that critics of the rampant adventure tourism present on Everest today, such as the great Reinhold Messner, would refute the claim that May is the “best” time to climb Everest. One only needs to think of Nims Purja’s viral photo of queuing mountaineers from 2019 to be reminded that climbing Everest during this popular summit window is far from a solitary adventure experience. Plus there’s the fact that slow moving human traffic in the thin air of the death zone could be a cocktail for disaster.

So, are there other good times to climb Everest?

Post-monsoon season

A similar summit window exists in autumn, between the departure of the monsoon and the colder temperatures and stronger winds of winter. During this time, the weather is more stable, the temperatures are moderate and visibility better. This is known as the post-monsoon season.

The first post-monsoon ascent of the mountain was achieved in 1975, when the British Mount Everest Southwest Face expedition, led by the great Chris Bonington, saw Dougal Haston and Doug Scott summit on September 24, and then Peter Boardman and Sirdar Pertemba Sherpa two days later. Most post-monsoon summits thereafter would occur in October, including by the likes of Kurt Diemberger, the only person in history to have recorded first ascents on two 8,000m peaks (Broad Peak and Dhaulagiri), in 1978, and American great George Lowe, along with Dan Reid and Jay Cassell in 1983.

However, successful climbs are still much more of a rarity during this second window. The mountain is much more popular in the pre-monsoon, particularly with guides taking clients to the roof of the world. This is due to the post-monsoon season’s increased snow fall, which creates unstable slopes that are more prone to avalanche. However, these conditions can also attract elite skiers and snowboarders to Everest.

When are the worst times to climb Everest?

The height of summer and the depths of winter are the worst times to tackle an ascent of Everest. Winter may seem like the obvious worst time but the summer monsoon season sees heavy rainfall and high humidity conspire to create the ideal conditions for avalanches, rockfall and landslides. Visibility is also worse during the monsoon, with low cloud being a much more common occurrence. In fact, Himalayan records suggest that there have been more successful summits in winter than in summer.

Of course, winter is also the preserve of only the most ambitious mountaineers. Temperatures plunge to -22°F (-30°C) at base camp and thanks to windchill the summit can feel as low as -112°F (-80°C). The jetstream is also back in action, bringing extremely strong winds and heavy snowfall. In fact, Everest’s summit is the windiest place on Earth and record speeds recorded here in February 2004 were in excess of 175mph.

The first winter ascent occurred on February 17 1980, when Polish alpinists Leszek Cichy and Krzystof Wielicki made to the top. Along with an expedition team of more than 20 climbers, they battled the ferocious elements, having to continuously rebuild even the lower camps, which were regularly getting destroyed by the high winds, with some as high as 125mph. However, the gusts started to subside and, with their permit window about to shut, Wielicki and Cichy hopefully moved up to Camp 4 on February 16. Their summit day was ‘unimaginably cold’ and the pair still had to battle strong winds to make the top. However, they’d proved climbing Everest in winter was possible.

German mountaineer Jost Kobusch is currently training to become the first person to summit Everest solo in winter, without supplemental oxygen. However, new rules requiring all climbers to have at least one Sherpa with them from September this year have thrown the future of his attempt into question.

To this day, only 15 people have made it to the summit during the cold season. It’s thought that around 34 expeditions have tried, with only five succeeding. The extremely challenging mix of ferocious wind and even fiercer cold make Everest in winter an undertaking only for those willing to risk all and suffer very profound discomfort for the glory of the summit.

A former Royal British Marine and ultra-endurance athlete has become the first person to travel from the south coast of England to the summit of Mount Everest entirely under his own steam.

Mitch Hutchcraft reached the world's highest summit at 7:20am on May 11, eight months after setting off on what he calls the toughest expedition he's ever undertaken.

“I’ve done some mad adventures in the past, but this was by far the biggest challenge of my life," says Hutchcraft, who reveals he started visualizing the expedition at the age of 18. He undertook the feat, called Project Limitless, to support SAVSIM, a UK-based charity providing mental health support for veterans and wildlife conservation initiative

The Brit left English shores back on September 14, 2024, and started his journey with a 34-kilometer swim across the cold and choppy English Channel. He was one of only two swimmers out of 10 to complete the crossing that day.

When he arrived in the French port of Calais, he hopped on his bike and cycled nearly 8,000 miles (over 11,900km) through extreme weather conditions across Europe, the Middle East and India.

By the time Hutchcraft arrived in Digha, India, he was already down 15lbs (7kg) but it was time to begin the next leg: to Kathmandu, Nepal. Averaging a marathon a day, he ran nearly 560 miles (900k) in intense heat before slowing down and trekking another 200 miles (350k) to reach Everest Base Camp, where he launched his final ascent of Mount Everest, concluding his 8,000-mile (13,000k) triathlon.

"We were completely at the mercy of Mother Nature - but after over 13,000km of travel nothing was standing between me and the summit.”

Hutchcraft was born in Camridgeshire in the flattest part of the UK but his curiosity for the mountains began at a young age; he sumitted Kilimanjaro aged 16 and made his first trek to Everest Base Camo at 18.

Following a six-year stint in the Royal Marines, Hutchcraft rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic and cycled across the US. Now he is one of the few people in history to combine multiple endurance disciplines into a single continuous journey from sea level to the highest point on Earth. That's a long approach.

"It was about proving that with purpose, resilience, and the right people behind you, even the most impossible challenge is not beyond our limits," says Hutchcraft.

Hutchcraft has been documenting his journey on Instagram.

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Next week, I set off on one of the biggest adventures of my life so far – trekking to Everest Base Camp. Over 11 days, I’ll hike a 80 miles (130km) roundtrip, and climb around 8,000ft (2,438m) to reach the famous camp at the foot of the world’s tallest mountain. Should I be nervous?

My visa is in hand, my vaccinations are boosted, and all my shiny new kit is steadily piling up in my open suitcase. My flight to Kathmandu, where I’ll meet the five strangers I’ll be trekking with, is booked.

After a couple of days exploring Nepal’s capital, we fly onwards to Lukla, a small town in north-eastern Nepal, and begin trekking the classic route, sleeping in tea houses and taking every third day off to acclimate. That’s the plan, anyway. When you put five strangers together at altitudes like these, anything can happen.

So with all my best plans laid, all that’s left to do is worry. Will I be able to keep up? How will my body respond to altitude? How do I get enough sleep? The short answers to these questions are: 'probably', 'who knows?' and 'buy some earplugs', but for a more measured response, I decided to call on some friends who’ve taken the trek before me and ask for their best advice.

“I wish I would have slowed down”

I first spoke to Andy Moore founder of EverTrek, the Welsh company I'll be trekking with on my adventure. He set up the company up in 2017 after his first trip to Base Camp and says that one of his biggest regrets of that first trek is going too fast.

“I wish I would have slowed down, taken my time a bit more,” says Moore, calling the experience “one of the most difficult and challenging" of his life.

Any concerns I had about not being able to keep up vanish, and as someone who tends to hike at supersonic pace because I always have something to get back for, this advice is like music to my ears. I can practically feel my nervous system collapse on the couch at the thought of taking the best part of a week to walk the first 40 miles. Does my Garmin Fenix 8 even have a "saunter" option?

Dave Carpenter, Director of Supplier Relations and Product Development at the company, echoes this sentiment when we chat over the phone.

“The trip is about getting to EBC and back down as healthily as possible; speed is the enemy of acclimatisation,” says Carpenter. In other words, the slower I go, the more time my body has to adjust to altitude.

“Don’t be afraid of altitude”

Altitude is another unknown element on this trek. I spent over a decade living at 8,000ft and plenty of time in those years recreating above 14,000ft, so I’m not a total stranger to higher elevations, but at 17,598 ft (5,634m), Base Camp is significantly higher than I’ve ever been.

I’ve never suffered from altitude sickness, but that doesn’t mean I won't in the Himalayas – altitude sickness is unpredictable that way. I know that at 14,000ft, some weird things usually happen to my body. So what happens when I add another 3,000ft?

“You don't need to be terrified of altitude,” advises Carpenter.

“The first time I went to Everest Base Camp, I carried a lot of anxiety every day. I worried that the higher I went, the more likely I was to get sick and have to turn around, but with time and more experience, I realized altitude sickness is manageable if you acknowledge symptoms early and follow the mountain rules: hydrate, walk slow, and communicate with your guide.”

After researching Diamox, a common altitude sickness drug on the UK pharmacy brand Boots’ website, I see he’s right. I fill in a questionnaire to determine if I’m a good candidate, and receive a response that we’re ascending slowly enough that I should, in theory, be fine.

In fact, according to Moore, I might even be more than fine: “I really enjoyed the challenge, even the pain and suffering that happens when trekking at high altitude, and I couldn't wait to see what else there was to take on.”

“It can get ridiculously cold”

Between trail running to Swiss cabins and backcountry skiing to Colorado mountain huts, I’ve done my fair share of communal sleeping with strangers, and I’m prepared for the certainty that sleeping at altitude is going to be rough. Research suggests it’s something to do with the change in breathing pattern combined with lower oxygen levels.

However, my friend and fellow Advnture writer Jack McKeown is quick to jump in with some tips to help me get more rest.

“It can get ridiculously cold after dark, and your bedroom won't be heated.”

McKeown trekked to Base Camp in 2007, and if there’s one thing that sticks out to him, it’s the need for an extremely warm sleeping bag – I immediately pack my Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 0, which isn’t just warm, it’s expandable for side and starfish sleepers such as myself. Oh, and the Big Agnes Rapide SL Pillow for good measure. I’m taking no chances here.

One other thing: “You will wake up in the middle of the night needing a wee but dreading getting out of your cosy sleeping bag. Don't procrastinate – you'll be back in the warmth in two minutes,” says McKeown.

“There'll be plenty of time for a celebratory beer back in Kathmandu”

With concerns about pace, altitude and sleep mostly alleviated, my friends now issue a warning about something I didn’t even realize might come up: don’t drink beer on the trek.

I already know that higher elevations and alcohol don’t mix well, but I wasn’t aware this would be an issue on the trek to Base Camp, since it never occurred to me there would be a bar.

More fool me; Moore tells me that just two days into the trek, we’ll find the world’s highest bar, an Irish pub in Namche (why does this depress me?), and patronizing it on this first trip is another thing he regrets.

“Trekking with a hangover the next day was something I learned I wouldn't do again.”

Altitude is dehydrating, alcohol is dehydrating, and hiking and hangovers just don’t mix. Besides, McKeown reminds me: “There'll be plenty of time for a celebratory beer back in Kathmandu.”

I’m filing this one under things I never knew I’d have to know.

“Little rituals everywhere”

There’s no way I could embark on this adventure without reaching out to my friend Ellen Miller for advice. Miller and I met when we both lived in Vail – as the first US woman and second woman ever to have scaled Everest from both sides, she's got plenty of practical advice for me (don't drink the Yak butter tea, it's hard for Westerners to digest) but one gem really stands out as a reminder to keep things in perspective: “The most important thing is to absorb the gentle kindness of the Sherpa people. Their way of life is beautiful. Little rituals everywhere.”

Or as McKeown puts it: “Good Sherpas and porters are the people who will make the trip special. Tip them generously.”

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The history of climbing Mount Everest is full of remarkable stories of strength, determination and human achievement. And now, with more than 800 people summiting each year, there are more voices than ever that can regale their heroic versions of how they conquered the mountain. Despite that, it is probably the stories of tragedy and suffering on its hostile slopes that the general public are most aware of.

The 2015 film Everest, featuring big-screen stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Keira Knightley, took the story of the 1996 Everest disaster to the masses. It grossed $203 million worldwide and catapulted the survivors back into the media limelight.

It tells the story of the series of events that occurred on May 10 and 11, 1996, which led to eight climbers dying on Everest during a blizzard. It remains one of the deadliest single events in the mountain's history and drew global attention to the dangers of high-altitude mountaineering.

The rise in commercial Everest expeditions

Mount Everest lies in the heart of the Nepalese Himalayas, an isolated location with no road access to speak of. Until the 1960s, all supplies had to be carried by either people or animals, usually yaks. During the 60s, airstrips were created to bring supplies to the Khumbu region, but only a couple of permits to scale the mountain were issued each year. It was in the 1980s that the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, became the entry point for tourists trekking in Everest's Khumbu region.

Towards the end of the 1980s, the Chinese and Nepalese governments issued permits for both the pre- and post-monsoon seasons (the best times to climb Everest) and the total number of expeditions increased to about 10 per year. In the 1990s the number of people summiting exploded, with a then-record high of 129 successful summits in 1993.

The 1990s was when commercial trips to Everest really took off. Entrepreneurial mountaineers saw great business opportunities in guiding on the world's highest mountain and, in 1991, Adventure Consultants was formed. This company has often since been credited with pioneering commercial travel to Everest.

Adventure Consultants founder Rob Hall, along with the founder of Mountain Madness expedition company, Scott Fischer, were two of the leaders guiding expeditions on the day of the disaster.

May 10-11, 1996

On May 10, 1996 three groups of climbers set out from Camp IV on a mission to summit the mountain. The Adventure Consultants' expedition, led by New Zealander Rob Hall, consisted of 19 people, including eight clients. Adventure Consultants was seen as one of the most, if not the most successful operators at the time, with a solid summit success rate.

The Mountain Madness team, led by Scott Fischer, also consisted of 19 people, including eight clients. Also on the mountain's south route that day was a Taiwanese group of climbers and an expedition organized by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

After midnight on May 10, the Adventure Consultants team, along with the Taiwanese group began their summit attempt from Camp IV. They encountered delays at two critical points – the Balcony and the Hilary Step, the latter being the famous crux of the route. When they arrived at both points, they found that the expected fixed ropes hadn't been installed, the reason for which is debated to this day. The climbers experienced bottlenecks and some decided to turn back, fearing they would run out of supplementary oxygen, which can be fatal in the so-called death zone above 8,000 meters.

Guide Anatoli Boukreev, from the Mountain Madness team, was the first to summit not long after 1pm. He stayed to help climbers but many had still not summited by 2pm, the agreed safe turnaround time. Snow began to fall yet still clients pushed to summit, some reaching it after 3.45pm.

The snowfall turned into a blizzard on the south-eastern face, reducing visibility and burying ropes. Several climbers got lost in the chaos. When the blizzard cleared, around midnight, rescue attempts swung into action but they weren't enough to avoid the deaths of eight individuals.

Fatalities

In total eight climbers died on May 10 and 11, 1966. These included:

• Rob Hall – New Zealand expedition leader with the Adventure Consultants. After waiting with dying friend Doug Hansen on the descent following a late summit his oxygen regulator froze and he could not descend.
• Andrew "Harold" Harris – a New Zealand guide with the Adventure Consultants, who is presumed to have fallen near the South Summit.
• Doug Hansen – American client with the Adventure Consultants. Doug's body has never been recovered and he's presumed to have fallen.
• Yasuko Namba – the female Japanese client with the Adventure Consultants died descending the South Col.
• Scott Fischer – the American expedition leader with Mountain Madness summited late and died on the southeast ridge from hypothermia
• Subedar Tsewang Smanla, Lance Naik Dorje Morup, Tsewang Paljor – three Indian nationals working for the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, who also died on the northeast ridge that day

What went wrong on Everest in 1996?

Many of the mountaineers who would have had first hand information about what led to the disaster died, and others have found their unravelling physical health clouded their memory of events. However, a few things have been said to have contributed to the high death toll.

A lack of planning and execution meant that ropes were not placed at critical climbing areas on the South Col route. This led to bottlenecks, delaying the climbers from reaching the summit. Competitiveness rather than collaboration between the two main expedition groups has also been reported to have contributed to the errors.

Snow forecasts did not deter the two expedition leaders, who were said to be competitive in their race to help their clients summit. Both Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness had two public-figure clients on the expedition. Jon Krakauer, an accomplished climber and journalist on assignment for Outside Magazine, was in the Adventure Consultants team, while Sandy Hill-Pittman, described as a socialite and journalist, was with Mountain Madness. It's thought that the enhanced profile of the expeditions may have influenced both Hall and Fischer's decision making.

Leaders and climbers were said to have been suffering from summit fever. They ignored the safe turnaround time of 2pm (set to give enough time to get back to Camp IV before night) and continued long after this had passed, becoming exhausted in the process.

While deaths in the 1980s had failed to attract much media attention, the launch of the world wide web meant the 1996 disaster got much global coverage.

The aftermath made people question the growing popularity of commercial expeditions to Everest, but it did not deter them. In 2024, the Nepalese government issued 421 climbing permits. China issues a maximum number of 300 permits for the north side of Everest. And, in 2025, permits were gobbled up twice as fast as in 2024. Everest's allure, its siren song, is timeless.

Conflicting accounts

It's difficult to answer exactly what happened on that fateful day in 1996 because the only people that could possibly truly recount the events with any accuracy are those that perished and those who survived. The problem is, many of the survivors disagree – in some cases bitterly – about the exact circumstances and events that led to the disaster. Add in the cognitive impairment and subsequent memory issues that time spent at high altitude can have and it's no wonder a fuzzy, contradictory picture emerges.

A classic of mountaineering literature, Into Thin Air: A personal account of disaster on Everest (1997) tells Jon Krakaeur's version of what happened on the mountain that day. It received criticism for the portrayal of one of the guides on the other team, Anatoli Boukreev. Krakaeur paints him as a selfish mountaineer who puts his own oxygen-free summit ambitions over the safety of his clients.

Boukreev published his own bestselling book in the same year, The Climb, rebutting many of the claims made by Krakaeur. In this version of events, Boukreev asserts that his decision to climb without oxygen meant that he was better acclimatized to lead rescue efforts. The guide went out into the storm on several occasions to bring back stricken clients, though he was unable to save Mountain Madness' founder, Scott Fischer.

Beck Weathers, a client on the Adventure Consultants team who suffered severe frostbite, also wrote his own bestselling account: Left for Dead. All three tell contradictory tales – underlining just how fraught, if not impossible, it is to establish exactly what happened up there.

In fact, there are several books that have been written by the survivors of the tragedy. Perhaps the best way to glean an accurate picture of exactly what occured would be to study them all in turn. As you can see from Jon Krakauer's Instagram post below, debate around the events still rages on to this day.

Everest's worst disasters

In the past decade Everest has seen its deadliest days. On April 18, 2014 a huge serac (ice shelf) broke off triggering an avalanche that killed 16 sherpas on in the Khumbu Icefall. Before that, in April 2015, an earthquake in Nepal and surrounding areas caused tremors up Everest that triggered an avalanche which swept through Base Camp killing 22 people. Nearly 9,000 people in Nepal and surrounding countries died.

All eyes in the world of wrestling have been on All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Darby Allin as he attempted to scale Mount Everest, despite not having mountaineering experience.

The US sports personality, known for his daredevil stunts on bikes and in cars, has been documenting his journey with breathtaking photos, and kept his large fanbase entertained on the way up by performing a kickflip, which he reckons broke records for being the highest stunt of its kind ever.

He has now safely reached the summit, posting on Instagram a snap from the summit. In the caption he says:

"Thanks to the amazing team at adventure consultants and the Sherpa squad this s*** was wild!"

On May 5, Allin shared a video on his Instagram account of him performing the skateboard trick. In the audio you can hear him claim elatedly: "There we go. We are at Everest Camp II and the elevation is – pull out the watch for official proof [...] – right there, 20,958ft. That is a world record for the highest elevation kickflip."

World famous professional skater Tony Hawk commented underneath: "Do a kickflip! Now find some oxygen!"

Allin climbed the world's highest mountain with Adventure Consultants; his trip began on April 8. On April 14 the tour operator posted the image below featuring Allin as the team saw Everest for the first time.

A typical Mount Everest expedition takes around two months but "Allin’s lack of prior experience in mountain climbing could extend his journey," reported Wrestling Headlines. "While roughly two-thirds of climbers reach the summit, the success rate is lower for those without experience, and about one percent of climbers face fatal risks."

Allin originally planned to climb the mountain in 2024, but had to push back the expedition when he broke his foot performing a front flip in a wrestling match.

He has discussed the expedition publicly, imagining it to be a "humbling experience".

"I want to always dig deep down inside and remind myself of what I am capable of and who I am. I'm very excited for that opportunity to do with Everest and very grateful that AEW is letting me do this in the middle of my career," he said in an interview with Wrestling Inc.

"I've been doing so much breathing exercises now [sic]. I can hold my breath for 3 minutes and 40 seconds. And I'm just mentally training in case I get stuck under an avalanche... It's some of the most strenuous, hard, training I've ever done," he revealed in a separate interview with Wrestling Inc.

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A highly skilled climber from Illinois has died while attempting to climb Mount Makalu in Nepal while raising money for a children’s charity. Alex Pancoe, 39, was suffering from a rare blood cancer himself when he experienced cardiac arrest following a practice climb to Camp III from Camp II to acclimatize himself.

He was with his three teammates when he fell unresponsive shortly before going to bed on Sunday, The Independent reports. Efforts to retrieve his body from the camp are ongoing.

Pancoe had been suffering with chronic myeloid leukemia, which meant his body had been unable to make the red bloods cells necessary to acclimate at altitude. He had been receiving treatment to manage the condition after becoming hypoxic and struggling with altitude during another Himalayan mountain climb in 2023.

Nevertheless, he was determined to scale Makalu, the world’s fifth highest mountain, to raise $27,838 – a dollar for each foot of altitude. He planned to donate the proceeds of his fundraising to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, where he had been treated for a brain tumor in 2005.

Pancoe was a skilled climber and in 2019 had completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam, which involves reaching both the North and South poles and summiting the tallest mountain on each of the seven continents – Everest, Kilimanjaro, Denali, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Vinson and Kosciuszko. He is one of only 73 people to have achieved the feat.

He had raised many thousands of dollars in the past for Lurie Children’s Hospital, and he detailed his experiences on his website, Peaks of Mind.

Himalayan death toll reaches four

Pancoe, who was a father of two, is the fourth person to die in the 2025 Himalayan spring climbing season.

On April 26, Austrian climber Martin Hornegger, 64, went missing while descending from Ama Dablam peak after successfully reaching the summit. On April 8, two Nepalese mountain guides died in an avalanche on Annapurna. The bodies of Rima Sherpa and Ngima Tashi Sherpa were located in a crevasse using Recco reflector technology.

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Climbing the world's tallest mountain could soon become even harder as officials have announced a major rule change to curb unnecessary deaths and overcrowding.

Under new legislation currently making its way through Nepal's parliament, the Himalayan nation would only grant Everest permits to climbers who have already scaled at least one of its 7,000m (22,965ft) peaks. Medical check-ups from a government-approved hospital or medical facility would also be mandatory.

The proposed law is the latest in a series of rules introduced to restrict the number of inexperienced climbers attempting to summit the 29,035ft (8,849m) mountain.

The move comes on the heels of several other policy changes for Everest hopefuls. In January, Nepal announced a 36% increase in climbing fees for foreign climbers on the mountain. Overseas climbers hoping to scale the popular South Col route during the peak spring season now have to pay a $15,000 (£11,204) royalty fee, rather than the previous total of $11,000 (£8,217).

Daredevil solo climbers have also been restricted. As of September, everyone on the mountain must be accompanied by an expert guide, although it's currently unclear whether overseas guides qualify.

Overcrowding has become a major issue on Everest, as most climbs are attempted from March to May. Queues to the summit, abundant litter, and abandoned human excrement have all mired the Himalayan peak in recent years.

One sherpa told the BBC: "Our mountains have begun to stink. We are getting complaints that human stools are visible on rocks and some climbers are falling sick."

The proposed law's announcement has been met with criticism by travel companies, who say it could harm business on the mountain.

Lukas Furtenbach leads Everest expeditions for the Austria-based company, Furtenbach Adventures. He's urging Nepali lawmakers to allow permits for climbers who've scaled any 7,000m+ peak, not just those in Nepal.

He told Reuters: "That wouldn't make any sense. And I would also add mountains that are close to 7,000 metres to that list and that are widely used as preparation, like Ama Dablam, Aconcagua, Denali and others."

Although the incoming law is still in its draft stage, Nepal's ruling alliance holds the required majority to pass it and is expected to do so without significant changes.

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Blind Bulgarian ultra-runner Victor Asenov has completed an astonishing non-stop climbing challenge on the Vitosha mountain.

With the help of his guide dog and a handful of pacers, Asenov ran up and down the Bulgarian mountain 19 times over 46 hours, defying sleep and only stopping briefly to eat.

He began the mammoth effort in the early hours on Friday, March 21, and scaled 29,029ft (8,848m), the equivalent height of Mount Everest, before he finished at 7.40am on Sunday, March 23.

Asenov's challenge raised funds for a guide dog school at the Eyes on Four Paws Foundation in Sofia, Bulgaria's only guide dog training school. His guide dog, Taddy, had been trained for the city streets before Victor taught her mountain navigation.

"I have already shown her how she can guide me when I am not running, when I am purely hiking in the mountains," Asenov told the Reuters News Agency.

Asenov was also accompanied by pacers, who helped guide him and offered encouragement throughout an intense physical and mental journey.

"Sometimes I even have these moments of weakness, I want to give up," he continued.

"Just at that moment I need the person who is with me and who is running, who is my pacer - to give me some support, to tell me: Vicky, come on, you can do it."

Victor's challenge was a form of 'Everesting', an endurance feat that challenges athletes to scale the height of Mount Everest, without actually traveling to the world's tallest peak.

Everesting can be done on foot or a bike and is often completed in teams. It's covered extensively on the Everesting Instagram account.

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The future of unsupported climbing on Mount Everest is in jeopardy, under new rules banning climbing without a guide on the world’s tallest peak.

The change in access will begin in September alongside a major permit price increase, which will see fees jump by 36%.

One guide can manage a maximum of two climbers on Everest. Currently it's unclear whether Western guides will qualify in the rule or whether all climbers will need to use a sherpa.

Climbers were previously able to attempt the 20,032ft / 8,849m summit independently, paying companies for base camp accommodation, and use of the ladders and fixed ropes along the route.

Calls for an unsupported climbing ban have grown louder in recent years following the death of Hungarian climber Szilard Suhajda, who perished in 2023, attempting to tackle Mount Everest alone, without supplementary oxygen.

Fewer than 300 people have climbed Everest without oxygen and survived - less than 2% of all successful summits. Despite the evident danger, Nepal has not banned climbs without supplementary oxygen, as China has done for ascents on the Tibetan side of the mountain.

Just a handful of people have successfully soloed Mount Everest. Poland’s Piotr Krzyzowski was the last person to do so, completing the feat in an incredible double ascent of Everest and the nearby Lhotse mountain.

After summiting the 27,940ft / 8,516m Lhotse, Piotr decided against his original plan of returning to camp and headed instead toward Everest. Merely 48 hours later, he stood atop the world’s tallest mountain.

From September 2025, when the new regulations come into effect, ascents like Krzyzowski’s will no longer be possible.

The future of Jost Kobusch’s current ascent plans are also in question. The German aims to become the first person to summit Everest in winter, without support or supplemental oxygen. For the past few years, he’s been ascending and descending the mountain during winter, getting higher each time to acclimatize his body. Earlier this month, Jost broke his own record, climbing to 24,727ft / 7,537m before returning to camp, the highest he, or anyone else has ever gone alone without supplemental oxygen, in the winter season.

Under new regulations, Jost won’t be able to continue his challenge next winter.

Nepal is yet to clarify if any exceptions to the rule will be made.

Even with support, conditions atop the world’s tallest mountain are extremely treacherous.

Out of the 800 or so who attempt to climb it each year, roughly five to ten people lose their lives on Everest. Last year, eight people died on the mountain, after a deadly year in 2023, which saw 18 people perish.

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A German Alpinist has reached a new milestone on his ambitious journey to the top of Mount Everest.

Jost Kobusch, 32, aims to become the first person to climb the world’s tallest mountain in winter, alone and without supplemental oxygen. To prepare for his daunting task, Kobusch has been training by ascending from various points on the mountain, attempting to go further each time to acclimatize his body and mind for the final climb.

At the end of December, he broke a new record, ascending 24,727ft / 7,537m before returning to camp. Only 4,304ft / 1312m away from the summit, Jost’s latest attempt is the highest he, or anyone else has ever gone alone without supplemental oxygen, in the winter season.

Despite coming so close to the summit, Kobusch wasn’t tempted to go all the way. Battling winds upwards of 25mph / 40.2kmph in temperatures below -22°F / -30°C, he stuck to the methodical approach that has taken him so far.

“Ultimately, I’m not interested in breaking any records in the short term, I want to achieve the project in the long term,” Kobusch told German blogger Stefan Nestler, explaining that his body wasn't sufficiently acclimatized to the unforgiving summit yet.

“Spending the night there would have been a risk. I could have become extremely weak in my state of acclimatization,” he continued.

“And that was against the background that I was en route solo and would have to climb everything down again alone.”

Stopping to rest along the way, Kobusch pitched his tent at roughly 22,310ft / 6,800m.

“The most challenging part of the ascent was to dig platforms for the tent when I stopped for a rest,” he told Explorers Web.

“That is why I had reduced my equipment to the very minimum. I carried nothing non-essential, except maybe a bit of spare fuel.”

There’s no set date for Kobusch’s final ascent. Taking his time to acclimatize, the German plans to keep pushing his highest climbs before he’s finally capable of making it safely to the top.

More than 7,000 people have now summited Mount Everest, yet only 15 have ever done so in winter. Of those 15, all but one used supplemental oxygen and none made the climb alone. Should Kobusch successfully fulfil his goal, he will make history, pushing the boundaries of what’s thought to be possible on the world’s tallest peak.

Here at Advnture, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on Kobusch’s progress, issuing updates whenever he makes a fresh attempt.

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A Michigan couple have revealed they set the romantic bar high, by celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary from the summit of the world’s tallest mountain.

Climbing together since 2019, Harpreet and Navneet Cheema have previously scaled Kilimanjaro and Denali among several other mountains. Eying up something special to celebrate their anniversary, the duo headed to Everest, scaling the 29,000ft / 8,850m peak in 43 days with the guidance of a specialist sherpa.

Training intensely for the dangerous expedition, Harpreet and Navneet ran six miles / 9.7km every day, in addition to a strict routine of core and endurance conditioning. Alongside their constant training, the pair took a unique approach to acclimatize to Everest’s lack of oxygen.

“We had to sleep in a hypoxia tent in our room, so it limits the oxygen and mimics higher altitude sleeping,” Harpreet told Click On Detroit.

While normal air contains 20.9% oxygen, the air in hypoxia tents has only 12%, simulating the harsh Everest environment the Cheemas experienced. Hypoxia tents acclimatize users to higher altitudes by increasing blood oxygen saturation.

Alongside physical preparation, the pair, who hail from Ann Arbour, credit their Sikh faith and mental stability for getting them to the top.

“There’s lots that faith can do to help you climb the mountain, and we knew we were carrying it with us, and it will take us to the top and bring us safely down,” continued Harpreet.

“People say ‘conquer the mountain’, no one does that, you conquer your mind, that is what our journey has been.”

With two children at home, the stakes were high for Harpreet and Navneet. Alongside being the tallest mountain in the world, Everest is well known as one of the most dangerous. In the 2024 climbing season, nine people died on the mountain, a welcome decrease from the record 18 that died there the previous year, but still a sizable figure. Avalanches, falling rocks, fatigue, and extreme temperatures are among the leading causes of death.

Climbers are now forced to carry a tracking chip, so they can be located in the event of an avalanche or serious injury. Introduced earlier this year, officials claim the chip cuts search and rescue times, saving lives and allowing bodies to be found quickly.

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The world’s tallest mountain is still growing. At 50 million years old and 29,032ft / 8,849m high, the trek to the top of Mount Everest is getting a little longer every year according to new research.

Everest was born alongside the side rest of the Himalayas when the Indian subcontinent collided with the Eurasian tectonic plate. The Himalayas are still feeling the effects of this collision and continue to be pushed upwards. 

Now, a new study suggests that Everest is getting an additional height boost as a result of erosion from its surrounding rivers, which is giving the ancient peak an average extra 0.006in / 0.16mm to 0.02in / 0.53mm in height per year. The process began 89,000 years ago when the upper and lower reaches of the Arun river merged, connecting the Nepalese river, which lies north of Everest to the Kosi river system. 

Publishing their findings on September 30, researchers from the University of Geosciences, Beijing and University College London uncovered the Arun’s merging and resulting Everest growth through analyzing erosion patterns. 

“At that time, there would be an enormous amount of additional water flowing through the Arun River,” explained co-author Dr Matthew Fox in the journal of Nature Geoscience. “This would have been able to transport more sediment and erode more bedrock, and cut down into the valley bottom.”

This phenomenon is not unique to Everest, with other Himalayan mountains such as Lohtse and Makalu also growing thanks to the ancient merging of rivers. 

About 800 people attempt to climb Mount Everest every year, with far fewer reaching the top and several perishing. In 2023 alone, there were 18 deaths compared to the 667 summits. 

In 2022, other geological factors threatened to impact the world’s tallest peak when Nepal’s government announced that it would be moving Everest's base camp from the Khumbu glacier where it currently sits as it's rapidly melting due to global warming. However the plan was later shelved due to the overwhelming opposition of the Sherpas who frequent the camp. 

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A crew of mountaineers and photographers have shared spectacular video footage that'll give you a new perspective on Mount Everest.

The video, which you can watch below, is slick and professional, shot using a DJI Mavic 3 – a 'prosumer' drone that retails for around $2,000. As Outside Online explains, the device is well known for its performance at high altitudes, and is equipped with a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera.

The clip begins with a preview of the team's ascent, then shifts to an aerial view as the drone skims the clouds around the mountain's summit. The drone also gives you an unusual view of the Khumbu Icefall, and soars high above groups of climbers at various stages of tackling the mountain. 

Rapid zooms help to convey the sheer scale of Everest, and shots at different times of day show the mountain painted in shades of orange and pink at twilight and sunrise.

Wang Yuanzong, founder of photography company 8KRAW and chief director of the film, explained to drone news site sUAS News that filming from atop Everest had been his dream for many years.

"The light and reliable Mavic 3 with the ultimate image and the warm weather conditions on the summit day finally came true, and I am very grateful to Mount Everest for accepting us and allowing us to see it from a new perspective," he said.

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The Nepalese government has announced plans to move Everest Base Camp further down the mountain due to global warming. Nepal’s Base Camp, which was established by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, currently sits on the Khumbu glacier. That glacier is melting rapidly, thanks to rising global temperatures and the sheer number of climbers on the mountain each year, making it increasingly unsafe.

The Khumbu glacier is the highest glacier in the world and until recently, formed an incredibly slow-moving frozen river that flows down the west face of the world’s biggest mountain at the rate of about three feet per day. However, back in 2015, The Smithsonian reported that it was "melting faster than ever, forming lakes as long as several football fields" and speculating that it might entirely vanish by the end of the century. 

According to the BBC, even though most of the glacier is covered by rocky debris that has fallen down the mountain, surrounding ice cliffs are melting which is causing more dangerous rock falls  than ever, melt water and – perhaps most alarmingly – massive crevasses which appear overnight while expeditions are sleeping.

In addition to rising global temperatures caused by carbon emissions, the committee recommending the move found that the growing number of people at Base Camp – reported to be around 1500 people every year – was adding to the problem by contributing about 4,000 liters of urine to the area each day, in addition to the heat from gas camping stoves used for cooking.

On the recommendations of a government-appointed committee, the new Base Camp is to be established at a yet-to-be-determined location further down the mountain, off the glacier, potentially as soon as 2024. 

What does all this mean for potential Everest trekkers? Well, a longer trek from Base Camp to Camp 1 for starters, which is already almost four miles across treacherous frozen terrain. The current Base Camp sits at 17,598ft above sea level, and to get it to stable ground, it needs to move between 650 and 1300ft lower. The good news is that Everest hopefuls will be sleeping in safer conditions, and the move will help prolong the life of the precious Khumbu glacier.

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