A record 274 climbers scale Mount Everest in a single day
KATHMANDU, Nepal — A historic number of climbers reached the summit of Mount Everest in a single day, setting a new record with 274 successful ascents, officials announced on Thursday.
Taking advantage of clear weather conditions, climbers from around the world made their way to the summit on Wednesday, according to Rishi Ram Bhandari of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal. This marked the highest number of climbers to successfully reach the peak in a single day via the popular route on the southern face of the mountain, which is situated in Nepal.
Mount Everest can be ascended from either the southern side in Nepal or the northern face in China’s Tibet. On May 22, 2019, there were 223 climbers on the Nepal side and 113 on the Chinese side who reached the summit. However, Chinese authorities have closed the route for climbers this year.
Earlier this week, veteran mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa achieved a remarkable feat by summiting Everest for the 32nd time, surpassing his own record. His closest competitor, Pasang Dawa Sherpa, also reached the summit for the 30th time this week. Additionally, Lakpa Sherpa set a new record for the highest number of climbs by a female climber by reaching the summit of Everest for the 11th time.
The current Everest climbing season was delayed due to the risk posed by a massive serac hanging over the key route to the summit. It is estimated that around 494 climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides will attempt to scale the 8,850-meter (29,032-foot) peak by the end of this month, when the climbing season concludes.
Since its first successful ascent on May 29, 1953, by New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, thousands of climbers have conquered Mount Everest, making it one of the most iconic and challenging peaks in the world.
