A record-breaking 274 climbers successfully summited Mount Everest from Nepal's side in a single day, setting a new milestone for the world's tallest peak. As reported by CBS News, this unprecedented number of ascents occurred on Wednesday, taking advantage of clear weather conditions.
Key Takeaways
A record 274 climbers summited Mount Everest from Nepal's side in a single day, surpassing the previous high set in 2019. This milestone was achieved despite concerns over dangerous overcrowding and safety issues on the mountain.
- Record-breaking 274 climbers summit Everest in one day
- Previous record was 223 climbers from Nepal's side in 2019
- Final tally may rise as some climbers have not yet reported their ascents
- Around 494 climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides are expected to attempt the summit this season
- Concerns over safety due to congestion in the 'death zone'
The previous record was set on May 22, 2019, with 223 climbers reaching the summit from Nepal's side and 113 from China's Tibet region. However, Chinese authorities have closed the route this year, focusing all climbing activities on the Nepali side.
Rishi Ram Bhandari of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal told The Guardian that the number could rise further as some climbers who reached the summit might not have informed the base camp about their achievements yet. This year's climbing season began late due to the risk from a huge serac hanging over the key route to the summit.
TimesLIVE and Reuters reported that there are around 494 climbers and an equal number of Sherpa guides expected to attempt scaling the mountain by the end of May. Nepal has issued permits costing $15,000 each for this year's climbing season.
The record was achieved despite concerns from mountaineering experts who criticize Nepal for allowing large numbers of climbers on the mountain, which can lead to risky congestion in the 'death zone' area below the summit. To address these safety issues, Nepal has introduced tighter controls and higher fees.
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