Unprecedented 274 Climbers Ascend Everest’s South Side in One Day, Setting New Record

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A staggering 274 climbers reached the summit ‍of ⁣Mount ‍Everest on Wednesday, marking ⁢the‍ highest ⁣number of climbers to conquer the mountain’s south​ side in a single‍ day,‌ as reported‍ by a Nepali hiking official.

This number surpasses the previous record of 223‍ climbers⁢ set on May 22,⁤ 2019. However,⁣ the total number⁢ of climbers was higher on ​that day ‍as some climbers had ascended ⁢from the mountain’s northern ‌side in Tibet. This year, no permits​ were⁣ issued by China to climb the north face, according to reports.

Rishi Bhandari, the secretary general of the Expedition Operators Association of Nepal, confirmed the figure to CNN. He attributed the record-breaking ‍achievement to favourable ⁢weather conditions and the ⁣large number⁤ of​ climbers waiting to ascend the 29,029-foot peak. He ​also mentioned ⁢that strong winds are‌ expected later in the⁢ week.

Everest has been grappling with the issue of overcrowding for years. A striking 2019 photo taken by climber Nirmal Purja⁢ showed a long⁢ queue of‌ climbers⁣ waiting on an⁢ exposed ridge to reach ​the​ summit. He estimated that ⁣there were approximately 320 people in line to reach the top in an area ominously known as the “death zone.”

Mount Everest,​ the world’s highest mountain, has a crucial ‍window in spring for climbers hoping to reach ‌the summit. This window usually falls in mid-to-late May when harsh winter winds subside, providing climbers with a⁢ better opportunity to reach ​the top.

This year, the annual⁣ spring climbing ⁣season​ faced disruptions ‌due to a blockage on the‍ route to⁣ the summit, causing delays for hundreds of⁣ climbers.

Glacial ice obstructing ‌the path left climbers stranded ⁢at base ‍camp while specialized​ high-altitude workers, ⁣known as “icefall ‍doctors,” spent weeks ‍removing the‍ large ‍frozen block, known as ⁣a serac.

The route was⁢ finally cleared on May ‍13, but‌ the delay ⁢led⁤ to concerns of overcrowding‍ on ⁣the mountain due to the accumulation of climbers ⁣and the shortened window for them to reach‍ the summit.

Nearly 500 permits have been issued by ⁣Nepal to climb ⁢the mountain this year.