Nepal experiences extreme summer between May to August. Even though summer might feel like the perfect time to climb high mountains, climbers should know that climbing Mount Everest is close to impossible and not suggested in the summer season. Many people new to climbing and expedition might think climbing any mountains in summer will give them a better experience and easier ups and downs. However, this is one of the major misconceptions that can haunt any climber’s mind.
Summer in Nepal
As mentioned, summer in Nepal starts in May and ends in August. If you go to the Terai region, you can experience an extreme rise in temperature (over 40 degrees Celsius). This might not be the case in the Himalayan region. Still, the summer season greatly impacts the weather and climate of the Himalayan region.
Summer in Nepal varies from region to region and district to district. If you are in Kathmandu Valley, you will notice that no matter how high the temperature gets in the daytime, the night and the morning will still be cool. In Mount Everest or any mountains in Nepal, the summer is the peak time for avalanches and snow storms. Besides, the temperature also changes drastically between the day and the night, which might harm the health of the climbers. Therefore, we can say that the summer season is pretty extreme and not suggested for climbing Mount Everest.
The risks of Summer while climbing Mount Everest
In the paragraphs above, we mentioned a few risks of climbing Mount Everest in summer. Let’s dive a bit deeper and get to know why you can’t climb Everest in summer. Hot weather is generally known to cause tiredness, exhaustion, and weakness, which the climbers might experience during the Everest expedition. Besides, there are also several risks, such as:
Physical Strain
One major effect of climbing Everest in summer is that the climbers might experience physical tension or strain. Reaching the peak of an 8848-meter-high mountain requires an extreme level of physical strain. Now imagine climbing the same mountain on the hottest days of summer. Many climbers still reach the top of Everest in summer, but one should be extremely confident in their physicality to attempt such a challenging task.
Due to high temperatures, scorching heat from the sun, and unstable weather, the trial might become more difficult and challenging in summer than in other seasons. This can cause several illnesses, like altitude sickness, dehydration, and physical weakness. We, as a trekking agency, do not suggest any climbers attempt climbing Everest in the summer season.
Weather Conditions and Chances of Avalanche
Weather conditions in the Himalayas are unpredictable, regardless of your chosen season. Climbing Mount Everest in the summer season might be very uncomfortable as the weather might change suddenly and make it difficult for the climbers to ascend. The weather conditions until the base camp are relatively mild and somewhat predictable, but when you cross the base camp, you will experience sudden changes in the weather condition. There are also high chances of strong winds, heavy snowfall, and thunderstorms.
All these cases make climbing Everest very challenging in the summer season. Besides, several other problems, such as health issues, come alongside the weather condition, making it challenging for climbers to ascend Everest in summer.
Fewer chances of animal sightings and less vegetation
You might know that many wild animals, like tigers, bears, etc., hibernate throughout the summer. Therefore, the climbers who attempt to visit Mount Everest might only be able to see a few endangered species of animals, which are some of the major attractions of the Everest region.
Furthermore, vegetation is also very less during the summer season because of changes in temperature, snow, rain, and windstorms. Therefore, you might need help to experience the authentic beauty of natural forests and the vegetation done by humans. As a result, the climb might not be much entertaining and adventurous.
Melting of snow
Extreme heat during the summer season causes the snow to melt, which can invite several difficulties and obstacles throughout the journey. The excessive melting of snow might abrupt many parts of the trial, causing the extension in the itinerary.
Besides, snow melting exposes climbers to higher levels of UV radiation and dehydration because of extreme heat and sun exposure. These are some of the major causes of altitude sickness. Also, there are chances of glaciers melting and the ice blocks rolling down the mountain, which conclusively leads to physical risks and blockade of the trial.
When is the best time to climb Everest?
Any climber can experience the best out of any mountains in Nepal if they plan their trip in the spring and autumn season. These two seasons are the peak seasons to climb any high mountains of Nepal because of stable weather conditions and the availability of better facilities. In Nepal, the spring season lasts from March to May, and the autumn season exists between mid-September and mid-November. During these months, you will also experience several festivals, such as Teej, Kartik Nach, Dashain, Tihar, etc.
However, one thing to remember while climbing Everest in these seasons is that the trial is full of crowds. So, if you love to travel peacefully and do not want to get into crowds, you can climb Everest at the end of the winter season. As soon as the winter season ends, you will experience the start of the spring season. In Nepal, winter ends in February, so you can climb Everest to enjoy the best experience of Mount Everest.
Final Thoughts
Through this blog, we have tried to explain why climbing Everest in the summer season is not a good idea. The climbers might experience many difficulties and challenges if they climb the 8848-meter-high mountain in the summer season.
Sudden changes in weather, blockade of trial because of melting snow, exposure to harmful UV rays and scorching sunlight, altitude sickness, and dehydration are some of the major issues out of the many risks of climbing Mount Everest in the summer season.
We hope this blog helps you understand the right and wrong time to head out to climb the highest peak in the world and avoid the risks caused by climbing such a high peak in inappropriate seasons.
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FAQs
Is it risky to climb Everest in the summer season?
Yes, climbing Mount Everest has many risks, such as altitude sickness, glaciers melting, paths getting blocked by melting snow, exposure to UV rays and scorching heat of the sun, more physical strain, and many more.
When can we experience the summer season in Nepal?
The summer season lasts from June to August in Nepal. There are thunderstorms more often, and some parts of the country experience heavy rainfall in the summer season. In the Terai region, the temperature can go as high as 40 degrees Celsius, and the Himalayan region experiences instant and sudden weather changes.
Which seasons and months are the best to climb Mount Everest?
Spring (March-May) and Autumn (Mid-September to Mid-November) are the best times to climb Mount Everest. Furthermore, for people who want a peaceful climbing experience with less crowd in the trial, late winter and the start of spring can be considered the perfect time for heading out for the Mount Everest expedition.
