Climbing Mount Everest combines rigorous training, acclimatization, getting used to the chilly weather, and resting as much as possible. And the 8848.86-meter height is also unforgiving. On top of that, people also need to require technical high-mountain training.
In the grand scheme, climbing Mount Everest continues before the designated two months. The preparation and training for climbing this giant beast begin as long as a year prior.
Important things range from person to person, but financial, physical, mental, psychological, and emotional well-being can take some people even their whole lifetime. But it is also essential to be a hundred percent ready to ascend and reach Everest’s summit.
And while looking at the timeline of climbing Everest, you might be shocked and wonder why it takes two months to climb Everest. Why does it take so long to climb Mount Everest? What could be the reasons?
So, continue reading this article to learn more about the prolonged period to climb the gorgeous Everest.
Why does it take two months to climb Everest?
With a height of 8848.86 meters, the level of Oxygen as you continue to climb Mount Everest decreases. With the decreasing level of Oxygen, your chances of suffering from altitude sickness also increase. So, to battle altitude and mountain sickness, you must acclimatize.
Acclimatizing yourself to climb Mount Everest is the number one reason it takes two months. Otherwise, climbing Everest can be much shorter. The rugged topography and rests you will take to acclimate to the high altitude make you ascend as long as two months.
Why does it take so long to climb Mount Everest?
While trekking to Everest’s summit, there will be a few acclimatization phases. In addition, mountaineers call acclimatization phases acclimatization climbing. The steps involved in this acclimatization are to return to the Everest Base Camp every time you reach a higher altitude.
Additionally, the Base Camp is 5,300 meters above sea level and requires acclimatization.
Mountaineers must acclimate five to six days before reaching the Khumbu Icefall from Everest Base Camp. Also, getting to the Khumbu Icefall is a challenging task.
So, the Government of Nepal has made it compulsory for mountaineers who wish to climb Everest to have a last 8,000 meters or above mountain climbing experience.
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Acclimatization: The Necessity of Climbing Everest
Once a trekker reaches the Khumbu Icefall, they must return to the Base Camp for acclimatization. After resting and acclimatizing for three to four days at the Base Camp, the climbers aim to go higher. This process will prepare the climbers to face an even higher altitude during their journey.
Then, from the Everest Base Camp, climbers will proceed towards Camp I, which takes two days of acclimatization, in which they return to the lowest Base Camp from Camp I. After spending one day at Camp I, climbers move towards Camp II. Here, two to three days are necessary for acclimatizing, in which climbers return to the Base Camp again. Similarly, acclimatization is essential for Camp III and Camp IV.
Once you reach the summit, returning to the base also takes a few days as it requires rest along the way. Climbers rest while descending from the peak to battle the challenging Everest weather and adapt to the lower altitudes.
