Mount Everest
Himalaya, Nepal–China border · 29,032 ft
What it asks of you
Total gain
18,000–26,000 ft
Summit day vert
3,000–3,200 ft
Peak weekly vert
10,000–16,000 ft
Skills
- Independent crampon and ice axe movement
- Roped glacier travel and crevasse rescue
- Fixed-line ascent, transition and rappel systems
- High-camp and cold-weather expedition systems
- Supplemental oxygen systems when planned
- Extreme-altitude pacing, self-care, turnaround and descent judgment
What these numbers assume
- South Col expedition using supplemental oxygen; other routes and an oxygen-free attempt require separate review
- UIAA describes an expedition of roughly two months with staged acclimatization; a reviewed operator itinerary spans about seven weeks
- The summit gain derives from a roughly 26,000 ft Camp IV to the 29,031.69 ft summit
- Cumulative ascent, summit-day, pack and training ranges are TrekReady editorial planning envelopes, not UIAA or operator prescriptions
- Conditioning cannot establish acclimatization, extreme-altitude tolerance, technical competence, expedition judgment, operator acceptance or safety
Reviewed routes
South Col
45–60 days · summit day 10–18 hrs · 3,000–3,200 ft
Season
Common South Col spring expedition window
Operator itinerary, permit rules, weather, route, icefall and mountain conditions govern; verify current official and operator requirements
Sources
Reviewed 2026-08-30. Dates reflect operator review, not current route conditions — check conditions before you go.