How Long Does it Take to Climb Mt. Everest?

The climb up Mt. Everest can vary from climber to climber, but on average it should take about four or five days to climb Everest.

For avid mountain climbers there is no greater dream then having the opportunity to climb Mount Everest. This is one of the most challenging mountains in the world to climb, let alone summit.

The time it takes to climb Mount Everest all the way to the summit varies from person to person. The estimated amount of time is approximately four to five days. Taking any more time then this allows the weather to have an affect on the climb, which is never a good thing.

How Many Climbers?

Mount Everest is fascinating because of its sheer size and its notorious reputation for claiming the lives of climbers who attempt to summit this mountain.

• Around 4000 people have tried to climb Everest, according to Scholastic.com.
• Around 660 have actually succeeded.

Other Everest Facts

Why do we care how long it takes to climb Mt. Everest?  Knowing how long it takes to climb Everest is important because the height and location of the mountain make it one of the most challenging climbs in the world.

Some facts about Mount Everest include:

• Height: Mount Everest measures in at 8,850 meters. This translates to approximately 29,028 feet.
• Location: Mount Everest is a part of the Himalayan Mountains. The Himalayan Mountains are a range of mountains that lie in Nepal on the border along Tibet, China.
• Climbing Routes: There are two climbing routes to get to the summit of Mount Everest. These two routes are known as the North route and the South route. The North route is considered shorter to make it to the summit, but it is more treacherous and it takes much longer to get to base camp. Therefore, many climbers use the South route. Here, the base camp is more readily accessible and can be reached on foot.
• Weather: The weather on Mount Everest can be severe, as you may imagine. Temperatures at the summit can drop well below minus 50 degree Celsius. There is often heavy wind and there is also limited visibility when the wind picks up. This is why climbers will wait at base camp to listen to the weather reports for the mountain in order to make their summit bids. The climbers and the guides who will accompany them will wait for a clear four to five day weather window.

Why Does it Take a Week to Summit?

It takes days to summit Mount Everest because the climbers must become acclimated to the changes in altitude:

• The first acclimation takes place at base camp, which is located at 17,000 feet.
• From there progression is slow, typically at a rate of 1,000 feet per day from camp to camp.

Three camps are set up along the way for the climbers. The first camp is called Camp 1, the second Camp 2, and the third Camp 3.

• Climbers typically will climb to Camp 1 and see how they feel. If they seem to be suffering from any form of altitude sickness, they must return down, rest, and then try again until they are not impacted as much by the change in altitude.
• Once they have become accustomed to Camp 1, they can rest and then attempt Camp 2. This process continues up to the summit as long as the weather permits and it is safe for the climber to do so.

• Camp 3 lies just below the summit of Mount Everest.

This, therefore, is why it takes so many days to climb Mount Everest.