Article Highlights:
- Near Record Crowds Expected: Nepal may see over 650 summits in 2025, totaling 700-800 across both sides of Everest.
- Permit Fees Increase: Climbing fees rise by 36% to $15,000, sparking concerns about elitism but likely having little impact on overall numbers.
- Rising Alternative Peaks: Climbers frustrated with Everest’s commercialization are shifting to technical peaks like Ama Dablam and Cholatse.
- Stronger Rescue and Safety Measures: Global Rescue enhances its deployment with on-the-ground teams monitoring weather, coordinating helicopter rescues, and improving medical evacuation capabilities.
Thousands of mountaineers and trekkers will descend upon the Himalayas for the 2025 spring Mount Everest climbing season, eager to summit the tallest mountain in the world, as well as K2, Kanchenjunga, and Annapurna, some of the highest peaks in the Himalayas and the world.
It’s not easy. Frostbite, twisted ankles, gastrointestinal trouble, snow blindness, and many other ailments – especially high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) – will challenge climbers and trekkers at every step, uphill and down.
According to Dan Stretch of Global Rescue, one of the most common and avoidable climber and trekker mistakes is ignoring altitude sickness symptoms. Ascending despite warning signs can lead to severe health issues and even hospitalizations. He recommends adding acclimatization days, carrying essential medications like anti-diarrheal tablets and oral rehydration salts, and ensuring proper emergency communication devices.
Mount Everest Crowds
Climbing expert Alan Arnette expects Mount Everest to be crowded with 700 to 800 summits from the Tibet and Nepal sides. “Some feel the golden age of mountaineering has come and gone and that Mount Everest is a tourist trap,” he said, noting the totals will not surpass the pre-pandemic record set in 2019.
Tom Livingstone, an acclaimed outdoor writer and climber, lamented the overcrowding. “Unfortunately, the mountain resembles a theme park these days. Many people are put off by Mount Everest and go elsewhere for real climbing, trekking and mountaineering by finding quiet, unspoiled and wild areas.
Lukas Furtenbach, the owner of Austria-based Furtenbach Adventures, will have expedition teams attempting to summit the tallest mountain in the world from the South side in Nepal and the North side in Tibet. “I will be expedition leader on the South side. I am expecting a record number of climbers for the South side,” he said, adding that the rope fixing team is trying to complete the route as early as possible so that teams can spread out multiple summit attempts over a longer period.
With Mount Everest’s continuing popularity, some mountaineers are looking elsewhere. Furtenbach observes a growing demand for technical mountains like Ama Dablam, Cholatse, and Lhotse. Stretch suggests Mustang in Nepal for trekkers wanting a less touristy experience. Livingstone laments Mount Everest’s transformation into a “theme park” and sees climbers seeking more remote, untouched peaks. But Arnette points to record, or near-record, permit numbers and remains skeptical about climbers shifting away from Mount Everest.
Another way to reduce crowds and improve safety is to enforce mountaineering experience requirements and training. Arnette suggests that officials require climbers to demonstrate a high-altitude climbing experience before attempting the Mount Everest summit.
“The Chinese authorities require all foreign Mount Everest applicants to have climbed a 19,685 feet/6,000 meter peak and Chinese nationals to have climbed a 26,246 feet/8,000-meter peak. Nepal has no experience requirements,” Arnette said. “There is a lack of training for guides, including sherpas,” Arnette added. “There are not enough qualified support climbers for the growing number of foreigners, many of whom are inexperienced.”
Higher Prices, New Rules for Climbers
Nepal’s decision to raise climbing permit fees from $11,000 to $15,000 has sparked debate among mountaineering experts. Gordon Janow, director of programs at Alpine Ascents, expects the higher cost to have little impact. “Climbing Mount Everest is not something people usually do more than once in their life, so it’s not a matter of waiting for the price to go down,” he said.
Furtenbach believes it won’t deter climbers but hopes the additional revenue is used wisely for environmental and community support. Livingstone argues the price hike makes Mount Everest climbing more exclusive rather than reducing overcrowding or improving sustainability.
Livingstone, who won’t be climbing Mount Everest due to the expense, believes that increasing mountain climbing costs will drive away some climbers. “If you have money, you’ll pay regardless of a 36% increase, making this more like adventure tourism and less like mountaineering,” he said. “It will do nothing to alleviate traffic, reduce environmental damage or other stresses.”
Arnette agreed the price increase would have minimal impact on overall climber numbers, but he expressed concerns about rule changes in Sherpa requirements that could affect safety more than pricing. “The higher permit fees may impact price-sensitive climbers,” he said. “A more significant change is reducing the Sherpa requirement from one per climber to one for every two, which may affect safety more than it reduces crowds by raising fees,” he added.
Efforts to manage Mount Everest’s environmental impact continue. Nepal officials now require climbers to carry out their waste using WAG bags—a plastic bag used to carry human feces out of an area without toilets. “That was a good move, but it was just a start and must be enforced on the mountain,” Arnette said, adding that trekkers, climbers, government, local and community officials, and guide companies need to “step up to better care for the environment.”
The Global Rescue Connection
Global Rescue is deploying a four-person team led by Stretch to Nepal from April to May. They will monitor the weather, coordinate helicopter rescues, and facilitate hospital admissions. Stretch, an experienced high-altitude mountaineer, has managed over 500 Himalayan rescues.
With mountaineering and trekking gaining popularity, Global Rescue is expanding its services, extending in-field deployments, and launching the High-Altitude Evacuation Package. This package is recommended for anyone 16 years or older traveling above 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) and offers critical emergency response coverage.
“High-altitude outdoor activity worldwide is reaching unprecedented heights of participation,” said climbing legend Ed Viesturs, the only American to climb all 14 of the world’s 8,000+ meter peaks without supplemental oxygen.
