Everest 2025 Recap: Records, Rescues, and Remarkable Feats
As the spring climbing season on Mount Everest draws to a close, the world’s tallest peak has once again become the stage for human ambition, extreme adventure, and remarkable resilience. The 2025 season was defined by a blend of traditional summit pursuits and headline-grabbing record attempts, all unfolding under the watchful eye of a mountain that remains as alluring as it is unforgiving. As the snow settles and the mountain closes for the year, it’s time to look back on a season full of triumphs, challenges, and awe-inspiring stories.
Photo: Elit Expeed
Table of contents
Summit Numbers and Conditions
Racing Against Time: Fastest Known Time Attempts
Wingsuit Flights and High-Flying Daring
Building Stamina and Endurance for Alpine Climbing
Cutting-Edge Technology: The Xenon Helicopter Rescues
Record-Setting Climbs and Speed Attempts
Summit Numbers and Conditions
According to Nepal’s Department of Tourism, approximately 694 climbers reached the summit from the South Side, including 257 foreign climbers, nine Nepali nationals with permits, 421 Sherpas and guides, and seven rope-fixers. When combined with successful ascents from the North Side, where all teams reached the top without crowding, the total summit count neared 800. The best summit day was May 27, with mild temperatures and minimal wind, offering climbers near-perfect conditions.
However, increasing temperatures made the treacherous Khumbu Icefall more hazardous, pushing teams to be above Camp 2 by May 25 to minimize risk. As usual, summit attempts led to crowded conditions on certain days, particularly May 18.
The closing ceremony in Kathmandu marked the 72nd anniversary of the first Everest summit.
Racing Against Time: Fastest Known Time Attempts
This year saw some of the most audacious speed ascents ever attempted on Everest, igniting fierce excitement and global attention. Among the standout performances was ultrarunner Tyler Andrews, who embarked on not one but two bold pushes in the race for the Fastest Known Time (FKT) – all while battling the brutal elements and the unforgiving altitude.
Despite a harrowing final attempt that ended at 8,450 meters due to exhaustion and altitude sickness, Andrews’ effort was a testament to the human limits being tested on the mountain. His candid reflections revealed the mental and physical toll these endeavors demand – hallucinations at the Balcony and isolation above 8,000 meters added an eerie edge to his near-record run.
Not far behind, Ecuadorian climber Karl Egloff also made headlines with his own no-oxygen FKT push. Although Egloff’s attempt ended earlier, the dynamic between these two elite athletes underscored a season where speed and endurance pushed Everest’s boundaries in unprecedented ways.
Wingsuit Flights and High-Flying Daring
The 2025 season wasn’t just about climbing speed. A new breed of adventurers took to the skies, attempting wingsuit flights from the summit or near-summit zones. These breathtaking attempts merged mountaineering with extreme aerial sports, showcasing the mountain as a playground for multifaceted human ambition.
While not all wingsuit attempts were successful, the very presence of such daring exploits highlighted how Everest continues to inspire innovation, pushing beyond traditional climbing into new realms of adventure.
Casualties and Safety
Tragically, three climbers died above Base Camp this season, all from medical issues rather than climbing accidents. Among them were Pen Chhiri Sherpa (cardiac arrest at Camp 1), Subrata Ghosh (India), and Philipp Santiago (Philippines), with no fatalities reported from the North Side. Two additional climbers died on nearby Lhotse.
Despite these losses, improved training, equipment, oxygen supplies, guides, and weather forecasting helped keep this season safer than many previous years. A significant number of aerial rescues were conducted via helicopters, though detailed statistics remain undisclosed.
Record-Setting Climbs and Speed Attempts
Sherpas continued to impress, with Kami Rita Sherpa summiting for his 31st time and Kenton Cool reaching 19 summits. Some Sherpas, like Tashi Gyalzen, summited multiple times in one season.
Speed climbing attempts dominated the narrative, especially by the “Xenon” climbers team. Using cutting-edge technology and intensive hypoxic training, this team summited five days after leaving London and completed their expedition in under a week.
Another fast ascent was reportedly completed by Andrew Ushakov from NYC in four days with Sherpa support.
Notably, German climber Anja Blacha summited without supplemental oxygen or personal Sherpa assistance, marking only the second no-oxygen ascent this season. Ecuador’s Patricio Arevalo also succeeded no-O2, while others like Marcelo Segovia had to retreat.
Environmental Efforts and Rising Costs
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) continued efforts to keep Everest cleaner, especially around upper camps, as the mountain faces increasing environmental pressures. Meanwhile, permit fees for climbing Everest are set to rise from $11,000 to $15,000 per person starting this fall, potentially impacting next year’s climber numbers amid already high expedition costs.
Reflections on a Legendary Season
The 2025 Everest season was a vivid illustration of the mountain’s dual nature: a place of extraordinary possibility and extreme danger. Records were challenged, lives were saved by cutting-edge technology, and the human spirit proved resilient and relentless. As the mountain rests until spring 2026, the lessons of this season will inform future expeditions and efforts to preserve Everest’s grandeur.
As the Himalayan winds grow colder and the mountain settles into its quiet winter slumber, we honor the 2025 season as one of the most eventful and memorable chapters in Everest’s long and storied history.
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