Geography

Standing 8,850 meters tall, Mount Everest is recognized as the world’s highest peak. Located in the Himalayan mountain range, it marks the border between Nepal and Tibet. However, it is practically impossible for researchers to obtain an exact measurement of its height because the mountain is constantly changing. Waves of soil similar to waves of ocean water at lesser amplitudes influence scientific results.

Climbers who undertake the ascent of Mount Everest have two main approaches available to them: the southeast route (Nepal) and the northeast route (Tibet). For political and practical reasons, the Nepalese route is the most popular. Our climbers however will be using the one on the north side. Climbs are mainly attempted in April or May, before the summer monsoon, during changes in the Jet Stream , a rapid and limited-altitude air current. This change reduces average high-altitude wind speeds as well as the related risks.

Did you know that :

• This glorious mountain did not always bear its current name. Previously referred to as Peak XV by Westerners, it was only in 1865 that the governor general of British Colonial India, Andrew Waugh, gave it the name Everest in honour of his predecessor Sir George Everest.

• Mount Everest has several designations that vary depending on the country. In Nepal, its name means “head of the sky” and in Tibet “mother of the universe”.

• A mandatory route for Everest climbers, the southeast ridge has become a veritable dumping ground. Over the years, for practical reasons, expedition members have left behind used material such as oxygen bottles, tarps and plastic. In 1993, a team mandated by the Nepalese government and UNESCO began cleaning up the col. When the twenty sherpa and their team leader returned, they brought back with them eight tons of garbage! Happily, our brave climbers, Manuel and André, have agreed to come back with all of their material.