The Triumphs and Trials of Climbers on Mount Everest in 2025

Article Highlights:

• Kami Rita Sherpa completed a record-breaking 31st summit of Mount Everest.
• Over 100 Global Rescue operations were conducted in May, and more than 130 expected by season-end.
• Climbers faced dangerous weather patterns, including jet stream winds and cyclone threats.
• Permit fees and climber traffic hit new highs, sparking commercialization concerns.
• Controversy grows over climbers faking illness for helicopter rescues.

The 2025 Mount Everest climbing season has been one of the most dramatic in recent memory. From record-breaking ascents to complex rescues and shifting ethics, the Himalayas once again drew hundreds of mountaineers seeking glory at the top of the world. Yet, the season has also been marked by increasingly volatile weather, rising permit numbers and an evolving culture of reliance on aerial evacuation.

Himalaya Records

One of the most talked-about achievements came on May 27 when Kami Rita Sherpa summited Mount Everest for the 31st time, extending his own world record and solidifying his legendary status in high-altitude mountaineering. Just days prior, fellow Nepali climber Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa completed four successful Everest ascents in only 15 days, including guided and solo efforts. Sixteen-year-old Padakakanti Vishwanath Karthikey from Hyderabad became the youngest Indian and second youngest globally to complete the Seven Summits challenge, culminating with his ascent of Mount Everest.

Speedy peak-bagging is on the rise, too. A team of British Special Forces veterans summited Everest using advanced pre-acclimatization methods such as hypoxic tents and xenon gas after arriving from London just over four days earlier. Following that feat, a US-Ukrainian climber claimed he had gone from New York to the top of Everest in under four days.

While the triumphs were many, the risks were just as prominent. Unstable weather, including persistent jet stream winds and the looming threat of a tropical cyclone, forced many climbers to adjust plans or abandon summit pushes altogether. These hazards underscored the mountain’s unpredictability, a theme mountaineering expert Alan Arnette echoed. According to Arnette, Everest’s dangers are increasing as seasons shorten and more climbers push toward narrow summit windows.

This year also saw heightened scrutiny over the use of xenon gas in pre-acclimatization regimens. Though some claim it enhances safety and minimizes environmental impact, critics worry it strays too far from traditional mountaineering methods. Meanwhile, accessibility and affordability were again under debate as Nepal issued 517 climbing permits for the season and raised fees to $15,000, a 36% increase. Record traffic on the mountain sparked further concerns about overcrowding and commercialization.

Mount Everest Risks and Rescues for Climbers

No season in the Himalayas is without danger. Climbers and trekkers face a daunting list of potential challenges: acute mountain sickness, extreme weather, avalanches, gastrointestinal illness, frostbite, twisted ankles, snow blindness and traumatic injuries from falls. Each step above the clouds demands resilience, preparation and often, emergency response.

To meet the growing demand for high-altitude assistance, Global Rescue deployed a specialized team of medical and rescue professionals to Nepal. The team responded to more than 100 rescue calls in May alone, and is on pace to surpass 130 rescues before the climbing season ends. These missions include long-line helicopter extractions from extreme altitudes, emergency responses to altitude illness and complex evacuations when conventional methods are unavailable.

“We handle several rescue operations every day throughout the spring Everest climbing season, keeping our team engaged from before sunrise well into the night,” said Dan Stretch, a Global Rescue operations manager who has overseen more than 500 evacuations and crisis responses in the Himalayas. “At peak activity, our medical and rescue teams have performed up to 25 rescues in a single day, sometimes more.”

Helicopter Rescue

In one example, a North African member experienced a severe medical emergency while descending from Everest Camp IV to Camp III in Nepal. She collapsed and was transported down by teammates who reported that she was semi-conscious and exhibiting symptoms consistent with high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Oxygen support was being administered, but her team was physically exhausted and unable to continue assisting her on the eight-hour descent to Camp II.

Due to the seriousness of her condition and the remote altitude of 24,000 feet/7,315 meters, a helicopter long-line rescue was arranged from Camp III. She was stabilized at a hospital and then flown to a medical center in Kathmandu. There, she was treated for dehydration, hypokalemia (low potassium levels), a strained neck muscle, fascia and tendon damage and a sprained right ankle.

In another case, a European member required field rescue following a high-altitude incident after summiting Kangchenjunga in Nepal. He reported confusion, slurred speech, HACE symptoms, and visible frostbite on both hands. He initially remained at a high altitude of around 26,900 feet/8,200 meters, where he spent one night exposed above Camp IV with limited resources after injuring his hand during a rappel.

Poor weather delayed evacuation, so he descended with assistance from his guides to Camp III and then to Camp II. A helicopter evacuation was approved, and he was transported to a medical center in Kathmandu. He was diagnosed with Grade 2 to 3 frostbite on the fingers, Grade 3 frostbite on the toes and pulmonary fluid accumulation. Treatment included a five-dose course of Iloprost, after which he was discharged. He later received a fit-to-fly letter and returned home without further reported complications.

These operations emphasize the importance of timely response and the role of advanced rescue capabilities in ensuring climber safety.

The Global Rescue Connection

With mountaineering and trekking gaining popularity, Global Rescue continues to expand 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.

Mountaineering has long been defined as reaching the summit and safely returning to base camp. For experienced climbers, the descent is not an afterthought; it’s the most critical phase of any ascent. The adage “getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory” is a core belief many in the high-altitude climbing community share. Adequate preparation, physical endurance and a deep respect for the mountain are essential, especially when navigating unpredictable conditions and potential emergencies.

One member experienced severe respiratory symptoms at Everest Base Camp and was diagnosed with pneumonia and HAPE. After helicopter evacuation and treatment, she wanted to continue her expedition. Less than a month later, she required a second helicopter rescue following a fall at Camp II that left her unable to walk. She was treated for acute mountain sickness, lower back trauma and dehydration before being discharged with a physiotherapy plan.

This case is one of many raising alarm among veteran climbers. The increasing normalization of helicopter rescues risks diluting the fundamental spirit of mountaineering — one built on grit, endurance, self-reliance and accountability. Expert mountaineers like Ed Viesturs, Tom Livingstone and Conrad Anker maintain that a climb is only complete when a climber returns to base camp on foot, barring a legitimate emergency. Alan Arnette and Gordon Janow echo this, stressing that rescue services should support preparedness, not replace it. As Everest continues to attract larger crowds and higher ambitions, the question remains: is the summit the point or is the journey the purpose?