Routes                                                                                                         

From 1921 to 1938 all the British attempts were made via the North Col - North East Ridge route from Tibet. After the Second World War all routes to Mount Everest were forbidden and closed. In 1951 China occupied Tibet, the Chinese stopped all foreign travellers from gaining access to Everest from the traditional route. The British turned there sights to the South Side in Nepal. Permission was granted, which eventually led to the successful 1953 Expedition.

Today, you can reach Mount Everest from both Tibet and Nepal. They both welcome climbers and visitors from all over the world.

The two normal routes to climb Mount Everest are the South Col - South East Ridge from Nepal and the North Col - North East Ridge from Tibet. There are other routes that will get you to the summit of Everest, although these are not very often used now a days.

(C) Copyright STS058-101-12 www.eol.jsc.nasa.gov

Other Routes

West Ridge Hornbein Couloir, South West Face, West Ridge Direct, Japanese Couloir, South Pillar, South West Pillar, North East Ridge - North Face - Norton Couloir 1, North East Ridge - North Face - Norton Couloir 2, East Face American Butress, The Great Couloir, West Ridge from Tibet - Hornbein Couloir, East Face - South Col, Below North Col - North Face - Norton Couloir, The Complete North East Ridge, North - North East Direct, Central North Face Direct

North Col - North East Ridge Route

Base Camp: 17,000ft --- ABC: 21,300ft --- Camp 1: 23,000ft --- Camp 2: 24,750ft --- Camp 3: 25,600ft --- Camp 4: 27,400ft

First Step: 27,890ft --- Second Step: 28,140ft --- Third Step: 28,510ft

All heights are approx.

Base Camp to Advanced Base Camp (ABC)

Base Camp is situated on a gravel plain just below the Rongbuk Monastery. From here to ABC it is about a 12 mile trek along the Rongbuk Glacier, which is mostly made up of small boulders, with some snow and ice, up to the East Rongbuk Glacier. Here you will walk among the ice towers, which can be up to a 100 foot tall, before arriving into ABC.

 ABC to Camp 1

ABC is located on rocky and broken ground, and at times can be very windy. From here you follow the fairly easy to moderate route up the East Rongbuk Glacier, and then up the snow slopes to the North Col, which is where you will find Camp 1

Camp 1 to Camp 2

The North Col Camp sits on a saddle between Everest and Changtse. This camp can be at times extremely windy. From the saddle you follow the long moderate snow slope, which eventually changes to a mixture of rock and snow, to the snow ledge where Camp 2 is normally placed.

Camp 2 to Camp 3

Due to a lack of good camping spots at Camp 2, most tents will end up being pitched uncomfortably on down facing rock ledges. The route between Camp 2 and Camp 3 is traditionally very windy. The terrain is made up of rock and shingle steps, which is all fairly easy, but a slip here could mean certain death. There are fixed ropes in place to offer some security.

Camp 3 to Camp 4

Camp 3 is a deafening place to be because of the roar of the wind. From Camp 3 some climbers will start to use oxygen support. The route is a mixture of rock steps and medium snow slopes. There is the help of the fixed rope, but this is mainly used to stop you from taking the wrong direction rather than secure you to the mountain.

Camp 4 to Summit

Camp 4 is small and uncomfortable, but your aim is to spend as little time here as possible. All climbers are on oxygen support now, except the very brave. Leaving Camp 4 in the dark you ascend into the Yellow Band, which in places is steep, up onto the North East Ridge. Along this ridge you will come across your first obstacle, the First Step. The First Step is a short rock buttress about 100 feet in height. This Step is quite straightforward but can be challenging at this altitude. Some steep and exposed climbing will then lead you onto the Second Step. The Second Step is the hardest of all three Steps. It is in two sections, the lower part consists of large boulders, and then a steep snow gully that leads you onto the fixed ladder. Overall it is about a 130feet in height. After another short climb you come up against the Third Step. This Step is said to be the easiest off all three. It is a 80 foot high lump of rock, that you can either climb, or go around it on the steep snow slopes. Once this last Step is dealt with you will then find yourself on the Summit Pyramid. This is a steep snowfield that ends about 60 foot below the summit. Then all that is between you and the summit is the medium snow slope, which will lead you to the top of the world.