Everest is a mess. Honestly, there’s no other way to put it. You’ve probably seen the photos—those "conga lines" of neon-clad figures shuffling toward the summit like they’re waiting for a latte. But behind those viral images is a much grimmer reality that has been splashing across the front pages lately.
The New York Times has been all over this. They’ve been tracking the sheer volume of many Everest climbers and the mounting body count that comes with it. In 2023, we saw a record 18 deaths. That’s a heavy number. It’s not just a statistic; it’s 18 families shattered because of a mountain that has become as much of a tourist trap as it is a wilderness.
The Crowding Crisis: Why Many Everest Climbers Are Risking It All
Why do so many people go? It’s the "because it's there" factor, sure. But it’s also the "because I can pay for it" factor. Nowadays, if you have $50,000 to $100,000 lying around, you can find a guide service willing to clip you to a rope and haul you up.
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Nepal issued 421 permits in 2024. That might sound like a drop from the 478 permits in 2023, but when you add in the Sherpas and support staff, you’re looking at over 600 people trying to squeeze through a tiny window of "good" weather.
The Death Zone is Getting Crowded
When you get above 8,000 meters, your body is literally dying. Cells are screaming for oxygen. Every minute you spend standing in a line at the Hillary Step is a minute you’re burning through your life support.
The 2023 season was a wake-up call. The NYT reported on the chaos where climbers were literally stepping over bodies to get to the top. It sounds cold, but when you're in the Death Zone, survival is a zero-sum game. If you stop to help someone who has collapsed, you might not have the energy to get yourself down. It’s a brutal, horrific calculation that many Everest climbers have to make in real-time.
New Rules for 2025 and 2026: Is it Enough?
Nepal’s government finally decided they had to do something. They couldn’t keep having the "world's highest graveyard" as their primary tourism export.
They introduced some big changes recently:
- Mandatory 7,000-meter experience: You can't just walk off a treadmill in Ohio and head to Everest. You have to prove you’ve summited a 7,000-meter peak in Nepal first.
- RECCO Tags: Every climber must wear these electronic reflectors. If you get buried in an avalanche or go missing, a helicopter can (theoretically) find you.
- The Poop Bags: Yeah, it’s gross. But the mountain was becoming a landfill. Now, climbers have to carry their waste back down in WAG bags.
The Human Cost: Names Behind the Numbers
We often talk about the "many Everest climbers" as a collective group, but the individual stories are what keep the New York Times reporters busy. Take the 2024 season, for instance.
Nine people died or went missing. That included Usukhjargal Tsedendamba and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav from Mongolia. They tried to summit without supplemental oxygen. They were found just below the top, frozen in time. Then there was Cheruiyot Kirui, a Kenyan climber who also went without O2. He was found near the summit; his guide, Nawang Sherpa, simply vanished.
The Sherpa Burden
Let’s be real: the Sherpas are the ones doing the heavy lifting. They’re the ones carrying the tents, the oxygen, and the literal weight of the clients' ambitions. Between 1953 and 2024, over 6,000 Sherpas have summited. They dominate the mountain, yet they also bear the brunt of the risk.
In 2025, we’re seeing a shift. Pay is increasing—up to $8.64 a day (which still feels tragically low for the risk)—and insurance requirements for Sherpas are finally being taken seriously. But as long as the demand from Westerners remains high, the pressure on the local climbing community will remain immense.
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Climate Change is Moving the Goalposts
The mountain is literally melting.
Glacier experts have found that the Khumbu Glacier—where Base Camp sits—is thinning by about 2 meters every year. Climbers in 2025 reported seeing crevasses in places that used to be solid ice. The iconic Hillary Step has changed shape since the 2015 earthquake, and some say it’s barely a "step" anymore due to shifting rock and ice.
This makes the route more unpredictable. When the terrain changes weekly, the "route doctors" (the elite Sherpas who set the ropes) have to work overtime, putting themselves in even more danger.
What You Should Know Before You Go
Look, if you’re reading this because you’re actually thinking about joining the ranks of many Everest climbers, you need a reality check.
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- Money isn't safety. You can pay $200,000 for a luxury expedition with a private chef at Base Camp, but the air at 29,000 feet is just as thin for you as it is for the budget climber.
- Training is non-negotiable. The new 7,000-meter rule is a good start, but it's the bare minimum. You need to be a mountaineer, not just a tourist.
- Respect the mountain. The "summit at all costs" mentality is what kills people. Knowing when to turn around is the most important skill you can have.
If you’re just a curious bystander, keep an eye on the regulations. The price of a permit is jumping to $15,000 in late 2025. Will that stop the crowds? Probably not. For many Everest climbers, an extra four grand is just another line item in a very expensive dream.
The story of Everest isn't about the height anymore; it's about the management of human ego and the fragility of nature. As we look toward the 2026 season, the question isn't whether people will keep going—they will—but whether the mountain can survive the weight of so many people trying to stand on its head.
If you are planning to follow this saga, your best move is to track the official bulletins from the Nepal Department of Tourism and the Himalayan Database. These are the gold standards for factual updates. For those looking to support the local community, consider donating to organizations like the Himalayan Trust or the Nimsdai Foundation, which work directly with Sherpa families and environmental protection.