Mount Everest is known all around the world as one of the most fantastical and incredible natural landmarks on Earth. As the tallest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest has captured the hearts of many with its grandiosity, but there are actually some fun facts about it that may surprise you.
Some Say It’s Not The Hardest Mountain To Climb
Although Everest is indeed the tallest mountain in the world, there are some mountaineers who actually claim that it’s not the hardest to trek. Some point to K2, the second tallest mountain, as the hardest to climb, due to its trickier ascent and unforgiving weather.
More People Have Climbed It Than You Think
To follow this trend of Everest not being as hard to climb as you think, let’s hit you with some quick numbers. As of July 2022, around 6,098 people have climbed Everest, with a total of 11,346 summit ascents.
The Hardest Part Is At The Bottom
Some say that the trickiest part of climbing Mount Everest actually takes place near the bottom of the mountain. The Khumbu Icefall is a terrain that must be passed if one wishes to ascend the mountain—and the Icefall has been known to be quite deadly.
There’s a Place Called the “Death Zone”
But although the Khumbu Icefall is dangerous, that’s not to say that the top isn’t. Above Camp Four is called the “Death Zone”, because its thin air quality makes it incredibly hard for one to concentrate, let alone climb a mountain—and has led to the deaths of thousands.