Balcony, Mount Everest

OutsideJun 1

Veterans of Mount Everest expeditions tell us their favorite, least-favorite, and toughest spots along the route to the summit.

19 things in this story

Hillary StepSighttechnical section, obstacle before summit
Lhotse FaceSightclimbed between Camp III and Camp IV
Khumbu IcefallSightdangerous section climbed at night
Western CwmSightbeautiful hike, easy slope before heat
South ColSightThe South Col is typically swept by high winds, leaving it free of significant snow accumulation.
Camp IIIPlacecamp at 23,300 feet with sunset views
Camp IVPlacecamp at 26,000 feet, start of summit push
Cho OyuSightmountain visible from Camp III
Tenzing NorgaySightOn 29 May 1953, he and Edmund Hillary were the first confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest, as part of…
Edmund HillarySightSir Edmund Percival Hillary was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist.
Kenton CoolSightKenton Edward Cool is an English climber and mountain guide.
Garrett MadisonSightMadison began guiding professionally in 1999 on Mount Rainier and has climbed Mount Everest 16 times.
Purnima ShresthaSightShe is the first women to summit Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) three times within a single climbing season.
South SummitSightsummit ridge with tricky steps
Tibetan horizonSighthorizon visible from the summit ridge
Yellow BandSightsection compared to Hillary Step
Camp VPlace
Kami Rita SherpaSight
BalconySight

Balcony