KATHMANDU, Nepal — A seasoned mountain guide orchestrated one of the fastest recorded ascents of Mount Everest, successfully leading a group of four climbers to the summit in just under a week after departing from London. This remarkable feat was achieved as the climbers set out from London on May 16 and reached the peak on Mount Everest at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) on a Wednesday morning in Nepal’s local time.
Lukas Furtenbach was at the helm of this expedition, applying novel approaches he has refined over the past five years to hasten the climb’s pace. Prior to setting off for Nepal, the British climbers engaged in extensive preparatory measures including sessions in hypoxia tents and undergoing xenon gas treatment at a specialized clinic in Germany.
“Xenon enhances acclimatization and adds a protective layer against altitude sickness and the challenges of the hypoxic conditions present in high altitudes, ensuring a safer climb,” Furtenbach explained from Everest’s base camp.
Following their successful summit, Furtenbach reported that all climbers were safe and were en route descending to the lower camps. Standard practice for climbers typically involves staying at the base camp for weeks to adapt to higher altitudes, with several practice climbs to bolster their bodies against low pressure and oxygen levels.
This accelerated method could significantly reduce the time climbers spend away from their home country and work obligations, in addition to slashing expedition-related costs. While Nepalese climbing regulations don’t mandate a fixed period for acclimatization or practice climbs, climbers’ permits remain valid for 90 days for a fee of $11,000 each. Traditionally, the climbing season concludes by the end of May with the onset of the monsoon season hindered by worsening weather conditions, which leads to the removal of ropes and ladders from the mountain.
This year, hundreds of climbers from abroad have been granted permission to attempt Everest. Nearly half of these adventurers have already reached the summit, and others are expected to make their attempts in the days to come.