Mt. Everest from Julia: 6th grade

Mount Everest

Standing 29,028 feet high, Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world and an ultimate world wonder. It is located on the border between China and Nepal in the Himalaya Mountains. To climb Mount Everest is a huge dream for many, but for every thirty people who attempt to climb Everest, one will die. About 150 people have died trying to reach their dreams, but since 1920, 600 people have been able to feel the pride and accomplishment of completing an ultimate goal.

On Everest, there are places where climbers can stay to rest called camps. The Base Camp is already at a higher altitude than most mountain peaks. By this point, climbers have already spent a month at lower altitudes preparing for the lower air pressure and the big journey ahead.

Camp I is at an altitude where climbers can’t fully adjust to the low air pressure no matter how long they stay there. This camp is used as a way station for climbing gear.

Camp II is found at an altitude of 21,500 feet. Many climbers spend time here to rest for the remainder of the climb ahead. This high above sea level, a person’s body muscles become smaller and the person is incapable of absorbing enough food, making the climber weaker.

Camp III is used as a quick rest station for climbers. After reaching this point, bottled oxygen is used to help climbers breathe more easily while climbing.

Camp IV is located at an altitude of 26,000 feet and is nicknamed the ‘death zone’. When a mountaineer reaches this camp, his or her judgment and mental abilities don’t function the way that they normally would. Here, climbers can also lose interest in eating and drinking because of the lack of oxygen. The less time you spend at this altitude, the better.

The Khumbu Icefall is the most dangerous part of the climb. It is actually a glacier containing deep chasms and massive ice blocks.

Finally, a climber reaches the summit. The summit of Everest is the place where the climber feels the greatest sense of accomplishment, but this just happens to be the point where the climber’s strength diminishes at an alarming rate. A climber can only produce 1/5 of the amount of work and energy that they can when they are at sea level. At sea level 8% of the body’s work capacity is used for breathing, but at this high altitude breathing takes up to about 50% of the body’s energy.

As you can see, lack of oxygen and breathing problems are huge risks in an Everest expedition, but many more dangers take place on this treacherous hike. Many hikers suffer from frostbite from the extremely cold weather and some still have scars. People also fall victim to snow blindness. Snow blindness is caused from the sunlight reflecting on the snow, generating a dangerous bright light. Sunburn from the blazing sun is also another danger. Additionally, violent coughing may occur as climbers breathe the frigid air. But, as you may know, the amount of oxygen that you can breathe is probably the biggest problem. Less oxygen enters the lungs at high altitudes. Scientists think that bottled oxygen can really help a climber’s breathing, especially above 24,000 feet elevation.

Scientists recommend that climbers should hike slowly and that they should not hike over 1000 to 2000 feet per day at high elevations so that the climbers can get used to lower air pressure.

Yes, there are many dangers climbing Mt. Everest, but those will not deter Tom Whittaker from completing his dream. Tom is training really hard to become the first disabled climber to reach Everest’s summit. He will attempt his climb this spring. Because of a car accident, doctors amputated his right foot in 1979. He now has an artificial foot but he keeps on training harder and harder. Whittaker has already attempted to climb Everest two times, once in 1989 and the other in 1995, where he ended up back in the base camp due to weather difficulties and illness. He continues to persevere because his friend told him that “third time’s the charm”. As a result, this spring will be Whittaker’s third and final attempt to tackle Mt. Everest, the high peak of the world.