Record 274 Climbers Reach Mount Everest Summit In A Single Day
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth, standing at 29,029 feet (8,849 m) above sea level. Located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, its extreme altitude and unpredictable weather make it one of the most dangerous places on the planet. Despite the risks, hundreds of climbers attempt to reach its summit every spring.
This year is no exception. On May, 20, 2026, a record 274 climbers made it to the top from the Nepal side. While this marks a new single-day record for the Nepal route, it falls short of the overall world record. That record was set on May 23, 2019, when 354 climbers reached the summit from both the Nepal and Tibet routes.
Why was it so crowded?
The congestion on May 20 was caused by high demand and limited route access. Nepal issued nearly 500 climbing permits for the 2026 season, while Tibet issued none. Hence, when the weather became favorable, dozens of expeditions rushed toward the peak along the same route at the same time. This created long, slow-moving lines on the narrow ridge near the summit, where oxygen levels are very low. The delays made the climb even harder for many teams.
Historic milestones
Despite the difficult conditions, the climb also featured several notable achievements. Russia's Rustam Nabiev became the first double amputee to reach the summit without the help of prosthetic legs. Nabiev, who lost both his legs when a building collapsed on him, relied entirely on upper body strength. He pulled himself up the mountain using just his hands, ice axes, and fixed ropes.
Several Sherpa climbers — guides who play a key role in Everest expeditions — also set new records. Kami Rita Sherpa reached the summit for the 32nd time, the most by any climber. Lhakpa Sherpa extended her record as the woman with the most Everest summits after reaching the peak for the 11th time.
The growing safety debate
Two climbers died during the descent. One became severely ill near the top, while the other passed away from extreme exhaustion. These two deaths and the crowded conditions have renewed concerns about safety on Everest.
Some experts say modern gear and commercial guiding can create a false sense of security. Everest is still very dangerous and unpredictable. The risk rises when hundreds of climbers are on the route at the same time. Even small delays can become deadly. Many argue there should be stricter limits on how many people can climb at once.
Resources: CNN.com, Kathmandupost.com, Guardian.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
31 Comments
gojoistuff1 dayI don't want to climb this because I sure 30 of them died sady
pusheen543 daysScary- wastheend6 daysThat looks scary and fun but there low oxygen. some people have died from climbing mount everest.
vaidehisawesom8 daysso I kinda also wanna climb this- vaidehisawesom8 dayslooks really intresting though
- vaidehisawesom8 daysI feel bad for the 2 who died
pugezowonujo8 daysthat's dangerous I would never do that I'd not want to die ee😱ek
bobsbananas8 daysThe Russian guy must have very strong arm muscles to scale mount Everest
ezpz_5579 daysThat looks sick!- mewybybylome9 daysJames says: "Give me all of your Euros! I'm doing it!" Grandma says: "Climbing Everest used to be a unique achievement. But, now, it hardly is! If you are rich, you can just pay sherpas to take you to the top. Should everyone--even those without experience--be allowed to climb the mountain? Seems dangerous."
