The Timeline of the Final Mount Everest Expedition Push
Summit day on a Mount Everest expedition is one of the longest and most grueling days in sports. It is a marathon at 8,000m that tests the limits of human capability.
Most teams leave Camp 4 between 9 PM and midnight. The goal is to reach the Mount Everest summit by 7 AM to 9 AM, allowing plenty of time to descend before the afternoon 'turnaround time'.
Regardless of how close you are to the top, most expeditions enforce a 1 PM turnaround time. Staying later increases the risk of being caught in the dark on the Mount Everest summit ridge.
A successful day doesn't end at the summit. Climbers must descend back to the South Col or even Camp 2. The total time on your feet can range from 12 to 20 hours of continuous Everest trekking and climbing.
You need to save 50% of your energy for the descent. Reaching the Mount Everest summit is only the halfway point of the day.
