Navigating the Final Steps of a Mount Everest Expedition
The final path to the Mount Everest summit is a narrow, exposed ridge that tests the nerves of every climber. This section of the Mount Everest expedition is where many legends are made and where the world falls away on both sides.
Climbers must navigate the South Summit to the true summit along a narrow path with massive drops into Nepal on one side and Tibet on the other. It is the most scenic and terrifying part of Everest trekking at its extreme.
Since the 2015 earthquake, the infamous Hillary Step has transformed into a snow slope. While technically easier, it remains a bottleneck during the Mount Everest summit push when multiple teams are moving at once.
Once you clear the ridge, you stand on a small plateau of snow—the Mount Everest summit. You can see the curvature of the Earth and the vast Tibetan Plateau stretching to the horizon.
The ridge is the ultimate test of a Mount Everest expedition. Passing it means you have conquered the highest point on our planet.
