Discipline on the Mount Everest Summit Ridge
On a Mount Everest expedition, the most difficult decision is to turn back when you are just meters from the top. But the 'Turnaround Time' is the most important safety rule for reaching the Mount Everest summit.
Himalayan weather often deteriorates in the afternoon. If you aren't descending by 1 PM, you risk being caught in a storm on the exposed Mount Everest summit ridge. Discipline is survival.
The descent requires almost as much oxygen as the ascent. A Mount Everest expedition is only half over at the top. The turnaround time ensures you have enough 'air' to reach the safety of Camp 4.
Climbers often feel so close that they ignore the clock. This is where 'summit fever' becomes lethal. Professional Everest trekking guides are there to enforce the rules when your judgment is clouded by altitude.
Reaching the Mount Everest summit is optional; returning is mandatory. Respect the turnaround time to ensure your expedition ends in a safe return, not a tragedy.
