The Burden of Choice: Decision Making at 8,000m

How Leaders Pick the Path to the Mount Everest Summit

The Hardest Calls

On a Mount Everest expedition, a single decision can mean the difference between a summit photo and a rescue. Leadership near the Mount Everest summit is about managing ego, safety, and time.

Turning Back vs. Pushing On

The toughest decision is always to turn a group around when the Mount Everest summit is in sight. Experience and intuition are the only tools a leader has when the weather turns on an expedition.

Leader looking at a weather map in a tent
Managing Team Dynamics

At high altitude, tempers can flare. A great leader must manage the psychological health of the team to ensure they remain a cohesive unit during the Everest trekking and climbing push.

The Ethics of Risk

Every leader must weigh the desire for the Mount Everest summit against the objective hazards. Choosing the safest route through the Icefall is a daily tactical battle for any Everest expedition.

Follow the Lead

A successful Mount Everest expedition is built on trust. Choose a leader with the experience to make the right choices when the air is thin and the stakes are high.