Racing the Monsoon Down from the Summit
By late May, the Mount Everest summit window begins to close. The arrival of the monsoon marks the end of the Mount Everest expedition season and the start of a very dangerous descent.
As humidity rises and winds shift, the mountain becomes unstable. Teams must time their final descent from Everest Base Camp perfectly to avoid being trapped by the heavy summer snows.
In a matter of days, Everest Base Camp goes from a bustling city to a desolate glacier. The packing up of a Mount Everest expedition is a massive logistical operation that marks the end of the year's dreams.
Once the last climber leaves, the mountain returns to the gods. The Everest trekking trails quiet down, and the Himalayas begin their annual cycle of renewal and rest.
On Everest, nature always has the last word. Knowing when the season is over is the final and most important decision of any Mount Everest expedition.
