Why You Can't Get a Hot Drink at the Mount Everest Summit
One of the quirks of a Mount Everest expedition is that water boils at a lower temperature the higher you go. Near the Mount Everest summit, your tea might be 'boiling' but still only lukewarm.
At sea level, water boils at 100°C. At the Mount Everest summit, it boils at approximately 70°C. This means food takes much longer to cook, a major logistical challenge for Everest trekking lodge kitchens.
To cook Dal Bhat efficiently at Everest Base Camp, pressure cookers are mandatory. They artificially raise the internal pressure, allowing the water to reach higher temperatures needed for safe and nutritious Mount Everest expedition meals.
Since boiling doesn't reach 100°C at high altitude, it is less effective at killing certain pathogens. This is why Everest trekking groups should still use purification tablets even if the water has been 'boiled' near the Mount Everest summit region.
Altitude affects everything, even your morning tea. Understanding the physics of your Mount Everest expedition helps you manage your expectations and your health.
