The Difficulty of Melting Snow for a Mount Everest expedition
At Camp 4, your stove is your life support. Without it, you cannot create the water needed for the Mount Everest summit push. But at this altitude, the physics of combustion and pressure change entirely during an expedition.
There is so little oxygen that stoves burn inefficiently. Modern Mount Everest summit stoves are designed with radiant burners to maximize heat output in the thin air of the Mount Everest expedition region.
Propane-Isobutane mixes are standard, but they lose pressure in the extreme cold of Everest trekking peaks. Climbers must sleep with their gas canisters to keep them warm enough to start in the morning.
A hanging stove is used inside the tent to prevent wind from stripping the heat. This 'internal kitchen' is a standard part of Mount Everest expedition life, requiring careful ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide.
Without water, the Mount Everest summit is impossible. Master your stove physics to ensure your expedition has the hydration needed for success.
