Climbing Everest: My Journey to the Top of the World

I have been guiding treks and climbs in Nepal for years, but nothing comes close to leading an expedition to Everest. It is not just another mountain. It’s a test of everything your strength, your patience, your decision-making, and your spirit. People dream about it for years, but standing at the top is something only a few get to feel. And I was lucky to be one of them, not once, but a few times.

Let me take you through what it’s really like to go on an Everest Expedition from the moment you land in Kathmandu to that freezing, breathless, proud second when you reach the summit.

Starting Point: Kathmandu
Every Everest climb begins in Kathmandu. It’s loud, busy, and full of life. Before the climb, we sort out gear, permits, and last-minute shopping. We also meet the team properly climbers from different parts of the world, our Sherpas, kitchen staff, and porters. We check the weather forecasts and prepare our minds more than anything.

Flight to Lukla: First Real Test
The flight to Lukla is always an adventure. The small aircraft dances through the clouds before landing on one of the world’s shortest runways. Some people get nervous, but that’s normal. It’s part of the thrill.

From Lukla, we start our trek to Everest Base Camp. This part takes around 8–10 days, walking through Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, and finally to Base Camp. It’s a beautiful journey—forests, rivers, prayer flags, and old stone paths. You can feel the change in air, temperature, and culture as you go up.

Everest Base Camp: Our Mountain Home
Once we reach Base Camp (5,364m), it feels like we’re finally in the game. The camp sits on a rocky glacier. Tents are set up in rows kitchen tents, dining tents, sleeping tents, and storage. You can hear ice cracking under you sometimes.

We stay here for weeks. That’s right weeks. Climbing Everest isn’t done in a single push. We need time to let our bodies adjust to the altitude. That’s what we call acclimatization. During this time, we do practice climbs to nearby ice walls, cross ladders over crevasses, and walk up to Camp 1 and return, then to Camp 2 and back. We go up and down several times to prepare our bodies and minds.

The Climb: Camp by Camp
After weeks of preparing, we begin our real push to the top. Here’s how it usually goes:

• Camp 1 (6,065m): Reached after crossing the Khumbu Icefall. This section is dangerous. We wake up early, wear all our climbing gear, and move fast. The sound of ice shifting is scary but something we learn to respect.
• Camp 2 (6,400m): Sits in the Western Cwm. The sun here is harsh, and it gets very hot during the day, even though you’re surrounded by snow. We rest here longer to eat and regain strength.
• Camp 3 (7,200m): We climb up the Lhotse Face to get here. It’s steep and icy. Fixed ropes help, but this part takes a lot of focus. Oxygen starts feeling low.
• Camp 4 (7,950m): Located at the South Col. The air is thin, and this is where we start using bottled oxygen. The wind is strong here, and the place looks like another planet. We rest here before the final push.

The Summit Push: One Night, One Dream We leave Camp 4 in the dark, around 9 or 10 PM. Headlamps on, ropes clipped in, and hearts racing. This part is hard. The climb is steep, the cold is biting, and the oxygen is low even with bottles. We pass famous spots like the Balcony, South Summit, and Hillary Step.

Then comes the moment the summit. 8,848.86 meters. Standing there is surreal. You see the curve of the earth, clouds far below, and mountains that once looked big now look small. We only spend a few minutes there. We take photos, hug our teammates, and begin the climb down.

The Way Back
People often forget how important the descent is. Most accidents happen while coming down. We go back to Camp 4, then slowly make our way to Base Camp over the next few days. Everyone is tired but full of emotion—some cry, some laugh, some just stay quiet.

What Everest Taught Me
Every Everest expedition reminds me that no mountain is bigger than the human spirit. But no mountain forgives mistakes either. I’ve seen people quit, succeed, get frostbite, or cry out of happiness. You need to be physically strong, but more than that, mentally calm and respectful of nature.

If you are thinking about climbing Everest, don’t just train your body train your patience, learn to listen, and never forget the people who help you get there, especially the Sherpas.

Everest is not just a climb. It’s a life-changing journey. And I’m proud to guide people on it.