Climbers clear path to Everest summit past giant chunk of ice

Nearly 1,000 climbers will attempt to scale the peak in coming weeks and this has raised safety concerns.

Anxiety is growing at Everest Base Camp, more than 5,300 meters above sea level. Hundreds of climbers, including sherpas, have gathered, eager to summit the world’s most famous mountain as the annual spring climbing season kicks off – but there’s one problem. A massive serac, or a block of glacial ice, is hindering the route and keeping alpinists in limbo as they wait for it to gradually collapse and clear the way. Specialized high-altitude workers known as 'icefall doctors' have been on site for weeks already, working to map the serac and its position in the notorious Khumbu Icefall, a steep portion of a glacier that makes up one of the most treacherous sections of the Everest route.

Hundreds of mountaineers are stranded at the Himalayan base camp for Mount Everest as a crevasse strewn with chunks of ice, including one towering block, delays the opening of the route to the world’s tallest peak, officials and climbers said. The annual climbing season for the 8,849m summit runs from April to May, when the weather conditions are most suited to reaching the windswept, icy peak. But a 30m serac, or dangerous chunk of ice, blocks the path above base camp this year. Seasoned Sherpa climbers, known locally as 'icefall doctors', have so far been unable to fix their ropes, place ladders and carve a safe route through the treacherous Khumbu icefall to Camp II.

Despite mounting challenges, around 492 climbers and an equal number of Nepali guides are attempting to summit Mount Everest this climbing season. Progress was delayed for over two weeks due to a massive, unstable ice block hanging over the Khumbu Icefall, a notoriously dangerous section of the glacier. This year's season also faces additional difficulties, including soaring travel costs, increased permit fees, and geopolitical tensions such as the Iran war. While climbers from the U.S. and Europe have decreased in number, there has been a noticeable rise in Asian climbers. With China’s Everest route closed, all ascents are being made from Nepal’s south side. Summit attempts are timed to coincide with a narrow window of favorable weather, as climbers aim to reach Everest's 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak.

The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) confirmed that the route through the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest has been opened for the Spring 2026 climbing season, though significant risks remain at a critical section. A joint team of eight Icefall Doctors and 16 mountain guides managed to open the route up to the Nuptse face, but progress was obstructed by a large unstable serac. Despite partial collapse, the remaining ice mass continues to pose a serious danger. The SPCC has urged climbers and expedition operators to exercise extreme caution beyond the point of rockfall, recommending quick movements, minimal loads, and strict safety measures when crossing ladders. Continuous monitoring will be conducted throughout the season.

Hundreds of climbers are continuing preparations for summit attempts on Mount Everest despite growing concerns over a dangerously unstable serac hanging above the mountain’s most hazardous section. Around 464 climbers, along with a similar number of Nepali guides, are currently based at Everest Base Camp ahead of the main summit window later this month. However, progress on the mountain was delayed for more than two weeks after a massive ice block threatened the route through the Khumbu Icefall. The specialist 'icefall doctors' responsible for establishing the climbing route eventually opened the path on April 29, but warned that the danger remains significant. The Khumbu Icefall is considered one of the most dangerous sections of the Everest climb, filled with shifting glaciers, deep crevasses, and unstable towers of ice that can collapse without warning. Expedition operators say this year’s route is particularly concerning. Renowned mountain guide Lukas Furtenbach, whose expedition includes 40 international climbers and more than 90 Sherpas, admitted the situation is causing anxiety at Base Camp. 'Anyone who says they’re not concerned is either inexperienced or not paying attention,' Furtenbach said. 'The serac is a real, objective hazard.' He added that sections of the route are both more exposed and more unstable than last season. 'The Icefall is constantly changing, but right now it’s not just more broken — it’s also forced into a line that passes under unstable features,' he explained. Teams are now attempting to reduce the risks by carrying lighter loads, limiting time spent in the Icefall, and carefully timing movements during the coldest hours of the morning, when frozen ice is considered more stable. Concerns over the stability of Everest’s glaciers have increased in recent years, with climate change and rising temperatures believed to be accelerating the melting and movement of ice throughout the Himalayas. Despite the risks, high travel costs and increased permit fees, Everest remains heavily crowded this season. Operators report fewer climbers from Europe and the United States, but a noticeable increase in climbers arriving from across Asia.