Thin air, brutally cold temperatures, winds up to 200 mph, avalanches and white-out conditions all conspire to deny mountaineers the honor of reaching 29,035 feet.
Corpses in brightly colored gear dot the slopes of the mountain as a reminder of the dangers. Yet, more than 500 people are gathering at base camps on the south and north sides of the mountain this month to make an assault on the top of the world.
Everest facts
The Summit
The goal of all Mount Everest climbers is the summit at 29,035 feet, a pool table-sized space that is as high as a human being can walk. Getting there takes two months, incredible mental toughness and the ability to withstand what is, at times, intense pain. Near the top, climbers take one step, then stop to take a half-dozen breaths before taking another step. Climbers work their way toward the summit along a series of camps, fixing ropes high along the route during the day and sleeping in the lower camps to give their bodies a chance to repair themselves and to avoid sometimes-fatal altitude sickness. At 26,000 feet, the so-called "Death Zone" begins. The body begins to die from lack of oxygen, which also diminishes the ability to think clearly, destroys the appetite and can trigger life-threatening conditions in the brain and lungs. Summit day starts at 10 p.m. so that teams can get up to the top, spend a few minutes taking pictures and be down below the fringe of the Death Zone by nightfall.
Did they make it?
In 1924, George Mallory (left) and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine, of Great Britain, were last seen going strong for the top on the north side of the mountain. It is unknown if they reached the summit before disappearing. Many experts believed a camera supposedly in Mallory's pocket might hold the answer. Two years ago, climbers found Mallory's body at 27,000 feet — but the camera wasn't with him. Another expedition is on the mountain this year, looking for Irvine's body and the camera.
The second step
The most dangerous part of the climb is the Second Step, a 100-foot rock wall. In 1975, Chinese climbers attached a ladder to the most difficult segment, but it came up several feet short. Warner's team is taking a longer ladder up to make it easier and safer for future climbers to ascend the wall.
Base camp
Ten miles from the nearest town and where the road literally ends is Base Camp, a tent city that serves as the hub of each expedition's summit attempt. A base camp includes large medical, dining and communications tents as well as sleeping and toilet tents. Jeeps and trucks ferry two months' worth of supplies to base camp and yaks haul the gear up to Advance Base Camp, a smaller version of Base Camp, at 21,400 feet. From there, every speck of food, shelter and oxygen is backpacked up the mountain by Sherpas and guides. Most of Chris Warner's dispatches will be sent from ABC by satellite phone to Maryland.
Survival gear
Gone are the days when mountaineers wore layers of silk and wool to protect themselves from the cold and slept in canvas shelters. Climbers spend thousands of dollars to cover themselves in high-tech fabrics, much of it developed for NASA and the military. Their techinical equipment is made of airplane-grade metals to help withstand constant abuse.
4–season tent
These specialized tents are lightweight and built to withstand high winds and the weight of deep snow.
Expedition weight sleeping bag
These bags are filled with goose down and are made to cover the whole body.
Communications gear
Technology has made getting word to the outside world quicker and easier. Warner can send electronic postcards, photos and video from Advance Base Camp at 21,400 feet.
Laptop
A special laptop able to withstand extreme temperatures, moisture and with a monitor screen that is easily read in bright
situations.
Satellite phone
In areas where reception of cellular or digital signals are hard to access, the satellite phone is used to contact the outside world.
Portable solar panels
A lightweight and compact device that allows energy storage and generation that powers all of the communication devices.
