Global warming has impacted the stability of the ice on the Khumbu Icefall, a treacherous section of climbing Mount Everest. Climbers on the South Col route must navigate this dangerous icefall before reaching Camp 1. The Khumbu Icefall is a 2.6km sheet of slow-moving ice filled with large ice blocks known as seracs and deep crevasses.
Due to the unstable conditions of the Khumbu Icefall, a group of experts known as the Icefall Doctors have the daunting task of plotting a safe route through the icefall. This year, the climbing season on Everest was delayed by 12 days due to unsafe conditions in the Khumbu Icefall. Climatologist and Mount Everest researcher Paul Mayewski from the University of Maine predicts that the icefall will become even more dangerous as global temperatures continue to rise.
The movement of the Khumbu Icefall results in deep crevasses and deadly avalanches, making it one of the most hazardous parts of climbing Mount Everest. Over the years, numerous climbers lost their lives due to avalanches on icefalls, ice collapses, and falling into crevasses. The Icefall Doctors play a crucial role in scouting the safest route through the icefall each climbing season.
The effects of climate change are evident across Mount Everest, not just in the Khumbu Icefall. The shrinking and erosion of glaciers like the Khumbu Glacier are leading to increased risks of avalanches, falling ice, and dangerous crevasses. Mayewski’s research shows that one-third of the ice on South Col, Everest’s highest glacier, has disappeared in recent decades.
Despite the increased risks posed by climate change, Mayewski believes that climbers will still be able to conquer Mount Everest in the future. However, the dangers associated with climbing the world’s highest peak are already significant and likely to worsen as temperatures continue to rise.