Climbing Mount Everest is dangerous, but there are still many people who attempt to climb it for various reasons.
National mountaineering teams climb Everest for honor and national pride. Research expeditions aim to study and gather scientific data. Adventure teams are driven by curiosity and commercial interests. Sherpa people from Nepal climb Everest to support their families and communities. For ordinary climbers, it may be about fulfilling a dream and proving oneself.
In 1975, Junko Tabei from Japan became the first woman to reach the summit of Everest. Another notable female climber, Lydia Bradey, was the first woman to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen. Their achievements demonstrated that this male-dominated activity is not limited to men.
The best time to climb Everest is in May, and winter ascents are rare due to unpredictable weather conditions and freezing temperatures. In 1980, two climbers from Poland successfully summited Everest in winter, defying extreme weather and societal criticism. Many people expected them to fail, but their strong team spirit and unwavering determination led to their success, and they returned to tell the tale.
To climb Everest, physical strength is essential, along with various skills. Climbing requires high intensity, endurance, aerobic fitness, strength training, and core stability. Mountaineering skills and knowledge such as navigation, rope techniques, ice and snow techniques, weather and terrain assessment, high-altitude adaptation, self-rescue, and emergency rescue are also crucial for safe and successful climbs.
From "conquering" Everest to understanding and protecting it, the ultimate goal of visiting the top of the world is to better preserve it. Like the polar regions, Everest has a unique ecological structure, making it a "litmus test" for global environmental changes. Scientists study the ecological environment, vegetation distribution changes, glacier morphology, scale, and storage changes of Everest to provide important insights for global ecological and climate change research.
In such a complex environment, apart from research, scientists who climb Everest also engage in measuring its height. The first measurement of Everest's height was conducted in 1852 by an Indian survey team using trigonometric methods. However, it was only an initial estimate and not accurate. Later, with technological advancements, British surveyor Sir George Everest conducted more precise measurements using trigonometric methods, taking several years to determine Everest's height as 8,848 meters (29,029 feet).
Measuring Everest's height helps reveal the strength and changes in tectonic plate movements, which is crucial for monitoring seismic activities and disaster prevention. Located in the Himalayas, one of the most active tectonic plate boundaries on Earth, Everest's regular height measurements allow scientists to observe crustal deformations caused by plate movements.
Although the summit's height is not suitable for any plant or animal life, the significant altitude variation on the northern slope of the Himalayas provides a favorable habitat for various flora and fauna. The Everest region is a biodiverse ecosystem with many high-altitude plants and rare animal species such as snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes.
Gama Valley, located in Tibet Autonomous Region, China, is a valley near the northern slope of Everest. Formed by the erosion of snow-fed rivers, it features rugged terrain and high altitudes ranging from over two thousand meters to over five thousand meters. It is mostly covered by glaciers and alpine meadows, offering beautiful scenery and abundant high-altitude vegetation and wildlife resources. Gama Valley is a haven for hikers and one of the most biologically diverse regions in Tibet, serving as a precious natural heritage.
From the discovery of Everest to summiting it, it has been a long journey. Some people have realized their dreams, while others have left with regrets. Some say conquering Everest means conquering oneself, as Everest accepts those who challenge it. In these polar expeditions, we explore the magical polar worlds, witness the success of explorers, and are inspired by their strong willpower and enduring perseverance.
