News•Mar 1, 2026
Everest 2026: Icefall Doctors Launched
The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee’s Icefall Doctors have departed Namche Bazaar for Everest Base Camp, commencing refresher training and drone scouting ahead of the 2026 Khumbu Icefall route setup. Over the next three months they will install ladders, ice screws, pickets and v‑threads to secure the rope from Base Camp to Camp 2, a prerequisite for the season’s climbs. Alan Arnette projects 900‑1,000 total summits in spring 2026, eclipsing the 2019 high‑water mark, with over 800 climbers from Nepal and at least 225 from Tibet. Parallel attempts to bypass the Icefall, such as the Nuptse flank route, remain experimental and non‑commercial.