Mount Everest Climbing Camps: The Staircase to the Summit

Summiting Everest (8,848 m) requires a multi-week rotation through a series of high-altitude camps for acclimatization. The standard South Col route (Nepal) uses:

Primary Camps

1. Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft): Khumbu Glacier. Expedition HQ, tents, kitchen, comms. 2–3 weeks here for acclimatization rotations.
2. Camp 1 (6,065 m / 19,898 ft): Top of Khumbu Icefall. First night on mountain. Crevasse danger.
3. Camp 2 (6,500 m / 21,325 ft): Western Cwm ("Valley of Silence"). Glacial basin, relatively safe. Main acclimatization camp.
4. Camp 3 (7,162 m / 23,500 ft): Lhotse Face. Steep ice slope (40–50°). Fixed lines. Oxygen often starts here.
5. Camp 4 / South Col (7,920 m / 26,000 ft): Saddle between Everest & Lhotse. Death Zone (<8,000 m). Final summit push launch. 12–18 hr round trip.

Intermediate / Supplemental Camps

• Camp 1A (5,750 m), 2A (6,250 m), 3A (7,000 m), 4A (7,500 m) — used for extra acclimatization or weather delays.

North Side (Tibet) Comparison

• Base Camp (5,150 m) → Camp 1 (6,100 m) → Camp 2 (6,500 m) → Camp 3 (7,200 m) → Camp 4 (8,300 m) → Summit.
• Less technical (no Icefall), more wind, longer summit day.

Variables

• Commercial operators may use fewer camps (skip 1A/2A/3A/4A).
• Alpine-style: minimal camps, rapid ascent (elite only).
• Camp locations shift yearly with icefall dynamics.

Four main camps + Base Camp is the standard "pit stop" architecture. Each night higher triggers physiological adaptation—or failure.