Mount Everest’s Perilous Icefall: Managing the Risks of the Unstable Glaciers

Mount Everest poses a great danger to climbers due to the unstable ice on the Khumbu Icefall. The slow-moving ice sheet, located just above Base Camp, is filled with large blocks of ice called seracs and deep crevasses. Managing the dangers of the Khumbu Icefall is the responsibility of a team of experts known as Icefall Doctors. This year, they had to delay the start of the Everest climbing season by 12 days due to unsafe conditions caused by the melting ice.

Climatologist Paul Mayewski warns that as global temperatures continue to rise, the Khumbu Icefall will only become more hazardous for climbers. The rapid melting of glaciers like the Khumbu Glacier has caused glaciers to recede, leading to the formation of more lakes and streams in the area. This not only increases the risk of avalanches and falling ice but also makes the crevasses more dangerous for climbers. Despite these challenges, Mayewski believes that climbing Mount Everest will still be possible in the future, although the risks associated with climate change will make it even more dangerous than it already is.

The movement of glaciers creates deep crevasses and deadly avalanches, making