Use of xenon gas and hypoxic tents before recent expeditions has triggered alarm in Nepal, where guides fear it could encourage inexperienced climbers
There is nothing unusual about records being broken on Mount Everest. But last week, two sets of climbers turned heads with ascents that many had never thought possible: they went straight up from sea level to the world’s highest summit in less than a week.
On Wednesday, a team of four UK climbers, all ex-special forces soldiers, summited Everest having landed from London just over four days earlier. The following day, US-Ukrainian climber Andrew Ushakov said he had gone from New York to the top of Everest in under four days.
Written by Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi and Gaurav Pokharel in Kathmandu
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/28/peak-speed-sherpas-say-their-traditions-are-at-risk-after-record-everest-ascents under the title “Peak speed: Sherpas say their traditions are at risk after record Everest ascents”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
