Khumbu Icefall

The Khumbu Icefall contains a network of deep crevasses reaching 150 feet deep and massive ice blocks that shift up to one meter each day.

The 2014 avalanche in the Khumbu Icefall resulted in sixteen Sherpa fatalities, marking the highest single-day death toll on Mount Everest at that time.

Nepalese Sherpa guides maintain fixed ropes and aluminum ladders throughout the icefall, demonstrating their expertise in high-altitude mountaineering and risk management.

Mountaineers cross the icefall during pre-dawn hours when lower temperatures reduce ice movement and minimize the risk of unexpected shifts or collapses.

The ice formation takes approximately four years to travel from the top of the icefall to its base, covering a vertical drop of 600 meters.

Elevation above the sea: 5,486 m

Part of: Khumbu Glacier

GPS coordinates: 27.99584,86.87276

Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:19