Your body has to be in better than its best physical shape, a.k.a Everest condition, so that it can keep you moving in an exhausting, excruciating environment.
Four thousand people have summited Everest since the first summit in 1953, which means they’ve made it to the top of the highest peak. Around 800 attempts are made annually, including multiple attempts by the same climbers.
Decades of dreaming, years of preparation, months of training and even climbing other mountains are included in preparation for the attempted summit.
The atmosphere on Everest is different. The body rapidly tries to adapt and acclimate. The full climb can take up to two months, starting from the base and working up to the summit, camp by camp, staying at each one for different amounts of time.
A summiting attempt, as weather and judgment permits, begins around 12 am and reaches the summit by morning in order to leave enough daytime to “slope down”, or descend the mountain.
Problem solving, critical thinking, decision making, ambition and safety are needed to make it to the summit and back while staying alive.
Many people arrive at the basecamps ready to summit Everest, but the climb is hard and the success rate is low.
The summit is what every one of those climbers are aiming for, but only the lucky few with the right conditions, training, and guides made it to the top. In our life journey, I think we can be so focused on the summit that we lose focus on the climb, and descent (if applicable).
This reminds me of a verse in Proverbs saying, “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, ESV).
We can make plans to our heart's content, but God is the one who makes those steps we take toward those plans permanent and solid. Sometimes, He presents us with the right tools, the right guides, and the right weather so we reach our summit.
And other times, the plans we so perfectly lay and the steps that we make are two completely different scenarios. God might say “I know your goal was to summit, but the journey within the climb is more important than actually reaching the summit. Focus on that and let me set your steps so I can help you back down this mountain safely.”
God surpasses all time, yet his time is perfect and his ways are honest and true. May he guide your climb this week and help you either summit or recognize the beauty in your journey.Mount Everest is well known. You could name drop it anywhere and someone would understand what you were talking about. This monstrous mountain is a place of vast open beauty, but also a place of terror.
The mountain is part of the Himalayan mountain range and lies in the countries of China, Nepal and Tibet. It’s known for its extreme conditions, with temperatures on the mountain never going above freezing. Avalanches, falls, acute mountain sickness, exposure and frostbite are dangers that exist during climbs.
The training is grueling.

Kasondra Reel is a senior studying nursing.