30 Aug 2021 Prakash Devkota
The Everest expedition is a dream of mountaineers and mountain enthusiasts all around the globe. This incredible mountain in the Mahalangur Himalayan range is the tallest peak on Earth. Towering above all other mountains, Mt Everest has an elevation of 8848.86 m.
Conquering Mt. Everest is one of the most desired achievements in the mountaineering world. Every year hundreds of mountaineers flock to Nepal to attempt this challenging expedition. However, the difficulty factor of this adventure is relatively higher than other mountains in the region. Everest climbing in fall season is one of the good time.
Some of the significant challenges of Mt. Everest climbing includes extreme altitude, dangerous routes, unpredictable weather, long duration, and others. Furthermore, heavy snowfall, unstable grounds, and freezing temperatures make this expedition challenging. Extensive training and preparation are a must in this expedition.
There are specific times when Mt. Everest climbing is more favorable, including Spring and Fall (Autumn). These seasons are generally considered safe and ideal for climbing the Himalayan mountains. While Spring is usually considered the best time, the Fall or Autumn season is also suitable for climbing.
The fall climbing season includes the months from September to November. Moreover, stable weather and favorable conditions make this season a safe time for the Mt. Everest expedition. Read on to know more about the Everest expedition in the fall season in detail.
What can you Experience in Fall Season?
- Summit magnificent Mt Everest (8848.86m)
- Magnificent views of snow-capped Himalayan mountains, including Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, etc
- Passing through forested trails of the Everest region
- Clear blue skies, sunny and bright weather
- Walking past Khumbu icefall
- Visiting Namche Bazaar, Tengboche Monastery, and other significant landmarks.
- Gorgeous Himalayan sunrise and sunset views from various viewpoints, including Kala Patthar
- Cultural exploration of local heritage and tradition along these trails
- Warm welcome and hospitality of local people in these teahouses
Weather and Temperature of Everest in Fall Season
The Autumn or Fall season is an excellent alternative for Spring expeditions. There are incredible trails that you pass through before arriving at Everest base camp. From EBC, you will camp at various points along the route to the summit of Everest. Since the fall season comes after the summer monsoon seasons, there is less precipitation in this period.
The clear blue sky with a sunny atmosphere makes this adventure even more enchanting. Moreover, there are fewer challenges along the trail. Heavy snow, landslides, floods, and others are less common. The majestic mountain vista is another highlight of this season.
Everest weather in September
September is the first month of the Everest fall climbing season. Therefore, climbers can experience some effects of the late monsoon. But from mid to late September, you can experience calm weather. The stable weather allows you to explore various Himalayan landscapes.
The moderate temperatures are another highlight of this month. However, the summit remains cold and breezy all through the year. Climbers can experience fall foliage as they trek to Everest base camp.
Moreover, the daytime temperatures range from 0 to 15 degrees in these trails. You can experience sunny days throughout your journey. You can experience some rainfall in early September. The average coldest temperature in Mt. Everest summit is around -21 degrees celsius or -5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Everest weather in October
October in the middle of the Everest fall climbing season comes with perfect conditions for climbing. The climbers will pass through various challenging trails to arrive at the summit. October is also ideal for trekking and other peak climbing adventures in the region. Hence, it can get quite crowded along these trails.
The moderate weather is perfect for all climbing adventures. There are incredible sunny days with excellent visibility. However, you should be wary of chilly weather and winds that blow in the early mornings and nights. Temperatures in the daytime range anywhere between 5 to 20 degrees celsius. The coldest average temperatures at the summit of Mt. Everest ranges around -27 degrees celsius or -17 Fahrenheit.
Besides that, there are colorful trails in October. This makes it a perfect time for peak climbing adventures. There are green forested trails and vegetation in this season. Moreover, endangered wildlife remain active in this season. The Sagarmatha National park trails are excellent for wildlife spotting.
Hence, trails remain crowded, and facilities like accommodation and meals can get packed quite fast. Besides, October is also a festive time in the region. You can observe locals busy in their activities. You can enjoy the festive atmosphere, especially along the lower trails. The beautiful culture, tradition, and heritage of the region will enchant you.
Everest weather in November
November is the end of the fall or Autumn season in the Everest region. Hence, the weather starts to turn cold with cloudy skies and a dull atmosphere in the area, especially in late November. There are challenging conditions, but daytime temperatures remain favorable with a sunny atmosphere.
The snowfall is unlikely. Therefore, you can complete your peak climbing adventures and trekking this month too. Since there are high chances of unpredictable weather, climbers should check weather forecasts. There are sunny and warm days, whereas nights and mornings are pretty chilly.
The temperatures in the daytime are ideal for climbing. The atmosphere looks dry and not as visibly appealing as in October. However, the magical views of snow-capped mountains will enthrall climbers in November. The green hills, valleys, glaciers, and others look incredible from the summit. Hence, climbing Everest in November is a great adventure.
However, you can expect temperatures to drop significantly in late Autumn. The harsh winds are another challenge in this season. The coldest average temperatures range around -30 degrees celsius or -22 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, climbers should prepare for this trip and train well for challenging terrains.
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive at Kathmandu.
Day 02: Preparations for Expedition.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, Trek to Phakding
Day 04: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar
Day 05: Acclimatization and Rest at Namche Bazaar.
Day 06: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
Day 07: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche
Day 08: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche
Day 09: Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep
Day 10: Hike to Kalapatthar early in the morning, Trek back to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp
Day 11-13: Acclimatization and Climbing preparations at EBC
Day 14-60: Mount Everest expedition, back to Base Camp
Day 61: Trek from Everest Base Camp to Pheriche
Day 62: Trek from Pheriche to Tengboche
Day 63: Trek from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar
Day 64: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla
Day 65: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
Day 66: Final departure
Difficulties During the Climb
Extreme high altitude conditions
Everest is the highest mountain in the world, towering above all other peaks of the Himalayan region. Therefore, climbers have to tackle extreme high altitude conditions in this journey to 8848.86 meters. This incredible height can overwhelm anyone. Those who have not trekked or climbed high altitudes must remain extra careful.
The high altitude region has a lesser amount of oxygen in the atmosphere along with low air pressure. As you move along your route, you will experience the air pressure slowly decreasing and difficulty breathing due to low oxygen. You will also carry your oxygen supplement along with you, so you don’t have to worry. But you should be more careful along these trails.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a challenging aspect of this high altitude Mt Everest expedition. There are high altitude conditions that can lead to altitude sickness. Therefore, you should acclimatize well in this trip at various points along this trail.
You will camp at different points along these routes before going through the process of continuing uphill and downhill. For almost two months, you acclimatize well during this trip for a successful expedition to the highest mountain in the world.
There are various symptoms of altitude sickness. These include nausea, difficulty breathing, insomnia, headache, loss of appetite, and others. Summit fever is quite common near the top of the summit.
But you should not push yourself beyond your limit. It can lead to more advanced forms of altitude sickness and can even turn fatal. Therefore, altitude sickness is one of the most difficult challenges of your Everest expedition.
Fresh deposit of snow
Everest Fall Climbing season comes after the summer monsoon season. Since there is heavy rainfall in the lower parts and fresh snow deposits in these seasons, climbing in Autumn can be pretty challenging. Therefore these trails can get quite unstable with loose grounds, which increases the risk among climbers. Hence, this is one of the most challenging factors of the fall season.
Freezing temperature
As you climb to the highest point on Earth, you will experience freezing conditions with incredibly low temperatures. The Everest summit is one of the coldest places on planet earth, comparable to Siberia and Antarctica.
Frostbites are pretty standard in the journey. You need to wear proper climbing gear to stay warm throughout your journey. Therefore, you need appropriate preparation and packing before your trip.
Technical sections
Another difficult aspect of Everest climbing in fall season is the technical sections. The Everest expedition is not easy. These climbers should go through rigorous training for a lengthy period. This step helps you to tackle various technical sections of this Himalayan mountain. There are different other challenges, including a long duration of the climb.
Besides that, you will also have to master the use of various climbing gear and equipment. These equipment include crampons, ascenders, jumars, belay 8 devices, ice ax, and others. Professional mountain climbing Sherpa guides and team leaders will accompany you. They will also provide you with proper technical training during your journey.
Avalanche and crevasses
Avalanches are another challenging aspect of your mount Everest expedition. However, it is pretty unpredictable in the region. Even though you may not encounter an avalanche, you might experience rocks and ice blocks falling. Therefore, you should take proper safety measures and follow protocols at all times during your expedition.
Crevasses are deep cracks that can appear in glacial ice. Falling into a crevasse is one of the most common causes of fatalities in the Everest region. You will need to cross the western Cwm, and Khumbu ice falls during this Everest expedition. Our team will tie you in ropes to be safe even if you drop by chance.
Food and Accommodation
The Everest region is ideal for trekking and traveling. There are hotels with high-end facilities till Namche Bazaar. But you will only find tea-houses and lodges till you arrive at Everest Base Camp.
The teahouses in the region provide you with basic rooms with beds, pillows, mattresses, and sheets. There are additional charges for facilities like hot showers, electronic charging, Wifi, and others. You might also have to share rooms with fellow trekkers since fall is peak season.
After arriving at Base Camp, you will not find any teahouse. And you will have to camp in tents for the rest of the journey. Hence, you should carry sleeping bags and sleeping mats to keep you safe and warm during this journey.
Everest region is a high-altitude region with remote trails. Since food items need to get transported through a porter or a yak, these items list are generally limited. You will have a Nepali set of “Dal Bhaat” twice a day for the duration of your trip. The standard Nepalese set includes rice, pulses, lentils, vegetables, curry, pickles, etc.
During breakfast, you will have bread, porridge, omelet, and others. You will get plenty of variety in hot beverages, including tea, coffee, garlic soup, and others. You can get water from tea houses and use water purification tablets. After arriving at base camp, the designated cook will prepare meals for the whole team.
Final Say
Everest expedition is one of the most sought-after adventures in the mountaineering world. Everest climbing is generally done in a small window in the Spring season. However, climbing Everest in the fall is also considered ideal. We hope this article provided you with everything you need to know about the Everest fall climbing season. Contact us for more information regarding the Everest expedition.
Prakash Devkota
Managing Director and Team Leader
Mr. Prakash Chandra Devkota is an established name in the Tourism Sector in Nepal. He is a focused individual gifted with a brilliant mind. He is also hugely dedicated to social work. Born in the Gorkha district, a beautiful hilly region of Nepal, he first entered the tourism industry as a guide in 1997. He has gained extensive experience in almost all the trekking and climbing routes like Mera, Island, Lobuche and, Ama Dablam, etc.
He registered Nepal Guides Treks & Expedition in 2009 AD. Due to his passion for adventure and efforts to provide quality personalized service to his clients, he has established himself as a successful tourism entrepreneur. He has dedicated most of his time working diligently to elevate the tourism industry and collected more than 15 years of experience in organizing trekking and expeditions in Nepal, Bhutan, and India. He believes in the power of the tourism industry and the employment opportunities that can be created through it. He constantly looks for innovative ways to run the company.
Mr. Devkota has always been an avid practitioner of eco-friendly tourism and has always promoted environmental conservation throughout his career. He motivates his staff to embrace eco-friendly tourism through responsible tourism practices. He believes promoting eco-tourism will preserve natural resources and positively impact the environment.
