Mount Everest sees record-breaking 274 ascents in one day

Mount Everest witnessed a record number of successful ascents in a single day as 274 climbers reached the summit on Wednesday, officials said Thursday.

According to Rishi Ram Bhandari of the Expedition Operators Association Nepal, climbers took advantage of favorable weather conditions to make the ascent. The figure marks the highest number of summits achieved in one day via the popular southern route in Nepal.

Everest can be climbed from Nepal’s southern side or from the northern route in Tibet, China. On May 22, 2019, a combined 336 climbers reached the summit �" 223 from Nepal’s side and 113 from Tibet. However, China has closed the northern route this year.

Veteran climber Kami Rita Sherpa earlier this week extended his own record by summiting Everest for the 32nd time. Pasang Dawa Sherpa followed closely with his 30th ascent, while Lakpa Sherpa set a new female record after reaching the summit for the 11th time.

This year’s climbing season started later than usual due to concerns over a massive hanging serac along a key section of the route. Around 494 climbers, along with a similar number of Sherpa guides, are expected to attempt the 8,850-meter (29,032-foot) peak before the climbing season concludes at the end of May.

Mount Everest was first conquered on May 29, 1953, by New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, and since then thousands have scaled the world’s highest mountain.