How Do Climbers Stay Warm on Everest?

Everest climbers have to withstand some of the world's coldest conditions. It could be challenging to stay warm as a result. Fortunately, climbers can shield themselves from the cold in a few different ways while making their way to the top of Everest. It's crucial to gradually acclimate to Everest before attempting a summit push. This entails two rotations up to Camp Three interspersed with downtime.

Put on layers of clothing.

On Everest, the weather is unpredictable and the temperature can drop dramatically. Climbers dress in multiple layers, such as hats, gloves, hand and foot warmers, insulated tops and pants, and mittens. In order to help their bodies function better at high elevations, they also require extra oxygen. Your body's basal layer aids in warming up by removing moisture from perspiration. In order to keep you warm, the mid and outer layers must trap air, and they must feature hoods and zippers to allow you to modify the temperature as needed. To be warm, you need a large parka, and the finest material is down. It's a good idea to have an extra in case yours gets wet from snow or rain, but most climbers have multiples, so it's not a big deal. Having extra, clean socks will also help you avoid having wet feet, which can make you feel colder. This is especially crucial if you are changing your oxygen cylinder at The Balcony on summit day.

Remain hydrated.

On Everest, staying hydrated is crucial, especially as you ascend higher. Fatigue and dehydration may result from the body's decreased ability to hydrate as altitude rises. The secret is to arrive at work well-hydrated and with far less water on you than you may imagine. This lessens the weight of your pack and improves your balance. Electrolyte-rich foods are also essential. These consist of dairy products and fruits like bananas and kiwis. Maintaining adequate hydration also requires drinking hot drinks, particularly in high camps where the low atmospheric pressure causes a lower boiling point. At high altitude, hypothermia poses a major concern. Wearing gloves and donning a hat is one way to prevent it. Additionally, to transfer your friend's heat to your extremities, if you start to feel cold, place your hands in their groin or armpits. This will lessen the chance of frostbite.

Consume foods high in calories.

In order to determine what tastes good and is convenient to consume at high altitude, the UIAA advises climbers to experiment with different powdered proteins and meals that can be added to water or other food (such as dehydrated vegetables, stock cubes, and dry fruits). Additionally, they advise adding spices to make bland foods more appetizing. Because they use a lot of energy trying to stay warm and perform well at heights above 8,000 meters, climbers must eat often as they ascend. For this reason, throughout their expeditions, climbers frequently eat a lot of chocolate, candies, bars, and other high-calorie snacks. Climbers also attempt to conserve energy by keeping their hands and feet warm. In order to avoid having to stop and change into wet socks at camp, they bring additional socks for their summit bid, wear mittens and gloves while climbing, and double-check their knots and karabiners.

Apply warmers to your hands and feet.

During an extended ascent, the hands of the climber present the greatest challenge. Even though they are wearing a full set of mittens, large gloves, and hand warmer sachets, none of it matters if their fingers are chilly. Frostbite will set in as soon as the sensation on your fingertips begins to fade. Climbers must stay warm and active in order to prevent this; they cannot just sit around and hope for their fingers to come back to life. Simple exercises like wiggling your toes or performing windmills will help your fingertips feel less cold and reenergize their blood flow. If that fails, using an oxygen bottle or donning mittens might be quite beneficial. In addition to using foot warmers, climbers make great efforts to maintain dry, comfortable feet throughout the day. And lastly, climbers must always remember to wear a balaclava or cap!