If you are wondering how many camps are on Mount Everest, the campsare essential lifelines for climbers trying to succeed in climbing the world's tallest mountain at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet). These camps allow climbers to acclimatize to the extreme altitude when planning their summit attempts and are critical staging points on both climbing routes.
If you're a serious climber looking into Everest climbing routes, then knowing about the Mount Everest camp altitudes, the purposes of the camps, and their proper use is important, as these temporary shelters literally mean the difference between success and failure on the mountain.
Mount Everest features two primary climbing routes: the South Side via Nepal and the North Side via Tibet. Each route comes with its own system of camps, and they each have their own challenges and strategic advantages, as well as decades of mountaineering history.
Overview of Everest Climbing Routes
South Side of Mt. Everest (Nepal Route)
The south side route of the Everest camps starts from Nepal and is the classic route taken by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. More climbers will typically choose to attempt south side routes due to established infrastructure and relative ease of logistics. Everest Base Camp, south side, is the starting point for this extraordinary endeavor, located in the Khumbu Valley.
Everest high camp with yellow tents and climbers amid crevassed glacier terrain
North Side of Mt. Everest (Tibet Route)
The north side approach to Everest camps starts from Tibet and provides a different view of the mountains. Generally, the north side route offers more favourable weather windows, along with new technical challenges. Everest Base Camp's north side is at a lower elevation than the south side, which has specific benefits for initial acclimatization.
Key Differences Between the Two Routes
Factors that influence the North route vs South route debate include: accessibility, weather patterns, technical difficulty, and cost. The south route offers the notabilities of the Khumbu Icefall, while the north route has the Second Step as a technical challenge on the route. Knowing these differences allows climbers to choose the better route for their skill levels and objectives.
South camp of Mt. Everest
Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft)
The Everest Base Camp on the south side is the starting point for all summit attempts via the Nepal route. At 5,364 meters, this place is a transient city that is teeming with climbers, Sherpas, and support staff. The camp provides important services like medical care, communications, and weather monitoring.
Everest Base Camp tents positioned above dramatic Khumbu Icefall formations
Camp I is the first major waypoint on Everest after climbing up and over the Khumbu Icefall and out of crevasses and icefall features that form part of the unstable ice. At this camp altitude, even experienced climbers will start to mentally and physically challenge themselves, as the Mount Everest camp altitudes begin to test the limits of what they can endure, so proper acclimatization is important.
Camp II (6,400 m/ 21,000 ft, "Advanced Base Camp")
Camp II, also referred to as Advanced Base Camp, lies within the Western Cwm valley. It offers a relatively safe location for climbers to rest and prepare for the complexities of climbing on Mount Everest. From this stage, the high camps on Mount Everest become increasingly critical.
Camp III (7,200 m / 23,600 ft)
Camp III is located on the Lhotse Face, at the very bottom of the death zone; however, it is located on a steep ice wall with fixed ropes to the true face of Mount Everest. The stages of climbing Mount Everest become still harder as oxygen is severely limited.
Camp IV (7,920 m / 26,000 ft, South Col)
Golden hour at Everest camp with orange tents against dramatic mountain backdrop
The final camp before ascending to the summit is known as the South Col, or Camp IV. This is a plateau that is nearly 8,000 meters in elevation, and like Camp III, it will test not only your physical endurance but your mental endurance as well. This is where most summit pushes start during proper weather windows.
Camps on the North Side (Tibet Route)
Base Camp (5,150 m / 16,900 ft)
The Everest Base Camp north side sits at a lower altitude than its southern counterpart, providing a more moderate initial acclimatization. This camp is vehicle approachable for logistics, which makes it a little easier for expedition teams. It has spectacular views of Everest's north face.
North side Everest Base Camp with orange tents on rocky terrain below summit
Intermediate Camp (5,800 m / 19,000 ft)
The Everest Intermediate Camp is an important transition from Base Camp to Advanced Base Camp. It allows climbers to acclimatize at a lower altitude while carrying supplies higher on the mountain. Most expeditions use this camp for an important acclimatization rotation.
Advanced Base Camp -- ABC (6,400 m / 21,300 ft)
The Advanced Base Camp on the north side is the same elevation as Camp II on the south route. This is the main staging location for all higher camp operations. Teams often spend significant time at ABC waiting for a weather window and preparing for their summit attempt.
Climbers on the north route begin their first high camp with ascents across the North Col. Climbers will navigate through this area using fixed ropes and some ladders to climb through a technical situation—the high camps on Everest start to evaluate climbers' ability to function in the environment with little oxygen.
Camp II (7,500 m / 24,750 ft)
Camp II is located on the North Ridge; although the vistas are outstanding here, the wind is even stronger than at Camp I, and worth considering for climbers wanting to continue up. At this height, the weather can change dramatically, affecting the chance the climbers have of going higher toward the summit. Timing movements down between camps as part of monitoring the weather is an alert for whether climbers will move further ever higher or otherwise settle into action here.
Camp III (8,300 m / 27,390 ft)
Camp III is the highest camp on the north route, and climbers should be aware that they find themselves well into the death zone. From this point, they will typically launch final summit attempts (weather dependent) from this final camp (these summit attempts can occur during the narrowest of weather windows). Extreme altitude means every action will be measured and will require substantial energy for climbers.
Altitude Comparison: North vs South Camps
Camp Level
South Side (Nepal)
North Side (Tibet)
Base Camp
5,364 m (17,598 ft)
5,150 m (16,900 ft)
First Camp
Camp I: 6,065 m (19,900 ft)
Intermediate: 5,800 m (19,000 ft)
Advanced Base
Camp II: 6,400 m (21,000 ft)
ABC: 6,400 m (21,300 ft)
High Camp 1
Camp III: 7,200 m (23,600 ft)
Camp I: 7,000 m (23,000 ft)
High Camp 2
Camp IV: 7,920 m (26,000 ft)
Camp II: 7,500 m (24,750 ft)
Final Camp
-
Camp III: 8,300 m (27,390 ft)
The North vs South Everest route comparison reveals that the north side features more camps at higher altitudes, potentially offering better acclimatization opportunities but requiring more technical climbing skills.
Purpose of Camps in Everest Climbing Stages
Acclimatization
The camps on Mount Everest provide acclimatization. This allows climbers' bodies to gradually adjust to lower levels of oxygen. The primary principle that guides most expedition plans is "climb high, sleep low." Climbers will do multiple trips between camps before they attempt any higher elevations.
Rest and Recovery
Everest camp setup in snowy valley with climbers preparing gear
All camps provide opportunities for rest, allowing climbers to take breaks from a tough climbing day, refuel their bodies, and refresh their minds for future challenges. The climbing phases on Mount Everest involve very careful management of energy throughout the expedition.
Strategic Staging for Summit Pushes
High camps on Mount Everest provide a base for summit attempts. Teams will work together on weather forecasts, gear prep, and timing while positioned in the high camps. High camps allow climbers to be in a position to take advantage of weather windows in the rare instance that they appear.
There are many benefits to utilizing the established south side route on Everest's camps: established support, better rescue access, and a cloud of predictable logistics. The Nepal route generally has more support services and emergency evacuation services when needed.
Weaknesses of the North Route
The north side of Everest camps contains its own difficulties: political issues, limited rescuing ability, and more technical climbing challenges. Nevertheless, it does have more availabilities in weather windows and lower levels of climber foot traffic during summiting.
Climbers ascending Everest with colorful gear against rocky mountain face
Safety, Logistics, and Popularity
In the North versus South Everest route split, it ultimately boils down to the personal preferences, experience levels, and risk sensitivities of climbers. Both routes require great preparation, but present their respective weaknesses, which are favorable to different types of climbers.
FAQs
How many camps are on Mount Everest?
The south side has 5 main camps (Base Camp to Camp IV), while the north side has 6 camps with a high camp and an Intermediate Camp.
Which route has higher camps?
The north side of the Everest climb has a camp III at 8,300 meters, making it the highest permanent camp of both routes.
How long do climbers stay in each camp?
This will vary based on what stage they are at in climbing Mount Everest. Generally, climbers will spend at least one night in a high camp, and base camp, and an advanced base camp, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.
What is the difference in altitude between the north and south base camps?
The Everest Base Camp's south side is 214 meters higher than the north side. The Everest Base Camp's south side is at 5,364 meters, while the north side is at 5,150 meters.
Which route is more popular?
The south side of the Everest camps hosts about 60% more climbers each year, mainly because of easier logistics and more established infrastructure.
Conclusion
Knowing how the camps on the Mount Everest system operate is critical to any potential expedition participant. Each camp is a significant part of the climbing strategy, regardless of the choice of the south side or north side route on Everest. The Everest camp elevations lead to a step-wise progression that prepares the human body to remain effective in extreme environments.
In addition to the climbing routes on Mount Everest, the series of camps also represents an evolution of the human spirit and achievement. With each camp and every elevation, there are stories of success, hardship, and a continued quest for one of the most significant conquests of humanity.
Understanding how each of these high camps on Mount Everest fits into the broader expedition strategy is critical to success on Mount Everest. Each area, from the Everest Base Camp north side to the Everest Intermediate Camp, represents a key part of making the ridable impossible possible.
Ready to experience the legendary camps of Mount Everest firsthand? Contact us at Himalayan Recreation today to begin planning your ultimate Everest adventure.
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