The Khumbu Icefall is a glacier formation on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest, positioned at 5,486 metres between Base Camp and the Western Cwm.
Sitting at the head of the Khumbu Glacier and southwest of Everest’s summit, the icefall is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the South Col route. Climbers ascending via the standard Nepalese approach must navigate this chaotic maze of shifting ice blocks, deep crevasses and unstable seracs early in their summit push. The constant movement of the glacier—sometimes several metres per day—means routes through the icefall must be repeatedly established and adjusted, and the risk of collapse or avalanche remains ever-present. Its location just above Base Camp makes it an unavoidable test for thousands of mountaineers each season.
The Khumbu Icefall features in our Field Notes coverage of Everest’s climbing statistics and environmental shifts in the Himalaya.
