11/08/2026
The Khumbu Icefall is the most captivating place on Everest but also one of the most dangerous. In 2014, an avalanche killed 16 people.
Khumbu shines like a large crystal. It’s made of snow, ice, and rock fragments that slid and accumulated from the Southwest face of Everest and the surrounding peaks over millions of years. And these masses keep moving, so there’s always a high probability of a deadly glacier collapse. Moreover, glacial crevasses also pose threats to mountain climbers, who can die if they fall into one and can’t get out.
In 2022, I climbed Khumba pretty quickly. This season is different, though.
A year has passed, and the icefall feels different. Plus, I’m still weak from my illness. So the climb feels even harder.
Climbing the Icefall is like a quest: you crawl ladders wrapped in ropes, navigate crevasses, and enjoy the crystal beauty while your sherpa tells you to speed up through certain areas as quickly as possible...
And Khumbu is melting! No one knows when the glacier will turn into a waterfall. But I am happy that I’ve at least seen this ice giant twice in my lifetime!
🎥 Antonina Samoilova | MOUNTAINEER 🌎 ADVENTURER
