We’re Headed to Mount Everest Base Camp. Join Us.

Updated May 6, 2025 10:15AM

It’s spring, which means the mountaineering world is once again focused on 29,032-foot Mount Everest. This year Outside will be among the hundreds of climbers, guides, and mountain workers stationed in Base Camp. Veteran reporter Ben Ayers, who has lived in Nepal for 25 years, is taking our Everest coverage to new heights with our new project Outside: Dispatches from Everest. Throughout April and May, Ayers will travel from Kathmandu to the town of Lukla in the Himalayan foothills, where he will start the 11-day trek to Everest Base Camp. Throughout his journey, Ayers will write about the climbers, guides, industry dynamics, and controversies on Everest, while covering all of the expedition news from the foot of the mountain. He will also post daily videos to show us what life is like in Base Camp. Stay tuned to Outside’s Everest Season 2025 coverage, and sign up for the Outside: Dispatches from Everest newsletter to read the latest developments from the world’s highest peak.

It’s Easy to Get Sick on the Hike to Mount Everest. Here’s How I Stayed Healthy.

Our Everest columnist shares some intel on how to avoid illness during the 11-day hike. Plus, a rest day adventure in the Himalayas

Before Mount Everest Base Camp, a Blessing and a Lesson in Sherpa Culture

Our writer stops by the Pangboche Monastery, a 600-year-old Sherpa religious center where Mount Everest climbers receive a blessing before their expeditions

You Can Drink Craft Beer and Hear Bon Jovi on the Hike to Mount Everest

Ben Ayers hits the trail and hikes from Lukla to Namche Bazaar, the cultural center of the Sherpa people. Along the way, Ayers explains how Nepal’s thriving tourism industry has changed this corner of the country. Plus, how much does a hotel cost along the trek to Mount Everest Base Camp?

What’s the Hardest Part of Getting to Mount Everest Base Camp? Booking a Flight.

Getting from Kathmandu to Lukla to start the hike to Mount Everest Base Camp is easier said than done. Our Everest correspondent explains the hurdles that travelers must navigate.

On the Nepal Earthquake’s Anniversary, Memories of Heroism and Kindness

For the 10-year anniversary of Nepal’s deadly earthquake, Ben Ayers traveled back to Lukla. In 2015 Ayers was an aid worker at the Lukla airport helping rescue climbers and mountain workers who were injured at Mount Everest during the quake.

Helicopter Pilots in the Himalayas Risk their Lives to Save Climbers

Italian pilot Simone Moro shares details of his recent lifesaving flight to the flanks of Annapurna

We Attended a Closed-Door Safety Meeting for Everest Climbers. Here’s What We Learned.

Have you ever wondered what advice Everest guides pass along to their clients? Ben Ayers recently attended a closed-door Everest safety briefing held by Seven Summit Treks. The expedition leaders passed along more than a few helpful bits of information.

Kristin Harila Is Searching the Himalayas for Tenjen Sherpa—and Solace

Our Everest reporter Ben Ayers sits down with the Norwegian mountaineer in Kathmandu to discuss her ongoing search for the bodies of Tenjen “Lama” Sherpa and Gina Rzucidlo, her mixed feelings on speed records on the 14 peaks, and the darker side of Internet fame.

Is This the New Way to Climb Mount Everest?

Austrian guide Lukas Furtenbach will lead a one-week trip to the top of Everest and back this year. That’s three times faster than the quickest Everest trips currently offered. Prior to the ascent, Furtenbach and his clients will inhale xenon gas, which he says helps with acclimatization.

Drones, Drama, Speed Records, and Danger: Here are Four 2025 Everest Stories We’re Already Following.

Flying drones will haul cargo up to higher camps, two ultrarunners will chase speed records, record crowding is expected, and an unusually dry winter will increase the hazards on the route to the Everest summit.

Outside: Dispatches from Everest Videos

Episode 9: A Lesson in Sherpa Culture at the Pangboche Monastery

Mount Everest climbers stop by the 600-year-old monastery in Pangboche to receive a blessing prior to their climb. Ben Ayers explains the significance of the temple and its place in Sherpa culture.

Episode 8: Memories of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake

On the ten-year anniversary of the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, Ben Ayers returns to the village where he survived the disaster. He also his memories of helping aid Mount Everest climbers who were injured by the quake.

Episode 7: The Hardest Part of Getting to Mount Everest Base Camp is Booking a Flight

Getting from Kathmandu to the start of the hike to Mount Everest Base Camp is easier said than done. Ben Ayers explains the airline travel hurdles that Everest climbers and trekkers must navigate during the busy season.

Episode 6: A Daring Helicopter Rescue in the Himalayas

Helicopter pilots in the Himalayas sometimes risk life and limb to rescue climbers from the side of soaring peaks. Ben Ayers takes us inside a recent rescue mission on Annapurna that required an Italian pilot to make a bold move.

Episode 5: The Gear We’re Taking to Mount Everest Base Camp

What gear are we taking to Mount Everest Base Camp? Ben Ayers packs his bags for his 11-day trek to 17,500 feet, and discusses the shoes, sleeping bags, jackets, and other items he plans to use along the adventure.

Episode 4: We Crashed a Mount Everest Safety Meeting

Have you ever wondered what Mount Everest guides tell their climbing clients about safety? Ben Ayers recently attended a closed-door briefing held by guiding company Seven Summit Treks for Everest climbers. Here’s what he learned.

Episode 3: Here’s Where Mount Everest Climbers Buy Gear

Ben Ayers checks out the Astrek Complex in downtown Kathmandu, where Everest climbers buy their last-minute gear and brush up on their climbing skills before heading to Base Camp

Episode 2: Kristin Harila Can’t Forget Lama Sherpa

Everest reporter Ben Ayers sits down with the Norwegian mountaineer in Kathmandu to discuss her ongoing search for the bodies of Tenjen “Lama” Sherpa and Gina Rzucidlo, her mixed feelings on speed records on the 14 peaks, and the darker side of Internet fame.

Episode 1: From Downtown Kathmandu to Mount Everest

Everest reporter Ben Ayers is in Kathmandu for the start of the 2025 Everest season. Follow Ben as he treks from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, where he will report on-site throughout the climbing season on the world’s highest peak.

Can This Ultrarunner Break the Speed Record for Climbing Mount Everest from Nepal?

Long-distance runner Tyler Andrews is taking on the FKT for ascending Mount Everest from Nepal Base Camp without the use of supplemental oxygen. Andrews, 34, hopes his attempt will inspire other mountain runners to tackle FKT attempts in the Himalayas.

After 100 Years, Andrew “Sandy” Irvine’s Boot Was Found on Everest. Mysteries of His Disappearance Remain.

An expedition led by filmmaker Jimmy Chin found the boot of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, the British climber who vanished on Everest alongside George Mallory in 1924. Experts say the mystery involving the duo remains.

Purnima Shrestha Grew Up Without Running Water. In 2024 She Broke a Record on Mount Everest.

Before summiting Everest three times in one season, Shrestha had to first break with Nepali tradition