South Col
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| South Col | |
|---|---|
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| Elevation | 7,906 m (25,938 ft) |
| Traversed by | A Swiss expedition in 1952 |
| Location | Nepal (Khumjung) – China (Tibet) |
| Range | Mahalangur Himal |
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The South Col is a col between Mount Everest and Lhotse, the highest and fourth-highest mountains in the world, respectively. The South Col is typically swept by high winds, leaving it free of significant snow accumulation. Since 1950 (when Tibet was closed), most Everest expeditions have left from Nepal and gone via the southeast ridge and the South Col (instead of via the North Col). When climbers attempt to climb Everest from the southeast ridge in Nepal, their final camp (usually Camp IV) is located on the South Col.
History
The South Col was first reached on 12 May 1952 by Aubert, Lambert, and Flory of Edouard Wyss-Dunant's Swiss Mount Everest Expedition which failed to reach the summit.[1] The following year, when Mount Everest was first climbed, Wilfrid Noyce and the Sherpa Annullu were the first climbers on the expedition to reach the col. According to John Hunt, the expedition leader: Template:Quote
Climbing
Once on the South Col, climbers have entered the death zone; altitude sickness is a significant threat at this elevation and can easily prove fatal. It is also difficult to sleep, and most climbers' digestive systems have significantly slowed or completely stopped. This is because it is more efficient at this altitude for the body to use stored energy sources than to digest new food. Most climbers will begin using supplemental oxygen here and have a maximum of only three days to make summit bids. Clear weather and low winds are critical factors in deciding whether to make a summit attempt. If the weather is not favourable within these short few days, climbers are forced to descend, many back to Base Camp. Climbers rarely get a second chance to return to the South Col on a specific expedition.
It is possible to climb to the summit of Lhotse, then along the South Col to the summit of Everest, in less than 24 hours. In certain mountaineering circles, this rare (and seldom-recorded) feat is known as the "Double Crown"; the latest well-documented attempt was by Messrs. Jocelyn Cayer and Ashish in May 2025.[2]
In 2005 Didier Delsalle of France landed a Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter on the South Col.[3] Two days later he made the first helicopter landing on the summit of Mount Everest, a feat he subsequently repeated.[4]
In May 2019 the highest weather stations in the world were installed on Everest, one at the South Col and another on a place higher up on the peak known as The Balcony as well as some other stations and locations.[5] The weather stations are about 2.1 metres (7 ft) tall and weigh 50 kg (110 lb).[5] On 21 July 2022, a maximum temperature of −1.4 °C (29.5 °F) was registered at the South Col.[6]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Mountain World 1953". George Allen And Unwin Limited. 1953.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Lhotse Summits, Double Crown, and ANOTHER Everest Record". Climbing the Seven Summits. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Landing on Air". National Geographic Adventure. 1 September 2005. Archived from the original on 26 October 2005. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."French Everest Mystery Chopper's Utopia summit". MountEverest.net. 27 May 2005. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015.
- ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Inside the Everest expedition that built the world's highest weather station". Exploration & Adventure. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Exceptionally high temperature recorded on Mount #Everest! With a high of -1.4°C recorded today (July 21) at the South Col weather station (7,945 m), this is probably a world record at this altitude". Twitter.com. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
External links
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