On May 20, 2026, Mount Everest saw 278 summits in a single day — the busiest 24 hours in the mountain's history. From Kami Rita’s 32nd summit to Kenton Cool’s 20th, the records were falling fast. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

We follow Polish ski mountaineer Bartek Ziemski as he executes what many call a "perfect act": a no-oxygen, unsupported ascent and ski descent from the summit to Base Camp in under five and a half hours.But while Bartek found a "perfect" window, others found the reality of a crowded mountain.

We cover the fatalities of Arun Kumar Tiwari and Sandeep Are on their descent, and the heroic work of Sherpas like Ashok Lama, who were pulling climbers from crevasses while the world took selfies at the top.

This is the true cost of the 2026 season.

**THANK YOU TO OUR HIGH ALTITUDE SPONSORS HERE AND ON PATREON**:

EVEREST SUMMIT:
Matthew Kleinlein

CAMP FOUR:
Barbedwire
Henriette Pi
Mike Nicholson
Tom McLeod
Geoff (mountain climber)
Ursula Dimberger
Noelle Dud13y

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