Training , monies and more: What it takes to summit the Everest

Time of India

4 days ago

The Mt
Everest
summit has been the ultimate goal of every mountaineer for ages now. The gruelling climb has claimed many lives – including that of 45-year-old Bengal climber Subrata Ghosh, who succumbed to altitude sickness and exhaustion after making it to the summit on May 15.
But that hasn't deterred others. In fact, according to a report in
The Rising Nepal
, which cites records from Nepal's department of tourism, 402 climbers from 53 countries – including 74 women – have received climbing permits for this spring. Here's what mountaineers had to say about it.
'The best training is to be in the mountains'
Climbing to the Everest summit pushes ones body and mind to the limit, so the right preparation is sacrosanct.
Satyarup Siddhanta, 42, prepared for the climb with cardio, cycling, yoga, swimming, and strength training. 'With oxygen levels at a third of sea level and temperatures potentially fatal, it's the mind that gets you through crevasses, exhaustion, and biting cold,' he says.
Saanchi, who attempted the summit at 19, agrees. 'High-altitude conditioning matters more than gym routines. The best training is being in the mountains; acclimatisation is everything.'
For Pratima Rai, 21, an NCC cadet from Darjeeling and the first from Bengal to summit the peak, training was an initiation into the harsh realities of mountaineering – glacier climbs, rock and ice techniques, and surviving at 40 degrees berlow zero. 'It was brutal, but necessary,' she says.
'Trusting your sherpa is a must'
Climbing Everest can be life-changing, but not always in the ways climbers imagine. Rumpa Das knows this all too well.
Her 2020 expedition was cancelled due to the pandemic, and in 2021, she went down with COVID during another attempt, requiring evacuation from Camp 2 with dangerously low oxygen levels. But she refused to let go of the dream. Despite ongoing funding hurdles – especially in Bengal – she kept looking for opportunities.
'This time, I kept asking my Sherpa if I could do it. My trainer always said, 'Trust your Sherpa'. And I did.
On May 15 at 10.50am, I stood on the summit, exhausted and uncertain, but carried, step by step, by my Sherpa.'
Satyarup's 2015 expedition was halted by the Nepal earthquake and their funds depleted. When he finally resumed, he faced a series of critical incidents: his oxygen mask failed, another team used their oxygen without consent at Camp 4, and he survived a 30-minute fall into a crevasse. Even his summit photo was allegedly misused by another climber.
Saanchi didn't reach the summit, but gained perspective. 'Like Olympians who train for years without medals, the journey shaped me.' She has since summited Europe's highest peak, scaled Australia's top 10 in 50 hours, and completed 6,000-metre climbs in Ladakh and Spiti.
Pratima's story included a brush with death. 'I saw a man collapse and die in front of me. It was terrifying. But I stayed calm. We anticipated crowding, so we started the summit push early, around 6.30-7pm, and reached the top by 3am on May 18.
It was pitch dark, and I was alone with my Sherpa, but I knew I had made it.'
'Behind every summit is a team that believes in you'
Behind every summit lies a strong support network. Families dip into savings, friends raise funds, and communities rally. Rumpa's journey was tough. 'All my money went into climbing. Sponsorships are rare in Bengal. My mother told me, 'Money comes and goes, but your strength won't last forever.'
My husband even mortgaged our house to support me.' Pratima credits her NCC team for training and encouragement, while Saanchi relied on mentors.
What it takes to climb the Everest
Climbing Everest is a complex logistical feat, relying on an extensive support network—from permits to oxygen cylinders. Satyarup explains, 'Each season, 400–500 climbers rely on expedition companies that handle permits take care of the expedition.'
Though Pratima's NCC-backed expedition provided institutional support, the pressure remained intense. 'We built in extra days to manage weather and risks. Only the fittest continued.
' Key aspects include:
Permit cost: $15,000 per climber, plus government and expedition fees
Total expense: ₹40–45 lakh (gear, logistics, Sherpa fees)
Training: Cardio, strength, high-altitude conditioning, mountaineering courses
Support: Sherpas, medical staff, rope-fixing teams, and SPCC waste management
Risks: Oxygen failure, altitude sickness, crevasses, severe weather, overcrowding
'Everest is a mountaineer's dream'
Even with technically tougher peaks out there, Everest remains the ultimate symbol of aspiration. 'It's still the dream,' says Pawel Sharma, chief instructor at a mountaineering institute. 'For many, it's not just about passion—it's about career and credibility. When institutes ask, 'How many peaks have you climbed?' Everest always tops the list. Today, people aren't just chasing a bucket-list tick—they want to live what they've seen on screen.
' That dream, however, comes with its share of harsh realities. Rumpa Das understood them deeply. 'Mountaineering isn't for everyone—the mountains don't accept everyone,' she says.
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