The highest mountain

This article was published on 12.13.07

Thanks to a show on the Discovery Channel, climbing Mount Everest is as tantalizingly close as your television. Tuning in to the finale of Everest: Beyond the Limit Tuesday (Dec. 18) at 10 p.m. might inspire you to swing by Mountain Sports and begin scaling snowy heights in preparation for your own Himalayan quest. Before you go, here are some numbers to consider:

500
Climbers who reached the summit this year

6
Climbers who died in the attempt

-20
Average temperature (°F) in the April-May climbing season

29,035
Elevation at the summit (in feet)

26,000
Approximate elevation line for the “death zone”

$60,000
Approximate cost of an expedition (per person)

2:3
Odds a climber won’t reach the summit