Mount Everest’s summit blocked by ice, trapping climbers; Jim Whittaker, first American to reach Everest, died at 97.
Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest in 1963, has died at age 97 at his home in Port Townsend, Washington. His mountaineering achievements and leadership at REI made him a prominent figure in outdoor and climbing communities. He was also known for his friendship with Robert Kennedy and his pioneering spirit.
A large ice serac has blocked the route to Everest's summit, delaying climbers' attempts. Icefall doctors have deemed it too risky to pass, and authorities are waiting for it to melt or collapse. The blockage has shortened the window for the spring climbing season, impacting hundreds of climbers and guides.
Everest climbers are moving toward the summit as rope fixing is completed on the route to the top. The season has seen several fatalities this year, highlighting serac hazards and glacier melt. Authorities have issued 492 permits for the April–May window, with the global mountaineering community adjusting to ongoing travel pressures and a difficult Icefall.
A U.S. team led by Sergio Gor has tested a home-built Alta X Gen 2 drone to ferry oxygen, ladders and gear to Camp I on Everest, but Nepal’s Home Affairs Ministry has refused a flight permit over drone procedures and security concerns. The test, which aimed to compare with DJI FlyCart technology used by Nepal’s AirLift Technology, has not proceeded.