I have a friend who has been out at EBC the past few weeks and he is saying that the reports coming down from the summit teams are the the Hillary Step is mostly gone. The Step was a vertical rock face that is basically the last major hurdle before the main summit. It has been a bad bottleneck area as the crowds on Everest have grown because its basically a one way path up and down leading to long lines. Its something like 10-12m straight up. He is saying that the rock face is basically gone, most likely destroyed during the Nepal Earthquakes last year and that instead of a vertical climb it is now another steep snow ramp.

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probably has to do with climate change so how.

Thanks mother nature?

I can't find anything on this anywhere...do you have any sources?

Only link I can find for summit teams is this:

http://canadajournal.net/world/climbers-near-everest-summit-first-time-three-years-47376-2016/

They mention the Hillary Step and nothing about its disappearance. Not doubting your buddy's story, but just weird that no one else would mention it as it's one of the biggest obstacles in mountaineering.

Like I said, its all info being passed down from the high camps that the Step is gone.The first sherpas set rope lines last week and were the first up there. The first expeditions are starting to hit this week so soon we will know more. That photo was take by David Liano, a mountaineering blogger who summited end of last week. Waiting for his report. There is the possibility of it being covered in ridiculously deep snow. But the photo definitely makes it look like its gone.

Being on that ridge must be terrifying. 5K ft drop on either side easy.

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The two images are from different times of day and have different snow cover. Not great images to compare. No way to tell with the shadowing and snow cover if it is there or not. Hopefully someone would have better proof than that. If no better proof sounds like a stupid internet click story.

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The two images are from different times of day and have different snow cover. Not great images to compare. No way to tell with the shadowing and snow cover if it is there or not. Hopefully someone would have better proof than that. If no better proof sounds like a stupid internet click story.

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This

Just got an email from him. The team he is visiting left the south summit an hour ago and the step was just covered. Glad to hear Everest isn't falling apart.

Picture they just sent down from the step.

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Soft shell turtles

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Just got an email from him. The team he is visiting left the south summit an hour ago and the step was just covered. Glad to hear Everest isn't falling apart.

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Crisis Diverted.

Damn! Krakauer was just gearing up for another book.

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Everest is batting .750 right now. 3 deaths in 4 days.

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Now 4 and two missing. I suppose I don't see the appeal to do this.
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/22/asia/everest-climbing-deaths/index.html

If I had no wife and kids, I would try it.

i completely understand the appeal. but my single days are over, so I'll never attempt it.

It is a monster. The issues with altitude cannot be overstated. I've been to the North Side ABC, about 22-22.5K feet IIRC. Can't imagine another 7K in elevation.

"Because it is there" - George Hillary

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i completely understand the appeal. but my single days are over, so I'll never attempt it.

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I will eventually attempt it, but it will be one of my last expeditions.

Had a strong desire but with the cost, time and tremendous crowds decided on other ventures on this good earth.

I have always found mountaineering to be fascinating and interesting. It is something that I have always thought would appeal to me. But I also think it is something that I will never do, at least on the scale of Everest or any of the other big boys.

That said, I have long had an interest with mountains. Particularly, I have always been fascinated by the Karakoram. While I doubt I will ever attempt to climb any of the mountains in the Karakoram, I think it would be one hell of an adventure just to visit the region. To hike up the Baltoro Glacier and to the base of the tallest region on the planet.

My Mom drove the Karakorums from Islamabad to Kashkar in 1989. Tough trip at that time.