British soldiers break Everest ascent record with controversial method
- Four British former soldiers set a record by summiting Mount Everest in under five days, utilizing a controversial method.
- They underwent extensive preparation, including hypoxia training and xenon gas treatments, before their expedition.
- This ascent raises concerns and discussions about the impacts of reduced acclimatisation on climber safety and health.
In Nepal, four British former soldiers made headlines on May 21, 2025, by climbing Mount Everest in an impressive timeframe of under five days. This expedition included veterans minister Alastair Carns and marked a record ascent without traditional acclimatisation practices, prompting significant discussion in the mountaineering community about the methods employed. The climbers undertook an extensive preparation regime, training in hypoxia tents and undergoing xenon gas treatments in Germany to simulate high-altitude conditions and enhance their physical responses to lower oxygen levels. Xenon gas inhalation, although controversial, was claimed by the expedition leader, Lukas Furtenbach, to improve acclimatisation and protect against altitude sickness. Despite the skepticism from some mountaineering experts regarding the safety and efficacy of using xenon, the successful summit suggested a potential shift in climbing techniques. Critics expressed concern that this method could encourage climbers to cut corners on acclimatisation, which is vital for safely managing high-altitude challenges. The British team’s ascent was accompanied by a rapidly increasing interest in fast-tracking climbs, with further implications for climbers' health and safety. The use of xenon, coupled with simulated altitude training, formulated a new approach that may influence how future climbers prepare for such rigorous ascents. However, the traditional guidelines of acclimatisation for mountain climbing are still upheld by many in the climbing community, advocating for the time-honored practices that ensure climbers are physically ready for high-altitude conditions. Despite Nepal’s lack of regulations about required acclimatisation time for climbers, the gravity of this record-breaking ascent without acclimatisation raises questions about the broader implications for future climbing expeditions, regulation, and safety. As the mountaineering industry watches closely, there appears to be a delicate balance between innovation in climbing methods and the intrinsic risks associated with expeditions at extreme altitudes.