British climbers become first to scale Mount Everest using Xenon gas
However, the British team, after inhaling Xenon gas in Germany and sleeping in high-altitude simulation tents at home, managed to reach the summit in less than five days after leaving London. They also used supplemental oxygen during their climb, as is standard practice.
Climbers spend several weeks or even months on Everest. (Photo: AFP)
WHAT IS XENON GAS?Xenon, a rare, colourless, and odourless gas with known anaesthetic and medical uses, was pivotal to the team's success.Known for its stability and lack of reactivity, xenon is found in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere. Despite being rare, it has several important applications.advertisementIt is used in high-intensity lighting such as flash lamps, strobe lights, and car headlights, thanks to its ability to emit a bright white light. In the medical field, xenon is sometimes used as a general anesthetic due to its non-toxic and non-reactive nature.Perhaps most fascinatingly, xenon plays a role in space exploration, serving as a fuel for ion propulsion systems in satellites and deep-space missions. I'Xenon improves the acclimatisation and protects the body from altitude sickness and the effects from the hypoxic environment,' said Lukas Furtenbach, the expedition organiser and a veteran of four Everest ascents. While guides have previously used Xenon, this is the first time it has been employed by regular climbers.The team highlighted that the shorter expedition not only made the climb safer but also reduced environmental impact. 'Shorter expedition also means less garbage, less resources, less human waste in this sensitive environment,' he noted, addressing Everest's growing waste problem.Not everyone is convinced. American guide Adrian Ballinger of Alpenglow Expeditions called the use of Xenon a 'stunt,' but acknowledged, 'If these climbers are proud of this style, then that's their choice.'With Nepal issuing 468 climbing permits this season and over 200 successful summits so far, the British team's innovative approach may signal a new era for Everest expeditions.Must Watch
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