Four British climbers became the first to scale Mount Everest using Xenon gas, a substance that helped them acclimatise to high altitudes faster. Normally, climbers spend weeks or months on the mountain to adjust to higher elevations before attempting the summit. However, after inhaling Xenon gas in Germany, they reached the 8,848-metre peak in under five days. The expedition’s organiser, Lukas Furtenbach, claims that Xenon improves acclimatisation and protects against altitude sickness.
Furtenbach stated that Xenon is a colourless and odourless gas with anaesthetic properties, which can be used to reduce the effects of high-altitude environments. However, American climber and guide Adrian Ballinger disagreed, calling it a “stunt” and saying that everyone should climb in a way they are proud of.
The use of Xenon gas has been met with mixed reactions, but Furtenbach argues that it made the climb safer and shorter, reducing waste and resources. With Nepal issuing permits for 468 climbers during the current season, more than 200 have already summited Everest.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/science/britons-become-first-scale-mount-everest-with-help-xenon-gas-organiser-says-2025-05-21