South Summit: A Mount Everest Milestone

The South Summit is a subsidiary peak of Mount Everest, located between the South Col and the main summit. Though its elevation of 8,749 meters surpasses K2, it is not considered a separate mountain due to its low topographic prominence.

First climbed by Charles Evans and Tom Bourdillon in 1953, the South Summit is a dome-shaped snow and ice peak. It is a popular resting point for Everest climbers, offering views of the cornice traverse and summit in clear weather. The site is also historically significant, with fossils of seashells discovered in limestone above the summit.