Most ascents of Everest in one day

The most people to reach the peak of Everest in a single day is 354, as recorded on 23 May 2019. This is up considerably from the previous record of 266 people, set on 19 May 2013. The unprecedented – and some would say alarming – number of climbers during the 2019 spring season was highlighted in a photograph taken on 22 May by Nirmal “Nims” Purja showing a solid line of climbers all the way along the Hillary Step, with some 100 people attempting to descend as around 150 pushed forward up the narrow ridge.

The increase in the number of ascents was attributed to a narrow window of opportunity as the weather cleared on 22–23 May, forcing hundreds of climbers to tackle the last part of the ascent. Despite the successes, at least three people died during this busiest of days.