Do people take oxygen up Mount Everest?

Yes, most climbers on Mount Everest take supplementary oxygen. The air is so thin at the summit of Everest that it is impossible for the human body to absorb enough oxygen to sustain itself. Even the fittest athletes would only be able to stay at the summit for a few minutes without supplementary oxygen.

Climbers typically start to use supplemental oxygen at around 26,000 feet (8,000 meters) above sea level. This is roughly the height of Mount Everest's base camp. As they ascend the mountain, they will need to use more and more oxygen. By the time they reach the summit, they will be using as much as 4 liters of oxygen per minute.

Climbers carry oxygen in tanks on their backs. The tanks are filled with compressed oxygen and are weighted to keep them from floating away in the thin air. Climbers must be very careful not to run out of oxygen. If they do, they can quickly die from altitude sickness.

Some climbers choose to climb Everest without supplementary oxygen. This is considered a more challenging and dangerous feat. However, only a small number of climbers have successfully summited Everest without oxygen.