For 22-year-old mountain guide Lakpa Rinji Sherpa, this year's Mount Everest climbing season felt different from previous years.
The fear was still there. The Khumbu Icefall remained as dangerous as ever, with deep crevasses hidden beneath climbers' feet and towering ice seracs hanging precariously overhead. Yet, unlike previous seasons, Lakpa no longer had to make countless trips carrying heavy loads through one of the world's most dangerous sections of mountain terrain.
Traditionally, Sherpa guides must travel between Everest Base Camp (5,364 meters) and Camp II (6,400 meters) eight to ten times during a climbing season to transport oxygen cylinders, food, tents, and other essential supplies. This year, Lakpa completed only four trips.
The reason was not improved weather or a safer route.
It was drones.
A Technological Revolution on the World's Highest Mountain
Every year, Sherpa guides face life-threatening risks while carrying supplies through the Khumbu Icefall, widely considered the most dangerous section of the southern Everest route.
"Crossing the Icefall is always frightening," Lakpa explained. "There are crevasses below and unstable ice towers above. We have to walk through constantly changing terrain."
For decades, Sherpas have started their journeys shortly after midnight, carrying loads weighing up to 15 kilograms on their backs. The trek from Base Camp through Camp I and onward to Camp II can take six to seven continuous hours without stopping.
"We never rest while crossing the Icefall," Lakpa said. "It's simply too dangerous."
This season, however, much of the equipment destined for Camp I was transported by drones. Tasks that once required hours of climbing and the efforts of an entire team of mountain workers can now be completed in minutes.
The transformation marks a significant shift in how Everest expeditions operate and demonstrates how technology is beginning to reshape one of the world's most hazardous professions.
From Experimental Tests to Commercial Operations
The breakthrough began in April 2024 when Chinese drone manufacturer DJI conducted what is considered the first successful drone delivery test on Mount Everest.
Using its FlyCart platform, the company transported oxygen cylinders and climbing supplies to higher camps while carrying waste back down the mountain.
The tests demonstrated that drones could potentially replace some of the most dangerous logistics work traditionally performed by Sherpas.
Following the successful trials, DJI's FlyCart drones began transporting supplies to Camp I during the 2025 climbing season. By 2026, commercial drone operations had become a regular part of Everest logistics.
According to drone operators, jobs that previously required six to seven hours can now be completed in approximately ten minutes. In some cases, a single drone can perform work equivalent to that of more than a dozen mountain workers.
Saving Lives in the Khumbu Icefall
Local authorities believe the greatest benefit of drone technology is improved safety.
"This is a life-saving initiative," said Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, Chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. "Even walking through the Khumbu Icefall is extremely risky. Carrying heavy loads makes it even more dangerous. Technology can reduce that burden and save lives."
The Khumbu Icefall has a long and tragic history.
Stretching approximately 600 meters between Base Camp and Camp I, the area is filled with unstable ice formations, deep crevasses, and constantly shifting terrain. Massive ice blocks can collapse without warning, creating deadly avalanches.
For decades, Sherpa guides have borne the greatest risks.
In April 2014, a catastrophic avalanche killed 16 Sherpas, making it one of the deadliest disasters in Everest's history. In 2023, three Sherpas were buried by another avalanche in the Icefall, and their bodies have never been recovered.
According to government records and the Himalayan Database, nearly 50 people lost their lives in the Khumbu Icefall between 1953 and 2023.
This season presented new challenges as well. A massive unstable ice formation delayed route construction for nearly three weeks. The Everest Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) reported that the ice block measured approximately 55 meters in length, 37 meters in width, and 28 meters in height.
During the delay, drone imaging and aerial monitoring were used continuously to assess risks and monitor changing conditions.
Beyond Logistics: Monitoring and Environmental Protection
Drones are not only improving safety but also helping protect Everest's fragile environment.
This season, Airlift Technology used drones to transport 3.5 tons of waste from Camp I to Base Camp.
"In total, we moved more than 10 tons of material throughout the season," said Airlift Technology co-founder Milan Pandey. "Of that amount, 3.5 tons consisted of waste removed from the mountain."
Much of the waste consisted of human waste bags collected from higher camps.
Since last year, climbers have been required to collect and carry their human waste using specially designed bags as part of Nepal's efforts to reduce pollution on Everest.
The waste removal initiative complements an existing regulation introduced in 2014 that requires climbers to bring back at least eight kilograms of garbage or risk losing a USD 4,000 deposit. Proposed legislation would convert this deposit into a dedicated environmental fee supporting Everest conservation and cleanup efforts.
After the climbing season officially ended on May 29, drones continued operating, conducting nearly 20 flights per day to transport waste back to Base Camp.
Concerns About Employment
Despite the clear safety benefits, not everyone views the drone revolution without concern.
Some worry that increased automation could eventually reduce employment opportunities for Sherpa guides and high-altitude workers.
Lakpa disagrees.
He believes drones are replacing only the most dangerous lower-altitude carrying work while leaving the more specialized and better-paid guiding responsibilities untouched.
Guides earn between NPR 350 and NPR 500 per kilogram for transporting loads from Base Camp to Camp II. Above Camp II, rates rise dramatically to between NPR 1,000 and NPR 1,500 per kilogram.
Oxygen transport remains particularly lucrative. Sherpas can earn around NPR 4,000 for carrying a full oxygen cylinder uphill and as much as NPR 10,000 for bringing empty cylinders back down.
"Most climbers need multiple oxygen bottles," Lakpa explained. "The real earnings come from work between Camp II and Camp IV. Even if drones reduce some work below Camp I, it doesn't significantly affect our income."
Rather than seeing drones as competitors, he views them as valuable partners.
"Our main job is guiding climbers safely to the summit," he said. "Drones help us avoid unnecessary risks and make us more confident when working in dangerous areas."
A New Arena for Global Technology Competition
The growing importance of drones on Everest has also attracted international attention.
After DJI successfully demonstrated its technology, American drone manufacturer Freefly Systems sought permission to test its Ultra X Gen 2 heavy-lift drone on Everest.
Nepalese authorities temporarily suspended DJI's FlyCart operations for ten days while reviewing both systems, sparking debate within the mountaineering community.
Supporters welcomed increased competition and technological innovation. Others worried that Everest could become a stage for commercial and geopolitical rivalry between foreign technology companies.
"We were suspended for ten days without a clear reason," said Pandey.
Nevertheless, he argued that the season ultimately demonstrated how indispensable drone technology has become, particularly during emergencies.
"In urgent situations, drones can quickly deliver oxygen cylinders to higher camps," he noted.
The Future of Everest Climbing
Preliminary estimates indicate that the 2026 Everest season concluded with more than 100 climbers and guides successfully reaching the summit. The government issued a record 495 climbing permits during the season.
While successful summits will remain the primary measure of Everest's climbing season, many observers believe 2026 will also be remembered as the year drone technology firmly established itself on the world's highest mountain.
For generations, Sherpas have risked their lives carrying supplies through dangerous icefalls and extreme weather conditions. Today, as drones buzz above the crevasses and unstable ice formations of the Khumbu Icefall, some of that burden is finally being lifted.
For guides like Lakpa Rinji Sherpa, that may be the most important achievement of all.
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