The Khumbu Glacier in The Everest Region

The Khumbu Glacier, also popularly known as the Everest Glacier, is one of the aspects that contribute to the beauty of the Everest Base Camp (EBC) Trek, attracting more tourists from around the world to the area. All adventure enthusiasts have a dream of either climbing the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (8,848.86 m (29,031 ft), or at least visiting its base camp to capture the panoramic view of the peaks in the Mahalangur Range.

It's no wonder that you also have a dream of trekking to the Everest Base Camp. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here reading this blog. It’s essential to learn and do your research about each single thing that you’ll witness along the trail or at your destination.

Nevertheless, this guide is about the Khumbu Glacier. Where we discuss its formation, importance, climate change impact, and others in detail.

Highlight Of The Khumbu Glacier

• Formed around 500,000 years ago during the great ice age.
• The starting point for the Everest ascent.
• Begins in the Western Cwm, located between Mt. Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge, and ends just below the EBC.
• Ranges from 7,600 m (24,934.38 ft) to 4,900 m (16,076.12 ft), approximately 17 m long, and covers 70 km² (180 mi²) in area.
• A major source of fresh water for the local people of the Khumbu Region.
• One of the major attractions of the EBC Trek.
• Research site for geologists and glaciologists.

Khumbu Glacier Geography

The Khumbu Glacier is situated between Mount Everest and the nearby peaks of Lhotse and Nuptse in Nepal. It is a huge ice river that flows into Nepal’s Himalayas.

It starts near the Western Cwm with an altitude ranging from the top at 7,600 m (24,934.38 ft) to its ending point at 4,900 m (16,076.12 ft), and covers an area of about 70 km² (180 mi²). It’s considered the highest glacier in the world and the largest in the country.

This glacier can be witnessed during the Everest Base Camp Trek starting from Thukla all the way up to the Base Camp.

The glacier moves approximately 0.9 to 1 meter per day, especially in the hazardous Khumbu icefall section, an area where intense cracks (crevasses) and large blocks of ice (seracs) are commonly found. Mountaineers need to cross it by using caution during the Everest Expedition. Even experienced climbers sometimes get injured while crossing this section.

How did the Khumbu Glacier form?

Just south of Mount Everest, and the other high peaks of the Himalaya, is a bowl-shaped valley called the Western Cwm, located high in the mountains. Over time, heavy snows gradually gathered, and during summer, layers of snow did not fully melt; each season piled new snow on top of the previous, leading to compaction of the older layers.

The lower layers of snow are transformed into firn (old, grainy snow) through repeated formations, turning it into a glacier (otherwise known as glacial ice). This slow process gave birth to the Khumbu Glacier. As discussed earlier, it stretches from its starting point, 7,600 m, to its ending point, 4,900 m, approximately a 17 km long journey.

What Is The Importance Of The Everest Glacier?

The Khumbu Glacier is more than just a giant river made of ice. It has always been useful in human life. In fact, it’s the main source of fresh water for the local communities in the Everest Region.

One of Nepal’s famous rivers, the Dudh Koshi, is formed from the meltwater of the Everest Glacier. It flows down from the high Himalayas and joins other rivers of the Koshi River system. These rivers help the local people in agriculture, generate hydroelectric power, provide fresh drinking water, and support other daily life activities.

Popular Destinations Around Khumbu Glacier

• Everest Base Camp
• Kala Patthar
• Khumbu Icefall
• Lhotse
• Lobuche
• Gokyo Lakes
• Cho Oyu
• Pumo Ri
• Tengboche 
• Dingboche

What Is The Best Time To Visit The Khumbu Glacier?

The best time to visit the Everest Glacier is the same as the best time for Everest trekking in Nepal, i.e., during spring and autumn. In terms of months, spring includes March, April, and May, whereas autumn includes September, October, and November.

Several aspects make these two seasons ideal for experiencing this glacier. They are listed below:

Spring

• Skies are mostly clear due to stable weather, offering unparalleled views of the glacier, Mt. Everest, and nearby peaks in the Mahalangur Range.
• The blooming rhododendron (Nepal’s national flower) and other wild flowers add extra beauty to the trail.
• Despite freezing temperatures at night, especially at high elevations, it is warm and suitable to hike during the day.
• The opportunity to immerse oneself in the celebration of some local festivals: Holi (festival of colours), Nepali New Year, and Buddha Jayanti (Birthday of Lord Buddha), along the way.

Autumn

• A post-monsoon season offering clear skies above with green landscapes below, and magnificent views of the Khumbu Glacier and surrounding peaks.
• The weather is mostly cool and dry, creating suitable trekking conditions. Nevertheless, during the night, the temperature is freezing.
• Nepal’s biggest festivals, Dashain and Tihar, occur in this season, providing you with the chance to experience them during the trek.

Please note that due to the best seasons, you’ll experience traffic along the route during the trek. Besides, the hotel and tea houses are also expected to be fully packed. Hence, early booking is highly recommended.

The weather is also not guaranteed. Even during spring and autumn, it can sometimes go worse. Thus, it’ll be wise to stay updated with the weather forecast for the date of your trip when planning it, and also keep monitoring it every day during the trek.

Climate Change Impact On The Everest Glacier

Without a shadow of a doubt, a change in climate can easily impact the Everest Glacier. As mentioned earlier, it’s a giant ice river. So, fast or slow, ice can melt with heat, as it's more vulnerable than we think.

And currently, the weather is changing everywhere. It ain’t like before. The temperature is rising gradually every year, and many have already noticed a slight change in this glacier.

The Khumbu Glacier is being impacted slowly due to rising temperatures. Now you might be thinking, what exactly could happen when it gets melted?

The consequence is simple. There’ll be a rise in the level of the river, creating a flood, which directly harms the nearby settlements. Furthermore, there will be an impact on the availability of fresh water and an increase in other nature-related issues.

Climate Change Concern

Local government and international organisations are working together to control the impact of global warming on the Everest Glacier by promoting sustainable tourism. For a better environment and climate, it’s crucial to focus on quality tourists rather than quantity.

They’re raising awareness regarding climate change. Besides, the local tour operators, like us, the Hiking Bees, are also reminding tourists to be responsible towards nature during the trek.

Currently, there’s a slogan that has become popular in the tourism industry: Leave footprints, not trash. We should keep this slogan in mind while strolling around nature.

Trekking And Mountaineering

The Khumbu Glacier adds an extra beauty to the EBC Trek, like ice on the cake. Along with Everest and other nearby peaks in the Mahalangur Range, trekkers also visit the EBC to view the glacier from a very close distance.

Speaking of the Everest expedition, the Khumbu Icefall is one of the dangerous sections for mountaineers to cross, where crevasses and seracs are mostly encountered. It sounds scary at first, but it also motivates them to accept the challenge and summit the world’s highest peak with proper training.

Trekkers can also get the chance to witness the beautiful view of the icefall from the base camp. Nevertheless, you, as a trekker, aren’t allowed to go further from the EBC. To go any further, you’ll need to have a climbing permit. Anyway, you can still enjoy the view of the icefall from the southern side, right behind the camp.

Scientific Research Work

The Everest Glacier area is also a research and exploration site for researchers, such as geologists and glaciologists. They study its characteristics and the impact of climate change on it for the future. Also, it contains information within the ice layers that has been stuck for thousands of years, which provides them with a clear and deep understanding of Earth’s history.

Fascinating Facts About the Khumbu Glacier

The Khumbu Glacier, is one of the most iconic glaciers on Earth. not just for its beauty, but also for its historical, cultural, and scientific significance.

• The Khumbu Glacier stretches approximately 17 kilometers (10.5 miles), making it the longest glacier in Nepal.
• The glacier flows at a rate of about 0.9 to 1.2 meters per day in some sections, slowly carrying rocks, ice, and debris downhill.
• While much of the glacier appears white, its surface is often covered in rocky debris, giving it a dark and rugged look from a distance.
• The glacier is one of the most studied in the Himalayas, with research stations measuring ice thickness, temperature, and melt rates to track the impact of climate change.
• Even for those not climbing Everest, the Khumbu Glacier is a major attraction for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp, offering breathtaking views and a close-up look at a disappearing natural wonder.
• The legendary Everest Base Camp sits atop the Khumbu Glacier, serving as the staging ground for climbers preparing to summit the world’s tallest peak. From here, adventurers gather strength, acclimatize, and plan their ascent.
• The Khumbu Icefall section of the glacier, with its towering ice seracs and constantly shifting crevasses, is among the most dangerous stretches on the route to Everest’s summit. Climbers must navigate it carefully, as the ice can collapse without warning.
• One of the World’s Highest Glaciers, Originating in the Western Cwm at a staggering elevation of about 7,600 meters (24,934 ft), the Khumbu Glacier is among the highest glaciers on the planet.
• For the Sherpa people, the glacier and surrounding landscape hold immense spiritual and cultural value, forming an inseparable part of their traditions and identity.
• Due to global warming, the glacier is retreating faster than ever before, losing significant ice mass and leading to the formation of new glacial lakes.
• Glaciers like Khumbu act as frozen time capsules, storing evidence of past climates and helping scientists understand long-term climate change patterns.
• The glacier’s unique and extreme conditions make it a valuable research site for studying microorganisms that survive in some of the harshest environments on Earth.
• As the glacier retreats, lakes such as Imja Tsho have formed. These can pose the risk of sudden glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), threatening downstream communities.
• The glacier has been the launch point for numerous historic Everest climbs, including the 1953 first successful ascent by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.