So, to answer the question: how many days on the mountain itself? Roughly 40 to 50 days from base camp to summit and back. Add travel and prep, and you’re looking at 60 to 70 days total.
But here’s the thing: you don’t climb for all those days. You hike, rest, eat, freeze, wait, and repeat. The actual summit push is just a few days. It’s the mental endurance that takes the longest.
Ever wonder why climbers come back looking gaunt and shell-shocked? Now you know. They spent two months being humbled by a mountain that doesn’t care about your timeline.
