In the 2024 spring expedition season on Mount Everest, nearly 600 successful summits have been recorded on the world's highest peak.

According to a statement from the Department of Tourism, at least 570 climbers including climbing guides have scaled the peak as of May 23.

Several expedition agencies have announced conclusion of the season and the removal of their temporary tent camps at various locations on the peak, while some of the last remaining climbers are on the summit push.

The summit push in Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse, the sister peaks in the Everest massif, usually ends by the beginning of June, with icefall doctors closing by removing ladders at the Khumbu Icefall.

Agencies and guides say this year might end up becoming more successful in terms of success rate compared to the 2023 spring season when a total of 656 ascents were recorded, including multiple ascents by climbers and guides. Last year, Nepal had issued 478 climbing permits for Everest, the highest number of permits, while only 421 permits were issued this year.

The season, which began amid uncertainty due to delays in opening the Khumbu Icefall route and witnessed a sluggish start to the summit push, saw a significant increase in activity in the beginning of the third week of May. It also led to some traffic jams at various bottlenecks and at the peak’s cornice, video footage and photos shared by climbers show.

The season saw several new records being set. Veteran guide Kami Rita Sherpa achieved a remarkable milestone by completing a double summit of Mount Everest, bringing his total summits to 30. This extended his lead over Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who trails him with 27 summits. British climber Kenton Cool surpassed his own record by scaling Mount Everest 18 times, marking the highest number of ascents by any non-Sherpa climber.

Nepali climber Phunjo Jhangmu Lama reclaimed the title for the fastest ascent of the world’s highest peak, reaching the summit in 14 hours and 31 minutes. She completed the climb in 24 hours and 26 minutes. This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Ada Tsang Yin-hung of Hong Kong, who climbed Everest in 25 hours and 50 minutes.

Dawa Finjok Sherpa, a climbing guide with Seven Summit Treks, successfully summited Mount Everest for the third time this season, completing the feat in just 8 days, 13 hours, and 35 minutes. Reportedly, he is making a fourth attempt.

Polish climber Piotr Jerzy Krzyzowski made history by becoming the first and fastest person to summit both Lhotse and Everest without supplemental oxygen, completing the feat within 1 day, 23 hours, and 22 minutes.

Like every year, Everest this season also saw its share of tragedy. The Department of Tourism has confirmed the deaths of at least five climbers on the Everest route this season, with three others still missing.

The confirmed deceased climbers, whose bodies have been found, include Nepali climber Binod Babu Bastakoti, 37, Mongolian climbers Usukhjargal Tsedendamba, 53, and Purevsuren Lkhagvajav, 31, Kenyan climber Joshua Cheruiyot Kirui, 40, and Romanian climber Gabriel Viorel Tabara, 48. Tabara was attempting to climb Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak, which shares the same route with Everest.

Similarly, those listed as missing include British climber Daniel Paul Paterson, 40, his Sherpa guide Pas Tenji Sherpa, 23, and Nawang Sherpa, a 44-year-old guide who has been missing since May 22.

The search has been halted for the Briton and his guide, which means the climbers are now presumed dead, joining dozens of others whose bodies have never been found on Everest.