The Ultimate Climbing Mt. Everest Quiz

Mount Everest rises 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level.

More than 2,200 people have succeeded in reaching the peak of Mount Everest.

Nearly 200 have lost their lives attempting the climb to the top of Mount Everest. There are an estimated 120 bodies still on the mountain.

When asked, "Why climb Everest?" climber George Mallory gave the famous reply: "Because it is there."

The Nepalese who live to the south of Mount Everest have always known that it was special. They called it Sagarmatha, which is translated variously as "goddess of the sky" and "forehead of the sky."

In 1852, a Bengali mathematician and surveyor named Radhanath Sikhdar determined that "Peak XV" was actually the highest point on the earth. In 1865, Sikhdar's discovery was confirmed. India's Surveyor-General Sir Andrew Waugh renamed the mountain Mount Everest after Sir George Everest, his predecessor and the person overseeing the original survey that listed "Peak XV."

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) are two very common forms of altitude sickness. In case of HACE, the brain can actually swell and blood vessels begin to leak. When this happens, the climber may experience disorientation, hallucinations and even loss of consciousness.

In 1999, a team of investigators located Mallory's body on the north face of Everest around at 27,000 feet. On the morning of June 8th 1924, Mallory and Irvine left the highest camp on Everest bound for the summit. At 1 p.m. they were seen climbing the mountain, behind schedule but still making progress toward the top. After that, they were never seen again.

The Himalayas are fold mountains formed millions of years ago by continental drift.

The Himalayas are a relatively young mountain chain, having formed a mere 60 million years ago, in contrast to much older mountain chains like the Appalachians.

Due to continued shifting, the Himalayas rise between two and six centimeters per year. All of this geological activity creates instability and generates occasional earthquakes.

In 1953, Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountain climber and beekeeper, and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa, became the first people credited with reaching the summit.

In 1963, James Whittaker became the first American to reach the peak.

In 1975, a Japanese woman named Junko Tabei became the first woman to climber to reach the peak.

American Erik Weihenmayer became the first sightless person to scale Everest in 2001.

The average cost of a fully guided journey up Everest from the south is $65,000. A fully guided climb from the north costs somewhat less, averaging around $40,000. These costs do not typically include personal gear, international airfare, or insurance, all of which can add thousands to the trip.

Many people associate the term "Sherpa" with the job of Everest porter. However, Sherpa actually means "easterners" or "east people," and refers to clans that came from Tibet and settled the eastern reaches of Nepal about 500 years ago. Approximately 30,000 Sherpas live in Nepal.

Most climbers attempt Everest during April and May. In the winter, low temperatures and hurricane-force winds make climbing difficult. Between June and September, summer monsoons create intense storms and violent precipitation.

From home and back again, most trips to the top of Everest take about two and a half months.

The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. They are: Kilimanjaro (Africa), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), Kosciuszko (Australia), Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania), Everest (Asia), Elbrus (Europe), Mount McKinley (North America), and Aconcagua (South America).