Temperatures on Everest are extreme and unpredictable.

During this expedition, Team Marie Curie is experiencing highs of around freezing and overnight temperatures are dropping to around minus 10 degrees Celcius. This means that the tents freeze up overnight and then when the sun rises in the morning, the ice melts and drips all over the team members and their belongings. Over the last few days it has been snowing, as you can see from our pictures.

During spring, when the weather is warmer, this often causes cloud cover which means that views of the mountain are obscured.

Once climbers start their ascent and enter into the ‘death zone’ which is at an altitude of 8,000 metres and above, temperatures drop dangerously. At this point any part of the body that is exposed to the elements is likely to be affected by frostbite.

Sir Ranulph experienced this in 2000 when he returned from an expedition to the North Pole with frostbitten fingers, which he removed himself using a fretsaw in his garden shed.

by Marie Curie Cancer Care