Inside the quest to conquer Mount Everest in a single week

A first-of-its-kind expedition plans to take climbers to the icy summit of Mount Everest in just a single week thanks to an unexpected strategy—inhaling xenon gas. Or, as The Rolling Stones would say: “Climbing mountains fast, it’s a gas.”

• The expedition represents an ambitious step up from other guided Everest ascents, which typically last six-to-eight weeks due to the need for altitude acclimation.

The 411 on xenon

Studies have suggested the odorless gas can protect vital organs from altitude sickness by boosting production of erythropoietin, a hormone that increases the body’s capacity to transport oxygen.

• When used alongside other at-home acclimatization methods, xenon gas can make the human body capable of withstanding Everest’s extreme altitudes almost instantly, according to Austrian Everest guide Lukas Furtenbach.

How it works: Furtenbach’s process started with him and his clients flying to a hospital in Germany a few weeks ago before they traveled to Everest, where they donned diving-bell-like masks to inhale carefully controlled doses of xenon. The main goal: reduce climbers’ risk of being caught in bad weather, avalanches, or getting sick by allowing them to summit Everest faster.

Looking ahead…The expedition could start any day now. Furtenbach is using advanced forecasting tools to track the weather conditions on Everest and determine the best time to climb.