Peak speed: Sherpas say their traditions are at risk after record Everest ascents

Two teams of climbers broke records on Mount Everest without traditional acclimatization: one relied on xenon gas pre-acclimatization while another used hypoxic tents at home for acclimatization. Both methods bypassed the usual weeks-long preparation, raising ethical questions about using experimental or home-based technologies and increasing demand in North America. Sherpas are concerned about environmental impact and economic strain, prompting growing pressure to establish an ethics code for mountaineering as technology evolves.