What Caused the 1996 Everest Disaster?

In this week’s episode of The All About Everest Podcast, host Pauline Reynolds Nuttall revisits the 1996 Mount Everest disaster — one of the deadliest seasons in the mountain’s history — to explore what really went wrong and how it changed climbing forever. Discover why eight climbers, including Rob Hall, Doug Hansen, Scott Fischer, and Yasuko Namba, lost their lives in a single storm, and how inexperience, overcrowding, and summit fever led to tragedy.

Pauline also shares the latest Everest 2025 updates — including the dramatic rescue of 900 stranded trekkers in Tibet and the northern ski descent attempt by Jimmy Chin and Jim Morrison on the North Face.

In the second half, we look at how Everest has evolved since 1996 — from better weather forecasting, GPS tracking, and helicopter rescues to modern gear, oxygen systems, and stricter climber regulations. Learn how these innovations have saved lives and reshaped the culture of climbing the world’s highest mountain.

Whether you’re an armchair mountaineer or a lifelong Everest enthusiast, this episode blends history, survival, and the mountain’s ever-evolving story.

Listen now to learn:

• What caused the 1996 Everest tragedy

• Who the climbers were and why they perished

• How Everest expeditions have changed since 1996

• The truth behind the “1,000 stranded climbers” headlines

• Updates on Jimmy Chin and Jim Morrison’s Everest project

Follow and subscribe to The All About Everest Podcast wherever you listen — and join our free Everest Skool Group to discuss climbs, gear, books, and breaking news from the world’s tallest peak. Follow us @mamabearoutdoors and @allabouteverest. Mamabearoutdoors.com

Shout out to Nathan Medina and his awesome audio editing.