The key facts

  • German alpinist Jost Kobusch is preparing for his fourth winter attempt to climb Everest solo and without oxygen.
  • The athlete plans to summit via a unique route — the West Ridge, which has never been climbed in winter.
  • The main stage of the expedition starts after December 22, 2026, following acclimatization in the Annapurna area.

The German alpinist's fourth attempt

German alpinist Jost Kobusch is preparing for his fourth attempt to conquer Everest in the winter season, intending to make the climb solo and without supplemental oxygen. According to Gazeta.Ru, citing the Alpagama portal, the 34-year-old athlete is currently in Nepal, undergoing high-altitude acclimatization in the Annapurna massif area. The main stage of the expedition is scheduled for the period after December 22, 2026.

A unique route and previous experience

Kobusch has chosen the technically demanding West Ridgefor his summit push — a route no one has ever climbed in winter. This sets his project apart from all previous winter ascents: in the entire history of winter Everest climbs, only 14 alpinists have reached the summit, but all of them used different routes. Kobusch's project has been underway since 2019; during his previous attempt in 2024, the alpinist managed to reach the 7,540-meter mark but was forced to turn back due to storm winds and safety considerations.

Conditions of a winter ascent

The winter season on Everest is characterized by extreme conditions: at altitudes above 8,000 meters, air temperatures often drop below -40°C, biting winds blow, and daylight hours are significantly shorter than in other seasons. The alpinist himself emphasizes that uncertainty is the key factor that makes it worth testing the limits of one's own capabilities.