Karl Egloff had to abandon his record attempt on Mount Everest.Image: zvg
Karl Egloff’s second attempt to climb Mount Everest in record time also failed: this time because his climbing partner felt bad.
May 27, 2026, 4:00 p.mMay 27, 2026, 4:00 p.m
Like last year, speed mountaineer Karl Egloff had to abandon his world record attempt on Mount Everest. The 45-year-old Swiss-Ecuadorian turned back at an altitude of 7,903 meters and reached the base camp together with climbing partner Nicolas Miranda.
The first few hours went according to plan. But after 13 hours and 41 minutes, Miranda’s condition deteriorated at an altitude of almost 8,000 meters. The duo, who have known each other since childhood, decided to abandon the expedition and return to base camp. They reached this after 24.23 kilometers and 20 hours and 45 minutes.
To prepare for the evening, Egloff sleeps in the “altitude training tent.”Image: zvg
“Health is more important to us”
Egloff started from the base camp at 5,346 meters with Nicolas Miranda on May 26th at 4:00 p.m. local time. The goal of the project was to climb the highest mountain in the world without supplemental oxygen in less than 24 hours and return to base camp. Miranda herself climbed with oxygen and carried an oxygen bottle with her for Egloff, the father of two, in case of an emergency.
“That’s how it is on the mountain. A thousand things have to fit together for such an undertaking to succeed. For us, health is more important. Of course I’m sad, but that’s part of sport,” says Egloff.
Egloff poses in the mountainsImage: zvg
Egloff is sticking to his project
For Egloff it is already the second failed attempt to climb Mount Everest in record time. Last year he set out despite unfavorable conditions, but had to abandon the attempt at around 7,000 meters above sea level after snow began to fall.
Egloff had been preparing for this goal for years and had been in Nepal since mid-April, where he acclimatized for 45 days. He also completed more than 220 hours of training in a high-altitude tent that simulated the conditions at base camp altitude.
Despite the setback, Egloff is sticking to his project. In October he plans to climb the Carstensz Pyramid in Oceania, followed by Mount Vinson in Antarctica in December. His goal: to be the first person to climb all Seven Summits without bottled oxygen in record time. (aargauerzeitung.ch)