https://www.outsideonline.com/2168681/everest-2017-new-routes-new-records-and-lots-climbersthis will be an exciting year on Everest:
It's a new route that would link Everest and neighboring Lhotse, the world's fourth tallest peak, using the never-repeated Everest traverse pioneered by Americans Tom Hornbein and Willi Unsoeld in 1963. Hornbein and Unsoeld ascended the West Ridge from Camp 2, traversed over to the eponymous Hornbein Couloir on the north face, climbed that to a snowfield that led to the summit, then descended to the South Col and returned to base camp.
Steck and Tenji will break from the 1963 route at the South Col and follow an exposed traverse to the Lhotse Couloir that was pioneered by Kazakh alpinist Denis Urubko in 2010. After summiting Lhotse, the pair intends to either return to Base Camp or, if they're feeling strong, continue their enchainment with a third peak—possibly 25,791-foot Nuptse, a sharp skyscraper next to Lhotse, though Steck wouldn't say what his third permit is for.
