A small group of Black climbers is striving to become the first of their kind to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Fewer than 10 of the more than 6,000 climbers who have reached the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth at 29,032 feet of elevation, have been Black.

An 11-person all-Black team, Full Circle Everest, is aiming to change the narrative of not having an all-Black team on Mount Everest this spring. The group, consisting of a high school science teacher, an Iraq War veteran, and a small-business owner, hails from various parts of the U.S., with the exception of one member from Kenya.

The objective of their mission is to enhance racial equality in outdoor activities by reaching the summit of Mount Everest.

As a young biracial woman, Rosemary Saal feels honored to be representing on the Full Circle Everest team and to show up to basecamp as 10-plus Black folks, supporting each other.

The team's chances of success are high: According to one member, all 11 of them possess excellent climbing skills. "Phil [Henderson], the team leader, assembled a highly skilled team. Each member has a wealth of experience and abilities in the outdoors," Eddie Taylor, a member of the expedition with 10 years of informal climbing experience, stated on the CNBC show.

The climbers spent months preparing for their ascent of Mount Everest, building endurance through activities such as hiking, running, and weight lifting. They also took a trip overseas to Nepal in February to train with the Sherpa team and do some local climbing.

Climbing Mount Everest is a challenging and dangerous endeavor, with at least 280 fatalities reported in a 2019 BBC article.

Taylor stated that the most challenging aspect so far has been the cost of climbing. The cost can range from $40,000 to $150,000 per climber, which only covers the expenses paid to the outfitting company. Additional costs such as gear, insurance, and flights are not included in this amount.

Taylor initially stated that the climbers faced difficulties in raising funds. However, they later received over $160,000 in donations through a GoFundMe campaign. The total amount raised was increased to $500,000 due to community contributions and sponsorships from companies like North Face and the VF Foundation, as reported by PBS News.

Taylor stated that the group now possesses the funds necessary to undertake the climb. He added that his aspiration is for reaching the summit of Mount Everest to demonstrate to young people of color that engaging in outdoor pursuits is accessible to all.

He stated that he hoped young kids would gain a few things from it, including the realization that anything is possible, the ability to set and achieve goals, and the understanding that outdoor spaces are intended for them.

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