These stunning images show hundreds of brave climbers queuing to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
The incredible clear skies prompted around 300 people to push for the final stretch and conquer the world's tallest mountain in Nepal.
Risking frostbite - and even death - the hardy mountaineers waited in a large queue at around 29,029ft, laden with bags and climbing equiptment.
Tragically, two climbers died after reaching the summit - with speculation delays and long queues at the top could have led to complications with their health.
Since Sir Edmund Hillary and sherpa Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent in 1953, around 4,000 people have reached the summit of Everest.
Amongst those who reached the summit this week was South African climber Saray Khumalo, who became the first black African woman to achieve the feat.
The business executive said on May 22 that knowing her climb would be in the record books helped her push on to the top.
Sadly, despite the stories of success, more than 300 people have tragically died attempting the challenge.
The last year without any known deaths on the mountain was 1977.
And while this incredible scene, captured by Nirmal Purja, shows Everest in all its glory, Nirmal said it could have been a "real disaster" if the weather had quickly turned.
He said: "I have had bottlenecks on mountains before but not this many people at such high altitude.
"It could've been a real disaster."
While taking on the daring climb takes skill, endurance and incredible amounts of bravery - it's also pretty pricey.
Climbers must make their ascent with an agency - who can charge up to £55,000.
Last week it was revealed a sherpa had broken his own record for after making his 22nd ascent of the mountain.
Nepalese Kami Rita reached the summit on Wednesday morning with a team of foreign climbers and a fellow Sherpa.
Mr Rita, 48, had been among the three men who had tied the previous record of 21 successful ascents of the 29,000ft peak.
Before leaving for the mountain last month, he said he wanted to scale Everest at least 25 times.
Mountaineering has been his family tradition.
His father was among the first professional guides after Nepal opened to foreign trekkers and mountaineers in 1950, and his brother has scaled Everest 17 times.
