Facts and Figures in No Particular Order

Mt. Everest, also known as Sagarmatha in Nepali (which means Mother Goddess of the Sky) stands at 29, 028 ft (8,488 meters) above sea level and is the highest mountain in the world. The Tibetan name is Qomolangma ("Holy Mother").
Many sites list the official height of Everest at 29,028 feet but an American team remeasured the peak using GPS technology in 1999 at 29,035 feet. (*Additionally, China disputes these meansurements and officially lists the peak at 29,015 stating that the additional height the Nepali use is owed to snow cover on the peak.) Early in 2011, the government of Nepal ordered the mountain to be re-surveyed in 2012 to determine the new official measurement.
While our group will attempt to climb Kala Pattar, a nearby peak that is approx. 18,500 ft. which will afford us spectacular views of Everest, Everest's base camp sits at approx. 17, 500 ft., at the foot of the Khumbu icefall. The icefall consists of towering seracs of ever-shifting, skyscraper-sized ice columns that must be crossed on the way from Base Camp to Camp one, not just once but repeatedly during the acclimatization process of a summiting expedition. Would I go further than Base Camp if it weren't for these seracs? You bet. I'm anxious to see them up close, though, maybe they won't scare me to confront them. Umm, sure...
Veteran climbers gush about the fear they produce in every mountaineer who must face them on the way to the top and 1/3- 1/2 of all deaths on Everest happen in the ice fall. As the sun melts the ice towers during the day, they tend to melt and tumble down! Here, take a look: (Mom, you should skip this part :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBJMGNSql4
Geologically speaking, the Himalayan mountain range is very young compared to other ranges (such as the Appalachians). Everest straddles the border of Nepal and Tibet (China), so even dummies can find it on a map..here's how: Locate China-its HUGE. Look south...right below it there is a gigantic country called India. Nepal is a tiny country smashed between the two borders.
Most expeditions use the Southeast Ridge route via Nepal, but the more technologically demanding route via the Northeast Ridge begins in Tibet (China). The name "The North Face" on the jacket you're probably wearing right night is derived from the fact that the North Face of a peak is usually the hardest/most demanding.
Permits for climbers heading to the summit are approx. $25,000. Trekking permits, however, are less than $100.
While Everest is the highest peak, there are actually other peaks which are more technically challenging, such as the nearby K2 or Nanga Parbat. Everest's challenges are mainly altitude sickness, weather, and wind.
The top 5 highest peaks in the world are, in order:
Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, and Makalu.
There have been more than 5500 ascents and 225 deaths on Everest since 1953 Hillary/Norgay expedition. Over 100 women have summited!