Cwm (pronounced koom) is Welsh for a bowl shaped valley. The Western Cwm is approximately 2 miles long and half a mile wide. It is circled by the massive Southwest face of Everest on the left, Lhotse at the end of the valley, and Nuptse along the right.
From here climbers get their first glimpse of the upper slopes of Everest that weren't visible from Base Camp including its distinct black pyramid at the summit.
The Western Cwm houses both Camp 1 and Camp 2 in between which is a massive lateral crevasse which must be crossed to gain entrance into the upper parts of the valley.
The Western Cwm is often called the ‘Valley of Silence’ due to its relative tranquillity compared to the Icefall below. However, some of the most difficult days on Everest are spent in the Western Cwm, when on a windless day it is desperately hot and can reach temperatures upwards of 35°C (95°F).