The South Tibetan detachment system played a major role in Himalayan evolution. Near Mt Everest, the detachment system accommodated large displacements under both brittle and ductile conditions. Rapid cooling of footwall rocks reflected tectonic denudation by brittle slip from ca. 15.6 to at least 13.0 Ma. Thermal–kinematic modeling suggests displacement on the detachment to be at least 61 km.