In the scenes where the Sherpas were speaking, the show staff went to great lengths to find translations. Originally, the producers of Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997) were contacted to help. The film producers were shocked at the trouble the Simpsons staff were going to, and replied that they had simply made up translations in the film. The staff then had to consult various experts by telephone.
The idea of the upper part of the mountain collapsing so Homer would be at the peak came from Mike Scully's brother Brian, after the staff "desperately needed a way out".
Deng Xaioping, the man Homer mentioned, was the former leader of Red China.
One of the rare instances Grampa wears shoes instead of his trademark slippers, when his teeth fall out and he runs into the trees.
The writing staff had to find a new angle for Homer's weight problems, as the idea had been used several times before. This was emphasized in this episode when Marge does not seem to care that Homer is going to try to lose weight again.