12 Tallest Summits That Will Take Your Breath Away—Literally
There’s no feeling more powerful than standing on the summit of a mountain. I’m pretty sure that something in our blood tells us to climb, and for some people, this urge is much stronger. Every day of the year, people climb mountains around the world. However, some of these summits are almost impossible to reach.
There are some summits that hundreds of people have died trying to climb. From Pakistan to Nepal to Switzerland, there are impossible summits where people put their mountaineering skills to the ultimate test to become one of the few to reach the top. Let’s discuss the most impressive mountains that people summit.
1. Everest, Nepal
Starting our list, we have Everest. At 29,035 feet, it is the tallest mountain in the world. Everyone has heard of it, but most don’t know how dangerous it truly is. It’s estimated that over 330 people have lost their lives while attempting to summit this massive mountain.
That averages about 4 deaths per year since people first started attempting to climb Everest in 1922. The first people to reach Everest’s summit were Ed Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgayin in 1953. Since then, about 6,700 people have successfully summited Everest, and this number continues to grow each year as more climbers test their limits on this mountain.
2. K2, Pakistan
Everest might be the tallest mountain in the world, but K2 is the most difficult summit to reach. K2 is in Pakistan and is the second tallest mountain in the world at 28,251 feet. The technicality, steepness, and horrific weather make this climb so much harder than Everest.
The first time K2 was summited was just a year after Everest in 1954. If you still think Everest is a more challenging mountain to climb, about 400 people have summited K2 compared to Everest’s almost 7,000… That’s a huge difference! Out of these 400 people, there have been about 100 deaths. There’s a 25% chance that climbing this mountain will kill you.
3. Annapurna, Nepal
I would say Annapurna is the second most difficult summit in the world. It used to be the deadliest mountain in the world until K2 passed it. Still, there’s about a 20% chance you’ll die climbing this mountain. There have been about 400 people that have climbed this mountain (the same as K2), and there have been about 70 deaths.
It’s the tenth tallest mountain in the world at 26,545 feet, and what makes this mountain so deadly are its avalanches, technicality, and falling boulders. The weather on Annapurna is constantly changing, so you never know if it’ll be a blizzard or a sunny day (sunny days are usually more dangerous because they cause avalanches).
4. Denali, USA
Denali is the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. About 20,000 people have reached its summit, with about 130 deaths. The number of people on Denali is one reason that fewer people are dying compared to other mountains. About 1,000 people attempt to summit each year, with most people on the mountain between May and June.
Some things that make Denali such a dangerous climb are the fluctuation of temperatures, elevation, and frostbite. This mountain’s technicality is similar to Everest in that it’s not very technical and is more of a hike than a climb.
5. Kangchenjunga, Nepal/India
This mountain is located on the border between Nepal and India. It’s 28,169 feet tall, which makes it the third tallest mountain in the world. Just over 300 people have summited this mountain, which has a mortality rate of about 20% (the same as Annapurna).
The high winds, altitude, and heavy snowfall make climbing Kangchenjunga difficult. It’s said that this mountain is three times more difficult than Everest (and the numbers show this).
6. Eiger, Switzerland
Eiger itself is a relatively easy mountain to climb. What makes this mountain so tricky is the North Face. The North Face of Eiger is one of the most classic climbing routes in the world, and if you want to be among the best mountaineers, climbing the North Face is the best way to do this.
Eiger is just a baby compared to the previous mountains on this list at just 13,015 feet. Only about 700 people have summited Eiger via the North Face route, and about 70 people have died attempting this route. What makes this route so difficult is the rotten limestone, which causes rockfalls, its icy walls, and the technicality of the climb.
7. Cerro Torre, Chile/Argentina
Seeing this mountain will show you how it made it onto this list. Its 7,200 feet of vertical gain is straight up the side of a 90-degree rock wall. Believe it or not, this impossible-looking climb has been free-soloed. Free solo is when you climb a mountain without any ropes.
It’s just you and the wall, and nothing is stopping you from dropping 7,000 feet to your death. Cerro Torre has been named the most beautiful mountain on earth, but don’t let its beauty fool you. Five people have died attempting to summit this peak since it was first climbed in 1974.
8. Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
This mountain’s nickname is “Killer Mountain.” At 26,660 feet, it’s the ninth-tallest mountain on Earth and is known for its impossibly steep slopes, constant avalanches, and terrible weather conditions.
Around 400 people have summited this mountain, and 70 have died attempting to summit. This mountain also has the longest ridge out of all the 8,000-meter peaks, around 8 miles long. This is where many people die on their way to the summit because of its exposure to the weather and avalanches.
9. K1, Pakistan
As you can tell, Pakistan and Nepal win for the most dangerous peaks in the world. K1 (also known as Masherbrum) is 25,659 feet tall. The mountains, starting with a “K” in Pakistan, are the most prominent in the Karakoram Mountain Range.
There are 5 well-known mountains in this range, numbered K1-5. What makes K1 so challenging is the crevasses, steep mountain and ice faces, and unpredictable weather. Only 15 people have summited this mountain since its first summit in 1960.
10. Baintha Brakk, Pakistan
Baintha Brakk, also known as The Ogre, is ranked in the top 100 tallest mountains but is considered one of the most difficult to climb. This mountain is known for its steepness, cragginess (or jagged rock sections), and relentless, terrible weather.
It’s only been summited three times, and there have been about 20 attempts to summit it. The first summit was in 1977, the second in 2001, and the third in 2012. This is the mountain with the fewest summits on our list, making the people who have summited it the most impressive mountain climbers out there.
11. Vinson Massif, Antarctica
Antarctica is one of the most remote and coldest places on the planet, and believe it or not, there’s a 16,067-foot mountain here. That’s taller than the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States! When most people think of Antarctica, they think of penguins and ice—not massive mountains!
The usual temperature at the Vinson Massif is around -30 degrees, and during the coldest months, it can get down to -90 degrees. Reaching the summit of this mountain is more of a hike than a climb, which makes it the only mountain on this list with zero deaths.
12. Matterhorn, Switzerland
Last up, we have the Matterhorn. This iconic mountain in Switzerland is considered the most challenging climb in the Alps. If you can’t tell from the picture, this mountain goes straight up with nothing but ice and rocks to the summit. Also, there are no places to rest on your way to the summit, so you must climb the entire mountain in one push. This requires a lot of strength and stamina.
