World’s Most Dangerous Mountains

These mountains have claimed the lives of many people throughout the years due to their dangerous topography and harsh weather conditions. Here are the world’s most dangerous mountains.

Mountain climbing is a popular activity for many people all over the world, yet it is a dangerous sport with potentially fatal consequences. Climbing Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak, may be a bucket list item for many, but it is an exceedingly risky effort that has claimed many lives over the years. Here is a list of the most perilous mountains to climb in the world.

10. Mount Eiger

9. Mount Annapurna

Mount Annapurna is located in Nepal. At 26,246 feet, it is one of the tallest summits and has drawn many climbers. The summit was indeed reached on the first attempt in 1950. Since then, around 191 people have successfully climbed Annapurna. A total of 72 people have died on this summit, the vast majority of them were killed by avalanches. The most recent death was in March of this year.

8. Mount K2

Mount K2 on the China-Pakistan border is the world’s second highest peak, standing 28,251 feet above sea level. Around 300 people have reached the peak, but the journey is treacherous. One climber dies every four years, with 83 documented deaths since 1939. Avalanches, becoming lost, falls, storms, and altitude sickness are just a few of the many causes of death. Despite reaching 20,510 feet on the second trip in 1909, climbers were unsuccessful. K2 was left unfinished for nearly 30 years before another attempt was made. That began in 1938, but no one made it to the top until July 31, 1954.

7. Mont Blanc

The tallest summit in the Alpine range, Mont Blanc, has the most fatalities. Attempting to climb this peak results in 100 deaths every year on average and around 6,000 deaths total, making it the region’s deadliest mountain. Surprisingly, the first successful ascent of Mont Blanc took place in 1786, long before modern climbing equipment. The first woman to reach the summit did so in 1808, and the second climber was a woman 30 years later. In 1886, before assuming office, US President Theodore Roosevelt made a trip to the top. A group of 20 climbers set up a hot tub on the summit in September 2007, making for an interesting journey up.

6. Nanga Parbat

At the western extremity of the Himalayas, the Indus River passes through Nanga Parbat. This mountain in Pakistan is considered one of the “eight-thousanders,” a coveted accomplishment. It earned the nickname “killer mountain” due to its elevation of 26,600 feet. Because the K2 was too difficult to reach and only the British had access to Mount Everest, German climbers discovered Nanga Parbat in the 1930s. There will be several failed efforts and fatalities before the first successful ascent. Previous attempts had been thwarted by severe weather and avalanches, but in 1953, Austrian Hermann Buhl gained the summit alone. He’d gone out with a group that had quit before reaching the summit. Coca tea and stimulant medications assisted his ascent, and it took him 24 hours to return to camp. The mountain has already taken the lives of 31 individuals by 1953.

READ MORE: Top 10 Vodka Countries In The World

5. Mount Kanchenjunga

Mount Kanchenjunga, which Nepal and India share, is the world’s third highest mountain. It is a member of the 8,000-meter club and is 28,269 feet tall. In 1853, one of the earliest attempts at climbing in the region was made. At the time, a group of explorers was climbing in the Kanchenjunga region and had reached around 19,000 feet on a nearby mountain before determining that the summit conditions were too dangerous. In 1905, an avalanche blocked the first planned ascent of Mount Kanchenjunga. On the way down, one of the climbers was killed. After a month and ten days of grueling struggle, the first climbing team reached the summit fifty years later.

4. Mount Fitz Roy

Mount Fitz Roy is the list’s sole South American summit. This mountain in Patagonia, on the border of Argentina and Chile, is dangerous not because of its height, but because of its sheer granite surfaces and harsh weather. Mount Fitz Roy has had fewer successful summits than the other mountains on this list, although the first was in February 1952. On average, one climbing team every year is successful. Many photographers have died after diving off these cliffs.

3. Mount Vinson

Mount Vinson is the highest point in Antarctica. Yes, dedicated climbers will go to an almost desolate continent in quest of a tough mountain. Since 1966 (the first successful ascent), over 1,400 people have attempted to climb this mountain. The first ascent was financed by the National Geographic Society and the American Alpine Club. This peak’s hurdles are the actual travel into and out of Antarctica, as well as the weather conditions. There have been no deaths.

2. Mount Matterhorn

Mount Matterhorn rises 14,692 feet between Switzerland and Italy in the Alps. It has the form of a four-sided pyramid and is excellent for photography. Despite its majestic look, Mount Matterhorn is a dangerous, deadly mountain. The first successful climb happened in 1865, but four lives were lost due to a rope break. Avalanches and collapsing boulders have claimed over 500 lives on the peak since then.

1. Mount Everest

Mount Everest, maybe the most well-known name, makes the list of the world’s most dangerous mountains. Everest is located in Nepal’s Himalayan Mountain range and is 29,029 feet above sea level. The first confirmed ascent of this famous climbing mountain took place in 1953. The freshly minted Queen Elizabeth II knighted the exploratory couple. One of the first well-publicized tragedies happened in 1970, when a Japanese crew attempted to carve a new road down the rock face. Eight persons were killed as a result of this endeavor. Avalanches and unexpected blizzards have claimed roughly 280 lives on Mount Everest throughout the years. This is the most dangerous mountain in the world.