Climb If You Dare: 5 Most Dangerous Mountains on Earth
by Dale Harris
Mountaineering is a fun outdoor activity, but not something that all people can attempt. However, if you’re a true climber, nothing is fulfilling as reaching the summit of the highest mountains.
Unfortunately, fun isn’t something that you’ll get all the time.
It’s a risky affair. There are some dangerous mountains in the world that even the most experienced climbers fear.
This post will cover some of the deadliest mountains that are known for their high fatality rates and accidents.
1. Mont Blanc Massif
This is the tallest mountain in the Alpine range, measuring about 15,782 ft. Climbers die on this mountain every year due to rock slides and high altitude. This makes it the mountain with the highest number of fatalities.
Mont Black causes about 100 deaths every year. Over 6,000 climbers have died on it. The first successful climb was in 1786. However, the mountain is also popular because President Theodore Roosevelt reached its top in 1886.
2. Annapurna
Boasting a height of 26,246 feet, Nepal’s Annapurna has one of the tallest peaks that attracts climbers from everywhere. About 191 people have successfully climbed this mountain since 1950.
60 people have already died in an effort to reach the summit of Annapurna. Of all the mountains with 8,000-meter peaks, Annapurna is regarded as the most dangerous with a fatality rate of 41 percent.
3. K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world. It’s easy to climb Kilimanjaro, but that’s not the case with K2 as climbers consider it one of the most difficult. Even on the easier routes, climbers encounter ice pillars that prone to collapse, steep areas of rock, and complicated glaciers.
This mountain is found on the border of China and Pakistan. It measures 28,251 feet. K2 has a nasty reputation with female climbers — to the point that it’s thought to have a curse against women.
Wanda Rutkiewicz, a Polish climber, was the first woman to reach K2’s summit in 1986.
All the five women that attempted to climb it again since that year died. It wasn’t until 2004 when Spanish mountaineer Edurne Pasaban successfully reached the summit.
4. Nanga Parbat
This mountain is popularly known as the Man Eater and has a height of 26,657 ft. Nanga Parbat is located in Pakistan. It features an enormous ridge of ice and rock. It’s the ninth highest mountain in the world and has the tallest mountain face.
It was popular with the German climbers because K2 was difficult to climb and only the Britons had access to Everest. Several deaths occurred on this mountain before the first successful attempt in 1953.
By 1953, Nanga Parbat had already claimed the lives of 31 climbers.
5. Kangchenjunga
Positioned on the border of India and Nepal, Kangchenjunga has a height of 28,169 ft. It’s a beautiful mountain, but looks can be deceiving. Extreme cold levels and avalanches have made Kangchenjunga one of the most dangerous mountains.
The first attempt was in 1853, but the climbers descended after determining the summit was unsafe. Over the years, this mountain has claimed the lives of 53 climbers.
Dangerous Mountains – The Bottom Line
To pull a mountain climbing expedition, it’s important to prepare for it adequately to minimize the possibility of accidents.
Experienced climbers understand that there are risks. However, when the conditions are favorable and safety measures are taken, hitting the summit is the only task at hand.
These cases should not scare you. There are different easy mountains, such as Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak, Mount Hood, and Island Peak, you can try if you are new to mountain climbing.
