It seems that the danger of the mountain peaks does not dissuade trekkers to risk their lives and attempt to climb them. Every year there are many trekkers, climbers, and hikers that take on the formidable challenge of conquering these mountains, but not all come back alive. The mountains have their own nature and power that many people seem to ignore.
You have probably seen the beautiful photographs taken from the sky of the tallest mountain, covered in snow and surrounded by ice and unimaginable peaks. For some it is enough to see the pictures, however there are some brave individuals that want to see those views with their own eyes.
Here we will cover a few of the deadliest mountains in the world that humans have attempted to conquer. These are not places for the faint hearted when accidents can happen, avalanches and landslides are all dangers to be faced on these mountains.
Annapurna, Nepal
This huge mountain range is situated in the north of Nepal, as part of the Himalayas, is one of the most dangerous mountains to climb. It is braved by many travelers, even the less experienced due to it being an easier climb than Everest.
This mountain range can be seen on one of the most popular circular treks in Nepal which makes it seem more accessible than it is. There are many peaks to be climbed in Annapurna, one peak of this mountain range reaches a whopping 8000 meters.
The first person to climb to the peak was in 1950, by a French team of expert climbers led by Maurice Herzog. Though, it may be a fairly easy climb to start with, this mountain has a very high fatality rate, of around 32% of its climbers losing their lives.
Most recently, in 2014, there was a huge avalanche that took the lives of 43 people near the peak. There have been more than 52 deaths since 2012 on peak ascents.
Kangchenjunga, India
This mountain is the third largest mountain in the world and therefore is also on our most deadliest list. Kangchenjunga is located between India and Nepal and is one of the scariest mountains to climb. There have been many avalanches and dangerous weather changes that can happen in a blink of an eye.
Its highest peak reaches 8586 meters, though it also has 5 main peaks, which gives it its name of ‘the five treasures in the great snow’. Very few people dare to climb this mountain, due to not having clear paths and its complete remoteness. Just getting to basecamp takes around 15 grueling days and there are no lodges or camps for protection.
No local guide will take you up the mountain, and there are very few places where you can secure yourself with rope. You have to be an extremely experienced climber to defeat Kangchenjunga. The fatality rate is 22% on Kangchenjunga, with only 187 people reaching the summit. There is more than just the snow and ice to overcome.
The mountain range is situated in Maoist territory, who are the militant group that are often robbing travelers using machine guns demanding that you donate to their cause.
Mount Everest, Nepal
We couldn’t miss out one of the most well-known and yet dangerous mountains from this list. Mount Everest, situated in Nepal, has taken the most lives from all of the deadliest mountains. However due to its popularity and climbing attempts its fatality rate is lower than most (9%).
It is known that the decent is actually more dangerous than the ascent. From when people started climbing the tallest mountain on earth, around 250 lives have been lost to its peaks. When aiming for the peak you have to be prepared to go through places prone to avalanches, or avoid being hit by icicles or rock falls. The best way suggested to climb Mount Everest is in small groups, as larger groups are prone to losing people if disaster strikes.
The climb itself is expensive, people can pay up to $50,000 to get access to the peak. Most trekkers will make it to base camp which is still a high 5,364 meters.Due to its high altitude, climbers are prone to get Acute Mountain Sickness, which is normally characterized by headache and nausea.
In more severe cases, vomiting, dizziness and loss of breath can happen.
Baintha Brakk, Pakistan
Nicknamed ‘The Ogre’, this mountain has one of the most deadliest peaks to climb. It’s not surprising that it’s so difficult, it took 25 years after the first ascent for someone to finally make the second climb to the peak.
The mountain itself is very rocky and steep. A major example of how steep it really is, is seen with its South Face where it rises 3,000 meters with only 2km distance between itself and Uzun Brakk Glacier. Its position is disputed between Pakistani and Indian officials, though officially it belongs to Pakistan. Its highest point is 7,285 meters, and has only been attempted successfully three times, in 1977, 2001 and 2012.
Apart from the successful climbs, there have been numerous fails that have resulted in broken legs, broken ribs and pneumonia. In total there were more than 20 unsuccessful attempts to climb Baintha Brakk, which just goes to show how deadly it really is.
There are other dangers to face in these mountains, especially black bears that will attack climbers and steal food from camps.
SIULA GRANDE, Peruvian Andes
You know it’s a dangerous mountain when there is a Hollywood film made about you. This terrifying mountain range was made famous first by the book Touching the Void, by Joe Simpson about a climbing attempt that almost cost him his life in 1985. The peak of Siula Grande reaches an enormous 6,344 meters, which makes it a terrifying feat for anyone to consider doing.
The Andes are known for their majestic beauty but this mountain has its own layers of danger which both rejects and entices climbers. After choosing to descend via the North Ridge, Simpson and his climbing partner Simon Yates got into trouble and were forced to endure terrible weather and to make impossible decisions. Since then, other climbers have avoided that same descent as it is thought of as too dangerous.
The mountain has claimed the lives of dozens of climbers and is thought of as the most dangerous mountain in the Americas, both north and south.
Nanga Parbat, Pakistan
Another mountain set in Pakistan, Nanga Parbat is the ninth tallest mountain in the world. Due to a number of mountaineering deaths during the 20th century, this mountain has been coined ‘killer mountain’. The mountains summit reaches 8,126 meters and is surrounded by other deadly peaks.
One of the earliest climbing attempts was in 1895, though they only reached 6,100 meters. The mountain was only conquered in 1953 by a German – Austrian mountaineering team. In 2013, foreigners attempting to climb the mountain were shot to death by Taliban militants at the base camp. Since the area has been unstable, less people are inclined to go to the region. Since then the mountain has been climbed and conquered on numerous times, however has also experienced a number of deaths during expeditions. Never been climbed at winter, Nanga Parbat boasts to have the highest mountain face in the world, 4,600 meters above its base.
It’s known to be one of the only two peaks on earth that ranks in the top twenty highest mountains and most prominent peaks.
The Matterhorn, Switzerland/Italy
This huge mountain of the Alps is situated on the Swiss-Italian border. It is the highest summit in the Alps, and has a summit of 4,478 meters. The Matterhorn was named due to its shape and has a majestic look, four steep faces rise high about its glaciers.
You can see this mountain from both Italy and Switzerland and it has many hikers and travelers come to visit it each year. In the early nineteenth century it was the only peak in the Alps left unclimbed and therefore drew in a lot of international attention. The first ascent of the Matterhorn was made in 1865, but the deadly mountain took the lives of four of the brave mountaineers. This tragedy meant that no one attempted to climb the mountain again until 1931, when the north face was finally climbed.
The Matterhorn is the sixth highest peak in the Alps, and also in Europe. Though its challenges and dangers outrank many of the other peaks in the mountain range. Sometimes it is referred to as the ‘Mountain of Mountains’ which just signifies how deadly people think it to be.
It is thought that more than 500 people have died trying to climb the peaks of the Matterhorn since 1985, which makes it the deadliest mountain in the Alps.