18 most beautiful mountains in the world that have ruined hundreds of lives (Part 1)

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

While some conquer hearts and step up the career ladder, others are struggling to conquer mountain peaks in order to feel at their best in the literal sense of the word. And if in the first two cases everything is more or less safe, then in the second - you need to be extremely careful not to stumble and not fall, flying down. To your attention - some of the most dangerous and difficult mountains to climb, which only a few managed to overcome.

1. Eiger (3970 m.), Switzerland

Despite its low height, a little less than four thousand meters (3970 m), the Eiger, located in the Bernese Alps, received the nickname "The Murder Wall". And it is not surprising at all. Small and at first glance very accessible in comparison with large mountains, it is so deceptive and contradictory that it easily misleads not only mountain climbers, but also experienced climbers. The first ascent of the Eiger was made in 1858 by Swiss explorers, but only in 1938 was it possible to overcome its northern side. For the route from the north side to this day continues to challenge climbers from all over the world, requiring tremendous technical knowledge in mountaineering.

2. Matterhorn (4478 m.), Switzerland

The Matterhorn is one of the most dangerous peaks in the Alps, accounting for hundreds of deaths caused by many different factors: from technical difficulty and falling rocks to avalanches and, oddly enough, people. During the climbing season, the peak becomes overcrowded, which entails severe, and sometimes completely irreversible consequences. This is because the uniqueness of the Matterhorn lies in its pyramidal shape and stunning symmetry. And since its first ascent in 1865, it has become an iconic mountain in the Alps, which few manage to conquer.

3. Mont Blanc (4807 m.), France / Italy

Mont Blanc is one of the highest mountains in Europe and the most popular in the whole world. And it is not at all surprising that more than twenty thousand people reach this summit every year, more than two centuries after it was originally passed. And despite the fact that from a technical point of view, the climb is not the most difficult compared to other mountains in the Alps, nevertheless, there are areas known for their rockfalls. But that's not all. It is striking that the summit seems deceptively close, but in fact, to get to the final and high point of Mont Blanc, you often have to take difficult routes that require climbing two other 4000-meter mountains.

4. Elbrus (5642 m.), Russia

The pearl of Russia, Mount Elbrus, is a dormant volcano in the Caucasus Mountains. Due to its northern location, it is extremely cold there, so any attempt to conquer the top of the world is worth a titanic effort, and this despite the fact that from a technical point of view, the climb is not so difficult. The reason is that the closer you get to your goal, the harder it becomes to breathe. In addition, weather conditions and acclimatization on the part of climbers play an important role in the ascent and descent. It is for these two reasons that, with poor preparation, hundreds of people die every year.

5. Gauri Sankar (7134 m.), Nepal / China

Gauri Sankar is a peak in the Himalayas, about a hundred kilometers from Kathmandu, near the border of Nepal and China. To the north is the sister peak, Melungtse. The mountain has two peaks: the northern peak (which is higher) is called Sankar, and the southern peak is Gauri. Nepal opened for tourism only in 1950, so the first attempts to climb Gauri Sankar were in the 50s and 60s, but the steep ice slopes on all sides and bad weather made the expeditions unsuccessful, and only in 1979 did the climbers reach the summit. The route requires incredible technical skills to reach the icy surface, let alone reach the summit itself. And it is not at all surprising that even today there are only a few climbers who managed to conquer this one.

6. Melungtse (7181 m.), China (Tibet)

Melungtse is located north of the Nepal-China border, in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Gauri Sankar is better known as it is visible from Nepal, but Melungtse is perhaps even more treacherous than the mountain described above. After several unsuccessful (and illegal!) Attempts, Melungtse was finally conquered in 1992. And since then she was not defeated, although there were plenty of people willing to repeat the feat. One of the main reasons for its inaccessibility is its inaccessibility, as well as the fact that there are very steep descents and ascents. It is the steep edges that make the ascent much more difficult than one could imagine.

7. Banntha Brakk (7285 m.), Pakistan

This summit in the Karakorum ridge in Pakistan has such a difficult ascent that only three times the expedition reached the summit. Also known as "Ogre", the mountain is famous for its steep and uneven rock, which is why its terrain is much more difficult to cross than most of the Karakorum peaks. The first successful ascent was made in 1977, and even then the climbers almost died during the descent. Twenty-one years passed before another expedition was able to climb to the very top of the mountain. Accordingly, in addition to all of the above, the combination of high altitude, steepness, unpredictable weather and proximity to the Uzun-Brakk glacier makes the ascent especially dangerous and practically unattainable.

8. Jannu (7710 m.), Nepal

Officially called Kumbhakarna, this peak is the western edge of Kanchenjunga and is linked to it by a long ridge. It was first conquered in 1962 from the southeastern ridge. This mountain is well known for its challenging missions. In addition to the fact that the rise is high, there is a particularly steep rise in front of the summit itself, which only a few were able to overcome. It was only in 1976 that the Japanese, who entered from the north side, managed to overcome the peak and climb to the top of Zhannu, but even then the team avoided the steep climb in the upper part of the mountain, instead deciding to bypass it. And in 2004, a group of Russian climbers managed to pass the most difficult path and reach the top of the mountain, passing the most difficult route along the center of the northern wall.

9. Gasherbrums (7925 m.), Pakistan

Gasherbrums are a remote mountain group located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. They are part of the Karakorum Ridge and contain three 8000-meter peaks in the world! Interestingly, Gasherbrum IV was first explored as K3 in the 1800s: today, of the five mountains in the K (Karakoram) series, only K2 retains its name. In 1958, there was the first ascent of Gasherbrum IV, but, unfortunately, the group of climbers did not manage to climb to the very top. After that, several more attempts were made to climb, and only in 1997 a Korean team of climbers managed to climb the central buttress of the western wall. Gasherbrum IV enjoys a reputation as one of the most difficult peaks to climb due to its height, steepness and unpredictable weather in the area.

10. Annapurna (8091 m.), Nepal

The Annapurna Massif is a 55 km stretch with multiple peaks. Annapurna I is the legendary summit of the elite 8000-meter peak, which is immensely popular among the mountaineering community. However, with a fatality rate of nearly forty percent, the ascent is not easy. In 1950, a French expedition climbed Annapurna for the first time and achieved success. However, it was not until 1970 that a group of Britons managed to climb the southern wall, which is considered one of the most difficult. The peak has numerous avalanche-like areas and unstable ice walls. The climate is also difficult to rely on - a blizzard can hit at any time, and poor visibility immediately increases the danger of any hike.

11. Nanga Parbat (8126 m.), Pakistan

Nanga Parbat is the ninth highest mountain in the world and extremely difficult to climb. Located in the remote Gilgit region of Baltistan, it is the western anchor of the Himalayas, which is why it is sometimes referred to as "Assassin's Mountain" or "Cannibal" due to the loss of life. This peak has the largest (and perhaps most intimidating) rock wall: the legendary Rupal Lik on the south side, which rises 15,000 feet! And it is not at all surprising that any attempt to climb the mountain in winter ended in tragic deaths.

12. Dhaulagiri (8167 m.), Nepal

The Dhaulagiri massif stretches 120 kilometers from the Gandaki River to Bheri in Nepal. Dhaulagiri I is located only thirty-four kilometers west of Annapurna I, and in clear weather it can be seen from the northern Indian plateaus. It rises suddenly from the lower area (7000 meters from the Gandaki River) and has five ridges on the south and west sides. Since 1960, ascents have been made from all sides. However, the south side remained untapped until 1999 due to a lack of special equipment, experience and skills. In addition, this place is famous for its ice avalanches.

13. Makalu (8481 m.), Nepal / China

Makalu is the fifth highest peak on earth and is located just twenty kilometers from Mount Everest. It is located on the border in the center of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and is an isolated peak. It is believed that this is one of the most difficult mountains to climb, and, perhaps, second only to K2. The summit is an incredibly unique structure: it is shaped like a four-sided pyramid. Part of the difficulty was the inaccessibility of the base camp itself, but now the situation has improved due to the helicopters. Climbing Makalu requires weeks of acclimatization and experience with glaciers and seracs is required. So this is definitely an endurance test.

14. Lhotse (8516 m.), Nepal / China

Lhotse is a summit directly connected to Everest via the South Stake and is part of the Everest massif. Along with the main peak, the mountain also has two more peaks, Lhotse Sredny (which was not climbed until 2001) and Lhotse Shar. The biggest problem with Lhotse is altitude: you need to be prepared for more than 8000 meters, which is the so-called "death zone". On the western flank there is also Lhotse, a 1,125-meter ice wall that rises 40 and 50 degrees and must be crossed to reach the South Rim. But after the central wall, the route becomes even steeper to the top, presenting a danger at every step.

15. Kanchenjunga (8568 m.), Nepal / India

The third largest peak in the world, Kangchenjunga retained a high mortality rate (20%), in particular during the descent and descent. There are three routes from Nepal and one from Sikkim in India, which has remained closed since 2000 due to its danger. The peak is located along the border of Nepal and India and has one of the deadliest climbs in the world. Unpredictable weather, cold temperatures, high altitudes and frequent avalanches are factors that made the climb so dangerous. That is why climbers have to be prepared for steep slopes and overhanging glaciers, especially when descending.

16. K2 (8614 m.), Pakistan / China

K2, located along the Sino-Pakistani border, is the highest point on the Karakoram Ridge and is well known for its difficult climb. In fact, it is also called the "Wild Mountain", which has never been climbed in winter (if there were climbers in winter, the death toll would have increased dramatically). K2 is inferior to Everest in height, but much more difficult to climb. Even the simplest routes require navigating steep glaciers and unstable seracs. In addition, the area is prone to multi-day storms, which, combined with low oxygen levels at this altitude, could lead to disaster.

17. Everest (8848 m.), Nepal / China

There are many mountains that are technically more challenging than Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, but they are not as famous as the legendary Chomolungma. There are two main climbing routes at the summit: the "standard" route from Nepal and another from the north from Tibet. Climbing Everest is famous for altitude sickness, strong gusty winds, unpredictable weather, as well as some avalanche-prone areas and the deadly Khumbu Icefall. But, according to experts, the greatest danger is the traffic jam on the route near the Hillary Step: this place often attracts very inexperienced travelers who are not prepared for extreme climatic conditions and do not have the proper equipment.

18. Cook (3724 m.), New Zealand

Mount Cook, also known as Aoraki, is the highest peak in New Zealand and is located in the Southern Alps in a national park. It has three peaks: Low Peak, Medium Peak, and High Peak. Although it is a popular tourist destination, it is also a favorite of climbers. This place is famous for its rains and winds throughout the year, and storms can even last for several days. Rapid temperature drops and poor visibility exacerbate the rise problem. People often underestimate this climb, but Mount Cook has high levels of glaciation and unpredictable weather. Cracks, avalanches and rockfalls make it New Zealand's deadliest peak.

Continuing the theme - which, unfortunately, have been abandoned. But despite this, even through the day they continue to attract the attention of the most desperate and curious "tourists" who want to capture the majestic and destructive beauty of old buildings.