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What’s left to climb?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     china, climb, climbing, everest, Nepal, pakistan

We are forever hearing about Everest expeditions, and K2 and the other usual suspects, but which mountains still unconquered are on mountaineers’ to-do lists?

We all to easily forget that the vast majority of the Earth’s peaks have yet to be climbed. A quick glance at the geo maps from China reveal the true scale of the challenges ahead.

According to the country’s national data, Karakorum mountain peaks at 8611m, that’s only 237m short of Everest, and there are five more mountain ranges that top out at over 7,000m. Now, who is looking to take climbing to new heights and get onto these new on challenges?

So, what's next?

Chinese mountaineers Yan Dongdong and Li Lan recently climbed Wuse Shan, also called the ‘Five Colours Mountain’. This 5340m peak had resisted earlier attempts – a real triumph considering the pair had only climbed together on a handful of occasions.

Climbing in China’s Sichuan Province, the pair summited Wuse Shan’s west peak. Pictures from the summit reveal just how many more challenges there are. Goromity, Chibu – the list goes on.

According to unclimbed.com, the majority of the peaks in Pakistan are unnamed and unclimbed. I guess this remains true for most mountain ranges. But what’s next? What are the mountains everyone wants to climb?

If you are planning something or have your eyes on a new snow-capped prize, let us know.

About the author

Mark Pawlak wrote 194 articles on this blog.

Editor at Adventure Sports Holidays, Mark's love affair with travel and the challenges of adventure sports continues... "You could save all year for a two-week, all-inclusive, doss by the pool, booze and buffet binge. Or, with a little planning and some good equipment, get off your arse and plan an adventure!"

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7 Comments to “What’s left to climb?”

• 

  Luke June 8, 2010 at 3:43 pm

  How about Gangkar Punsum it is the 40th highest mountain at 7570m and the highest unclimbed (according to wiki!).

  It is located in Bhutan and in 2003 the Bhutan government decided to prohibit climbing out of respect for local religious beliefs and traditions. In the mid eighties 3 attempts were made, but they all failed and a partial ban was in place from 1994. So this is likely to remain a ‘great unclimbed’ for a long time to come.
• 

  Thomas Schmidt June 9, 2010 at 1:54 pm

  There’s a 7000-something mountain in Bhutan, one I saw in a Himalaya book years ago. It looks like a hand axe’s head (like the stone age tool), with a chipped off peak. To my mind that’s one of the most beautiful, most awe-inspiring and most terrifying mountain… and must be the ultimate challenge to climb.
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  Lucy June 9, 2010 at 4:33 pm

  Wow! Thanks for this post, I had no idea there were so many unclimbed peaks. We tend to assume that much of the world has been ‘discovered’ already. I’ve certainly got itchy feet now, and a better reason than Peking duck and Tsingdao beer to visit China!
• 

  Mark June 10, 2010 at 9:12 am

  Thomas , thanks for commenting. I wonder if our expert friends can shine some light on that peak. Lets hope it’s not too sharp at the top!

  I always find it hard to really understand the scale, when these mountains are shown on television. The moment the camera pulls away from the climbers, and comes further and further back always reveals the magnitude of the challenge. Inspiring.

  Lucy,

  There are so many reasons to visit China! I bet extreme sports and adventure sports are taking off massively now. The idea that just one country can be home to so many opportunities and experiences, it’s mind-boggling.
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  Hakuna Matata Tours June 15, 2010 at 4:31 am

  You are true, there are several mt which are even unknown by climbers, you say pics. but there are also volcanoes, Like Nyiragongo volcano in congo DRC. Climbers must try it.
• 

  Lon Blumenthal June 22, 2010 at 5:44 pm

  During many flights from London back to Chicago, we have flown over southern Greenland. The mountains look spectacular. I’ve often wondered that there must be many unclimbed peaks. That’s my next goal.
• 

  James July 4, 2011 at 10:20 am

  We arranged logistic support for a team of dutch climbers in Afghanistan in 2010. They made three first ascents in the Qala e Panja valley in the countries far North East. There are of course thousands of unclimbed peaks left in the world however before you start packing your ice pick they are usually unclimbed for one or more of following three reasons:

  -They are really, really hard to climb.
  -They are really, really hard to get to.
  -They are off limits for religious or politcial reasons (e.g. Kailash in Tibet, Macchapuchre in Nepal etc…)

  And don’t forget, if you are the first to climb it and it is unnamed, you get to name it.