Standing atop the Mt. Everest is perhaps every mountaineer’s biggest fantasy. At the altitude of 8,848 meters above sea level, it is almost as high as the flight range of a Boeing 747 Jumbojet.
With just half the oxygen than required in its rarefied environment, humans are likely to die if left without additional supplies. Yet, some have achieved the extraordinary feat of climbing Mt Everest without extra oxygen though it’s still an unbelievable achievement requiring unparalleled stamina and will power.
Thousands have died, trying to conquer the tallest peak. Their dead bodies still lying near the summit are used as signboards by other climbers. Almost one-fourth of the climbers suffer this fate. They don’t survive to see their families back home. Despite all this, Mt Everest is still safer than some of the other summits which are tougher for even the most experienced climbers to conquer. Here’s a list,
Annapoorna 1, Nepal (8091 meters)
It is the deadliest of all the mountain peaks in the world. More than one-third of the climbers have died in efforts to reach the summit from the south face of the mountain. Only 191 have till date conquered Annapurna 1 while 59 have died in the quest.
Mount K2, Pakistan/India (8848 meters)
The second tallest mountain in the world is deadly for climbers to conquer. People trying to climb from the Pakistani side of the mountain are faced with deadly storms, shifting ice and a much steeper climb than Everest.
Nanga Parbat, India (8126 meters)
More than one-fifth of the climbers attempting to climb this dangerous peak do not survive to see the light of the day. A successful route was discovered only after 1983. Before that only one attempt was made to make it to the summit which resulted in a wipe-out of the team.
Dhaulagiri, Nepal (8167 meters)
An ascend to Dhaulagiri from the south face of the mountain is impossible for climbers and is as good as attempting suicide by even the most experienced mountaineers. It was the second last mountain in the 8000-meter club to be summited. It has a notorious image of vanishing even the most expert among climbers.
Kanchanjungha, India (8586 meters)
The name Kanchanjungha translates to consistently deadly. With One-sixth as the fatality rate for climbers, Kanchenjungha still remains deadly even after technological advancements which made other peaks comparatively safer. Highly unpredictable weather conditions are said to be the reason behind most of the deaths.
Gasherbrum 1, China (8035 meters)
Gasherbrum claims one tenth of the lives of those who try to climb it. The fatality rate is low only because there are very few who dare to climb up to the summit. The peak is nestled between seven similar peaks which make it tough for even experienced climbers to conquer this mountain.
Manaslu, Nepal (8156 meters)
Manaslu is the 8th highest mountain peak in the world. More than 50 climbers have died trying to climb the summit out of 297. This makes the fatality rate of the mountain climbers as one of the highest in the 8000 meters club. Japanese mountaineers became the first to conquer its peak in the 1960’s.