The top of the world

Every one wishes to be on the top of the world. Well, if you want to do it literally, then Mount Everest is the place to do it. Towering at 8,848 meters, this is the highest peak in the world and summiting it is a dream of many. As we celebrate the achievement of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, we look at some of the other mountains in the world that give you a tough climb

Toughest mountains to climb

Though the Everest is the highest peak, it is not the toughest to climb. Here’s a list of the mountains which give climbers a tough time battling their steep slopes and adverse climatic conditions.

First to summit

Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary were the first ones to reach the peak of this mountain on May 29, 1953. After this many records were broken. Every year about 600-700 people try to scale this icy mountain in the summer. Mountaineers usually prefer summer because conditions are favourable, because in winter the climb is a challenge. The climb is always done from the northern side which is easier to climb when compared to the steep and deadly southern side. Famous TV show host Bear Grylls is one of the few celebrities who have reached the top of this mountain.

Problems faced by climbers

Climbing the mountains is not as easy as it looks. It takes a lot of effort. The climbers encounter many problems. We list some

1. Altitude sickness: In this, the people find it difficult to adjust to the changing altitude and might end up in coma or probably die.

2. Chances of a heart attack: This is because of the increasing thickness of blood due to decrease of oxygen.

3. Hypothermia: In this condition, a part of the person’s body becomes numb and blood freezes inside it. The only solution to this is to get that limb amputated.

4. Solar Radiation: The density of air decreases along with the altitude which leads to the direct exposure of mountaineers to ultraviolet rays.

5. White-outs: This is when the visibility contrast is reduced due to snow. This causes the climbers to loss orientation.

Famous Everest climbers

May 8, 1978: Two Tyrolean mountaineers, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler, achieved the impossible. They climbed Everest without the supplemental oxygen.

May 16, 1975: Junko Tabei became the first woman to ascent the mountain.

May 25,1996: Cathy O’ Dowd became the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

August 20,1980: Reinhold Messner makes the first solo ascent via the NE Ridge to North Face.

February 17,1980: First winter ascent by Poles L Cichy and K Wielicki.

Most Ascents: Appa Sherpa became the first person to scale Everest 21 times successfully.

EVEREST TIMELINE

1841: Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, records the location of Everest.

1852: The Great Trignometrical Survey of India determines the Peak XV is the highest mountain in the world.

1854: Peak B renamed Peak XV.

1865: Peak XV re-named Mt Everest to honour Sir George Everest, the Surveyor General of India. Everest is known as Chomolungma in Tibet and Sagarmatha in Nepal.

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Tags: Bhavneet Singh, K2 (Savage mountain), Mount Everest, mountains, Mt Annapurna, Mt Baintha Brakk, Mt Cerro Torre, Mt Denali, Mt Gasherbrum IV, Mt Kanchenjunga, Mt Lhotse, Mt Nanga Parbat, Mt Pomiu, Sneha Mashetty

Category: Life & Style, Travel