eightthousander

An eight-thousander is any mountain whose summit is greater than 8,000 meters (26,247 feet) above sea level. There are fourteen such mountains, all located in the Himalayas and Karakoram mountain ranges of Asia. The highest of these is Mount Everest, standing at 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet).

Climbing the eight-thousanders is considered the ultimate challenge in mountaineering. Only a select few individuals have managed to summit all fourteen peaks, a feat known as the "Crown of the Himalayas." The first person to achieve this was Reinhold Messner, who completed the challenge in 1986.

Each of the fourteen eight-thousanders presents unique difficulties, including extreme altitudes, unpredictable weather, avalanches, and treacherous terrain. Many climbers rely on supplemental oxygen to survive at these altitudes, though a small number have achieved "virgin ascents" without it. The pursuit of climbing these giants has a long and often tragic history, with numerous lives lost in the attempt. Despite the risks, the allure of conquering these monumental peaks continues to draw mountaineers from around the globe.