Listopedia: Mountain Peaks to Master

You don’t have to be Sir Edmund Hillary to feel inspired by climbing mountains. Here’s the Listopedia bucket list of mountain peaks that mere mortals, like me, can climb.

Kilimanjaro (5895m) – Tanzania

This impressive volcanic mountain rises from the middle of the African Plains and is the highest mountain peak in Africa, and also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. You cross through different climatic zones – rainforest, alpine desert and the icecap at the summit. This trek can take between 5 – 8 days depending on the route and how much acclimatisation time is factored in. The more time you take to complete this climb the better chance you have of avoiding altitude sickness. Still on my bucket list.

Mount Emei (3099m) – China

Home to the first Buddhist temple, built on the summit in the 1st century A.D., Mount Emei is of huge cultural significance to China. This area is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and includes an enormous Buddha (71m high) carved into the mountain in the 8th Century. There are several ways to reach the summit depending on how much time you have and how much you enjoy hiking. You can catch a cable car to the summit but that seems to defeat the purpose of coming to such an amazing place. Alternatively you can do a two day hike, sleeping in a monastery overnight, and if the steep climb becomes too much you can pay to be carried in a sedan chair! The scenery is straight out of a Chinese storybook so allow plenty of time to soak it up.

Jebel Toubkal (4167m) – Morocco

The highest mountain in North Africa, located in the High Atlas Mountains, is climbed as a two day trek. This was the first mountain I ever climbed and it kicked off my passion for “Mountains Peaks for Mortals”. Starting from the village of Imlil (1740m), climbers follow a rocky track through the valley and climb for 5-7 hours to the refuge, spending the night at (3200m). A steep walk over boulders to the summit early in the morning delivers stunning views of surrounding mountains, valleys and villages. The descent is a slippery scree slope, which keeps you moving. Jebel Toubkal can be climbed without a guide if you’re confident hiker.

Island Peak (6189m) – Nepal

Often called “The Trekking Peak”, this is one of the more accessible peaks to conquer in the Himalayas. You’ll spend 2-3 weeks trekking in the Khumbu valley region, including Everest Base Camp, as part of climbing Island Peak. The Himalayas offer some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world. I have trekked other areas in Nepal but have this on my bucket list now. Unless you’re an extremely experienced mountaineer, guides are essential.

Mount Kinabalu (4095m) – Borneo

This mighty granite peak is one of the highest in South East Asia and also one of the most accessible peaks of this altitude. It is usually climbed as a two day trek, and guides are compulsory. A steep track leads you up through the beautiful rainforest to Laban Rata (3272m) where you spend the night. Setting off in pitch black darkness up the granite face, the aim is to reach the summit for sunrise. I recently ticked this mountain off my bucket list so you can read a detailed climb report.

Mont Blanc (4810m) – France

The highest mountain in Western Europe lies on the French/Italian border of the Alps. The official Chamonix website states “While not technically challenging, ascending Mont Blanc requires a high level of physical fitness and experience using crampons and an ice axe.” So although you don’t have to be an expert mountaineer, you will need more skills than just trekking. Alternatively you can choose a trekking route of the Mont Blanc region that doesn’t include summiting. It’s truly a spectacular area.

Aiguille du Midi (3842m) – France

Part of the Mont Blanc massif, the summit of Aiguille du Midi is actually accessible via cable car from Chamonix. The cable car makes two stops: Plan de l’Aiguille (2,300m) where you’ll find some great hiking tracks, and the top station (3842m) which has several viewing platforms for some outstanding views of the Alps and Mont Blanc. There’s also cafes and gift shops. We’re taking our three children to Chamonix in July 2014 to introduce them to the magnificence of the Alps. I think this is the “summit” for them!

Mount Taranaki/Mount Egmont (2518m) – New Zealand

This dormant volcano on the North Island of New Zealand offers spectacular views from the summit. For non-mountaineers this should only be attempted in good weather between January and March, when it’s likely to be clear of snow and ice, except in the crater itself. You’ll need very good hiking fitness to tackle this summit, expect the round trip to take you 8-10 hours. Mount Taranaki is of spiritual significance to the Maori people and climbers are asked to respect this by not standing on the summit stone itself.