Seven Summits

The Seven Summits are the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. Many mountain climbers aspire to ascend each of these, although the expense and danger mean that few accomplish their goal.

• Mount Everest, Asia (8,848 m)
• Aconcagua, South America (6,959 m)
• Mount McKinley, North America (6,194 m)
• Kilimanjaro, Africa (5,895 m)
• Mount Elbrus, Europe (5,642 m) (or Mont Blanc)
• Vinson Massif, Antarctica (4,897 m)
• Mount Koskiuska[?], Australia (2,228 m) (or Carstensz Pyramid[?])

While for most of the continents the highest peak is obvious, there is some dispute for Europe and Australia.

In the case of Europe, while Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus is considerably higher than Mont Blanc in the Alps, and the Caucasus is the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia, thus its position on the northern side of the Caucasus means that it is in Europe, some will claim that Elbrus is not "truly" in Europe, and argue that Mont Blanc is a more logical choice.

Australia itself has only relatively low mountains, but one were to consider it as part of "Oceania" or "Australasia", then the highest peak would actually be the Carstensz Pyramid in the high mountain ranges of New Guinea.

The term first gained currency due to Dick Bass[?], an American businessman and amateur mountaineer, who had conceived of this goal and set out to hire professional climbers to help him reach Everest, by far the most difficult of the Seven. He summited Everest April 30, 1985, and then co-authored a book about the undertaking. As of 2003, over 70 climbers have climbed all seven.

Popularization has not been without its detractors, who argue that it tempts the ambitious but inexperienced into paying large sums to professional guides who promise the "seven", and are therefore under pressure to get their clients to the top even when it would be unsafe.

Reference

• Dick Bass, Frank Wells, and Rick Ridgeway, Seven Summits (Warner Books, 1986) ISBN 0446513121