Mountains are motionless, silent, but they manage to awaken such a storm of emotions in a person that the very sight of them takes your breath away. For some, it's just beautiful landscapes on a computer screensaver. For others, it's a challenge, a goal, a fight, and yes, a little bit of madness. Because what else can make an adult, reasonable person climb up, dragging a backpack weighing the weight of a small pony behind him, gasping for lack of oxygen and whispering to himself: "A little more... »
For those whose heart is given to the mountains, and the soul is looking for the limit of its capabilities - here they are, seven routes, each of which is not just an ascent, but a separate story. A story about overcoming, courage, and a little bit about love for life.
Everest (8848 m): a dream turned into a legend
Everest is not a mountain, it is a myth that can be touched. Standing on the "roof of the world" is a dream of everyone who has ever picked up a climbing ice axe. But the path to the top is not just long, but deadly unpredictable. The weather here can change faster than the mood before an important meeting: as soon as the sun was shining, there was already a snowy hell with a wind of 200 km/h.
Each step is like a survival test. Ice cracks, steep walls, snow fields and breathing through a cylinder. Everest is not about comfort, but it is not about suffering either. It is about looking beyond the limits of the possible.
Those who are just looking should first try their hand at the North Col - after all, 7,000 meters is not a joke, but not the final either.
Kilimanjaro (5895 m): Dance with Africa
Perhaps the most benevolent peak on this list. On Kilimanjaro, you don't need climbing experience - only good physical training and a pair of reliable boots. But there will be so many emotions that in the end you will want to hug every rock!
The ascent itself is also interesting: in just a few days you pass all climatic zones - from the tropics to the Arctic. But you should not relax: altitude sickness does not spare even the experienced, acclimatization here is not an option, but a necessity.
Denali (6190 m): a mountain where weakness is not forgiven
Alaska already sounds like a challenge. If you add to this the harsh conditions, lack of assistance and the need to carry equipment on your body, it becomes clear: Denali is not for beginners.
This peak tests not only physics, but also the psyche. Everything is different here: the day here is night, the sun is the enemy, and the frost is a constant companion. In the season (May-June) it is a little easier here, but even then every little thing can affect the success of the trip. Thermal underwear, the right shoes and a clear schedule - those who do not lose their heads survive.
Kościuszko (2228 m): Australia's deceptive simplicity
It seems that after Everest and Denali, a mountain just over two thousand meters high will seem like a walk, but this is a trap. Kosciuszko is a lesson that nature does not have to be logical. It seems that the route is simple, but suddenly there is a hurricane, hail, and you suddenly stand in the middle of a deserted path, shivering from the cold and cursing everything in the world.
Mountains are not height, but condition, so you need training and adequate equipment. Also respect for the unpredictable.
Ama Dablam (6812 m): Himalayan fairy tale with character
Its shape is like an open mother's hands, and the glacier on the slope is like a pendant in which Sherpa grandmothers keep family heirlooms. But don't flatter yourself – behind this beauty lies one of the most technically challenging peaks. Each step here is a struggle with the terrain, each transition is an exam in rock and ice climbing. There is no mistake here. At all.
That is why those who do get to the top talk not so much about victory as about gratitude.
