Top Ten Best Well-Known Mountains for Beginner Climbers
Hikes are pretty awesome. You know what's even more awesome? Hiking a freaking mountain! Some really famous mountains are out there and many people put their endurance and skill to the test by trying to scale and traverse them. Unfortunately, some idiots go on impossibly dangerous ones like Mount Everest, the highest (not tallest) mountain in the world, and many of them die miserably. So, for all those folks out there who want to have an adventure and travel a mountain that everyone knows, here's the top ten best well-known mountains to for beginner climbers. By the way, I added well-known in to the title because you'd want to know if mountains that everyone knows like The Rockies, The Andes, The Himalayas, The Alps, etc. are safe, but nobody cares about whether Mount Kikachanglock or Mount Borgen or whatever is safe. Enjoy!
This beautiful and famous mountain, standing at 3776 meters, is quite climbable. Forming a stunning backdrop for the enormous city of Tokyo, Mount Fuji is actually a volcano that hasn't erupted in a long time but is still active.
Despite its size, it is suitable for most people interested in pursuing climbing. Its most popular route is called Kawaguchiko. This route is praised for introducing many climbers to stamina and determination in a less extreme way than other places.
Unfortunately, the official climbing season is only two months, from the beginning of July to the end of August. Climbing outside this period is much more dangerous than the hard but still manageable hike during the season. Sadly, many people die on it every year either because they don't go at the right time or aren't careful enough.
Still, it's not super hard, and many more people survive than die, so it actually has a pretty good survival rate.
Mount Hood is not easy to climb at all. It is very icy and will test the determination, strength, and constitution of climbers. However, it is an almost perfect introduction to ice climbing skills that intelligent mountain climbers will need later.
Although I find the idea of ice climbing terrifying, anyone wanting to become a professional mountain climber will need to learn to use ice climbing equipment, and Mount Hood is perfect for that. It features volcanic peaks with glaciers, requiring skills necessary for 8000-meter peaks but without the high altitude and thin air since it's only around 3000 meters.
Additionally, Mount Hood is extremely beautiful. Just look at it. I want to go there someday.
One of the most famous mountains in the world, Kilimanjaro is the tallest and most well-known mountain in Africa. Located in Tanzania, it has a height of almost 6000 meters (5895 meters, to be exact). While its size can intimidate good climbers at first glance, it's not extremely hard.
Kilimanjaro is very challenging and dangerous due to the thin air, but it allows climbers to gradually adjust over a few days. Since there are no avalanches or other disasters on this mountain, it can be easier than climbing another extremely high mountain. You'll need to be prepared for breathing thin air if you want to pursue mountain climbing.
This fairly well-known mountain, though not as famous as Mount Fuji or Kilimanjaro, stands at 4302 meters. Pikes Peak is a good introduction for mountaineers, offering a taste of what they'll experience if they pursue it seriously. It's a tough trip but not an extreme introduction to mountain climbing, which is beneficial.
The hike is only 21 kilometers, but you gain 2250 meters, which means for every ten meters you walk, you ascend one meter. It's a high rate, not extreme but certainly tiring. This mountain is very safe and climbable most of the summer, similar to Mount Fuji.
At 6189 meters, this peak may seem extremely difficult to climb, being only 2000 meters less than the tallest mountain in the world. However, it has earned the title easiest 6000-meter peak because it isn't extremely hard.
The climb takes a long time, but many people trek it since it's less extreme and not as freezing, though still very cold. It helps people acclimate to the altitude and get used to thin air on a less difficult and extreme mountain than taller ones.
This mountain might be familiar to you, though not as much as Fuji or Kilimanjaro. It's one of the most famous mountains in the Alps, which everyone has heard of. It's probably one of the most climbed mountains there.
Breithorn is only 4164 meters high, which is large but not extreme. The Klein Matterhorn Cable Car takes people thousands of feet up, and from there they only have to climb a few hundred meters. This makes it good for beginners because they can experience the final stretch and the rewarding view without a long, hard climb.
This famous mountain, located in Washington State, stands at 3743 meters. While not enormous, it's challenging enough to be a good step toward tougher mountains in a serious climbing career.
The moderate ascent on this mountain is a great spot to practice using climbing equipment like crampons and ice axes without much danger. It's a good preparation for later, harder mountains.
This fairly famous mountain is located in the Rocky Mountains. It's the tenth highest in the range, standing at 4352 meters. Despite being almost half the height of the tallest mountain in the world, it's still very prominent.
Grays Peak is excellent for hiking. You can be taken to a spot where you only have to hike up 900 meters in height (much more in distance). This will still take a long time, but it's not impossible and is a fun way to get used to mountaineering.
This mountain is quite high. The famous Mount Kenya, named after its country, stands at 5199 meters, which can be overwhelming at first glance. However, it's not extremely difficult.
Like some other giants on the list, Mount Kenya is very high but not extremely hard. Beginners might want to check it out because they can get used to the high altitude needed for harder mountains with a less difficult climb.
This Italian mountain is 3225 meters high. It's a beautiful mountain that's good for beginners, offering a challenging climb that helps determine if mountain climbing is your passion. It's not extremely hard and is enjoyable throughout, potentially inspiring you to pursue mountaineering someday.