As most mountaineers and alpine climbers know, the seven summits are the highest peaks on the 7 continents: Aconcagua in Argentina, Elbrus in Russia, Vinson in Antarctica, Carstenz Pyramid in Indonesia, Everest in Nepal, Denali in Alaska, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It has become known as a tremendous mountaineering feat and has become quite popular the last 10 years, if a mountain climber can accomplish all of the seven summits. It takes a tremendous amount of time, money, and training and is extremely dangerous endeavor.

The easiest one of these climbs is probably Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is climbed by about 30,000 people per year, many of them novices who have no experience or technical understand of basic mountain principles. Although Mt. Kilimanjaro is extremely high, there is no real technical component and many people consider it more of a high altitude hike that is relatively safe. This is why average people like Ann Curry from the Today Show recently attempted to summit Kilimanjaro. She did not make it, but it does glamorize it with the mainstream press. Mount Kilimanjaro has become so popular, and adventure travel has become a trend in the travel industry – that regular people from around the world want to climb to Africa’s highest peak and watch the sunrise over Africa.

While it is a great feat to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and should be taken seriously, it does not mean you should consider climbing Denali or Aconcagua immediately. Mt. Kilimanjaro is a beginner’s climb, and mountains like Everest and Mount McKinley are for experts to climb. This is one of the seven summits that can typically be done by about anyone.

If you truly love mountain climbing and want to continue, then take a mountaineering class and starting finding safe mountains to climb in your region. Or find a guide service that can take you up the mountain, but practice closer to home and focus on the climbing experience itself and not the name of the mountain There are thousands and thousands of mountains around the world, in the United States, that offer a much safer, cheaper alternative, than heading to places like Indonesia and Russia.

Breakdown of Elevations For the Seven Summits:
Kilimanjaro: 5,895 meters/19341 feet Tanzania
Vinson Massif: 4,892 meters/16,050 Antarctica
Carstensz Pyramid: 4,884 meters/16,024 feet Indonesia
Everest: 8,848 meters/29,029 feet Nepal/China
Elbrus: 5,642 meters/18,510 feet Russia
Mount McKinley: 6,194 meters/ 20,320 Alaska
Aconcagua: 6,962 meters/ 22,841 feet Argentina