<strong>Seven Summits:</strong> Click through the gallery to see the highest mountains on each continent -- plus a high-enough alternative for each. Pictured here: The mighty Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain and Asia's tallest peak.
Seven Summits: Click through the gallery to see the highest mountains on each continent -- plus a high-enough alternative for each. Pictured here: The mighty Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain and Asia's tallest peak.
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<strong>Impressive enough:</strong> At 20,285 feet, Imja Tse (commonly known as Island Peak) holds the unofficial distinction of being one of the most climbable "trekking peaks" (basic mountaineering skills and gear still necessary) in the Everest region.
Impressive enough: At 20,285 feet, Imja Tse (commonly known as Island Peak) holds the unofficial distinction of being one of the most climbable "trekking peaks" (basic mountaineering skills and gear still necessary) in the Everest region.
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<strong>Mount Denali in North America: </strong>North America's highest peak may max out at an elevation barely above Himalayan low camps, but few bits of tectonically bent granite are as impossibly enormous as Mount Denali in South Central Alaska.
Mount Denali in North America: North America's highest peak may max out at an elevation barely above Himalayan low camps, but few bits of tectonically bent granite are as impossibly enormous as Mount Denali in South Central Alaska.
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<strong>Impressive enough:</strong> Mount Rainier in Washington state remains one of the most popular rites of passage for alpinists with even higher Alaskan, Andean or Himalayan sights.
Impressive enough: Mount Rainier in Washington state remains one of the most popular rites of passage for alpinists with even higher Alaskan, Andean or Himalayan sights.
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<strong>Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa: </strong>This lone cone in northern Tanzania meanders through numerous ecological zones (tropical rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, etc.) from savanna to snowcapped summit.
Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa: This lone cone in northern Tanzania meanders through numerous ecological zones (tropical rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert, etc.) from savanna to snowcapped summit.
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<strong>Impressive enough: </strong>Far from the Kili crowds and less than 100 miles from Nairobi, Africa's second-highest mountain -- Mount Kenya -- occupies its own national park. It offers a quieter, cheaper and possibly an even more picturesque climbing experience.
Impressive enough: Far from the Kili crowds and less than 100 miles from Nairobi, Africa's second-highest mountain -- Mount Kenya -- occupies its own national park. It offers a quieter, cheaper and possibly an even more picturesque climbing experience.
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<strong>Mount Elbrus in Europe: </strong>Perched on the European side of the Caucasus Mountains -- which forms a continental divide with Asia -- twin-peaked Mount Elbrus edges out those glitzier alps to the west by at least a half-mile of vertical, making it Europe's (and Russia's) highest hill.
Mount Elbrus in Europe: Perched on the European side of the Caucasus Mountains -- which forms a continental divide with Asia -- twin-peaked Mount Elbrus edges out those glitzier alps to the west by at least a half-mile of vertical, making it Europe's (and Russia's) highest hill.
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<strong>Impressive enough: </strong>Western Europe's tallest peak, Mont Blanc has been called the birthplace of climbing, high-end mountain tourism and alpine-inflected Romantic poetry. Soaring above France's Chamonix Valley, the mountain also sprawls into Italy and Switzerland.
Impressive enough: Western Europe's tallest peak, Mont Blanc has been called the birthplace of climbing, high-end mountain tourism and alpine-inflected Romantic poetry. Soaring above France's Chamonix Valley, the mountain also sprawls into Italy and Switzerland.
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<strong>Mount Aconcagua in South America: </strong>The highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres with a base camp that claims to be the second busiest in the world after Everest, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina was in an earlier life an active volcano on the edge of a shallow dinosaur-era sea.
Mount Aconcagua in South America: The highest mountain in the Western and Southern Hemispheres with a base camp that claims to be the second busiest in the world after Everest, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina was in an earlier life an active volcano on the edge of a shallow dinosaur-era sea.
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<strong>Impressive enough: </strong>Ojos del Salado, the continent's second tallest peak, is perched on the same jagged spine dividing Argentina and Chile as Mount Aconcagua. Ojos del Salado also holds the distinction of being the world's highest active strato-volcano.
Impressive enough: Ojos del Salado, the continent's second tallest peak, is perched on the same jagged spine dividing Argentina and Chile as Mount Aconcagua. Ojos del Salado also holds the distinction of being the world's highest active strato-volcano.
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<strong>Mount Kosciuszko in Australia:</strong> Tucked in its namesake national park in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, Mount Kosciuszko manages to be both the highest point in mainland Australia and a pleasant walkabout in nice weather. This is a view from the mountaintop.<br />
Mount Kosciuszko in Australia: Tucked in its namesake national park in the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, Mount Kosciuszko manages to be both the highest point in mainland Australia and a pleasant walkabout in nice weather. This is a view from the mountaintop.
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<strong>Impressive enough:</strong> If Australia and Oceania (as purists point out) are joined at the plate, then the Seven Summits title instead goes to the crest of Puncak Jaya -- a.k.a. Carstensz Pyramid -- hiding in Indonesia's Papua province.
Impressive enough: If Australia and Oceania (as purists point out) are joined at the plate, then the Seven Summits title instead goes to the crest of Puncak Jaya -- a.k.a. Carstensz Pyramid -- hiding in Indonesia's Papua province.
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<strong>Mount Vinson in Antarctica: </strong>The final frontier as far as Seven Summits go, Mount Vinson is about as close as a hump of ice-caked rock can get to a galaxy far, far away.
Mount Vinson in Antarctica: The final frontier as far as Seven Summits go, Mount Vinson is about as close as a hump of ice-caked rock can get to a galaxy far, far away.
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<strong>Impressive enough:</strong> Mount Sidley, seen from the air, is Antarctica's highest volcano. Climbers should be prepared for extreme temperatures and severe storms, outfitters say.
Impressive enough: Mount Sidley, seen from the air, is Antarctica's highest volcano. Climbers should be prepared for extreme temperatures and severe storms, outfitters say.
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