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Our guide to the world's highest peak: those who have climbed it, measured it, written about it, and died because of it

Mortals on Mount Olympus:
A History of Climbing Everest

A mountaineering history chronicling the feats of Mallory and Irvine, Hillary and Tenzing, Messner, and Habeler.

Measuring Mountains: The World's Highest Peak and Past Pretenders to the Throne

At one time, the world thought that the Andean peak Chimboraso—a mere 20,561 feet tall—was the highest. Since then, there have been numerous pretenders to the throne (as late as 1986!) looking for the chance to topple Everest.

Growing Pains: Adjusting to Everest's New Height

If the number 29,028 is seared into your mind along with 1066, 1492, and other seemingly immutable figures, get ready for a big change in the holy canon of statistics.

Everest Timeline

From the first British reconnaissance party trying to map out a route to Everest in the 1920s to Appa Sherpa's record-breaking 20th climb in 2010.

Climbing the World's Fourteen 8,000-meter Peaks

Other than Everest, there are thirteen mountains higher than 8,000 meters. Find out who climbed each of them first. Or click here for a list of all mountains above 20,000 feet.

Quiz: Explorers and Adventurers

The Seven Summits

If the idea of the highest fourteen peaks is enough to induce the early signs of pulmonary edema, check out the slightly less rigorous mountaineering feat of climbing the Seven Summits—the highest mountains on each continent. More than 200 climbers have summited all seven.