Info
Every mountain in one table, then the symbols. Every mark on the site is drawn with one thin line, round ends, compass and rule, like the furniture of a printed map.
Every mountain, measured against Olympus
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01
OlympusGreece, 2,918 m
GradeMountain hike
For meHiking
Days3
Biggest day+1,327 m6 h up
SeasonJun–Sep
Gear
- Hiking boots
- Poles
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02
Gran ParadisoItaly, 4,061 m
GradeGlacier, short rock
For meGlacier intro
Days2inside a 5–7 day course
Biggest day+1,330 m4–5 h up, 3–4 h down
SeasonJun–Sep
Gear
- Alpine boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Helmet
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03
BreithornSwitzerland–Italy, 4,164 m
GradeEasy glacier
For meGlacier intro
Days1
Biggest day+350 m2–3 h up, 1–2 h down
SeasonJul–Sep
Gear
- Alpine boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
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04
Mont BlancFrance–Italy, 4,806 m
GradeHigh snow ridge
For meHigh alpine
Days3after 2 acclimatisation days
Biggest day+1,640 m6.5–7.5 h up, 2–2.5 h down
SeasonJun–Sep
Gear
- Poles
- Alpine boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Helmet
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05
MatterhornSwitzerland–Italy, 4,478 m
GradeLong rock ridge
For meTechnical alpine
Days2after preparation tours
Biggest day+1,220 m4–5 h up, 4–5 h down
SeasonJul–Sep
Gear
- Poles
- Alpine boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Helmet
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06
Mera PeakNepal, 6,476 m
GradeGlacier, short jumar
For meHigh altitude
Days3–5inside a 20–24 day trip
Biggest day+680 m3–6 h up
SeasonApr–May, Oct–Nov
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Ascender
- Tent
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07
Lobuche EastNepal, 6,119 m
GradeFixed ropes, exposed ridge
For meHigh altitude
Days2–3inside an 18–23 day trip
Biggest day+720 m4–6 h up
SeasonMar–May, Oct–Nov
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Helmet
- Ascender
- Tent
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08
Island PeakNepal, 6,189 m
GradeFixed-rope headwall
For meHigh altitude
Days2–3inside a 19–25 day trip
Biggest day+1,100 m6–8 h up, 3–4 h down
SeasonApr–May, Oct–Nov
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Helmet
- Ascender
- Tent
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09
Himlung HimalNepal, 7,126 m
GradeGlacier, fixed ropes
For meExpedition
Days15–17inside a 31–34 day expedition
Biggest day+780 m8–10 h up, 4–5 h down
SeasonOct–Nov
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Ascender
- Helmet
- Tent
-
10
BaruntseNepal, 7,129 m
GradeExposed snow ridge
For meExpedition
Days9–12inside a 32–35 day expedition
Biggest day+730 m7–10 h up
SeasonOct–Nov
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Ascender
- Helmet
- Tent
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11
ManasluNepal, 8,163 m
GradeFixed-rope expedition
For meEight thousand
Days20–26inside a 33–43 day expedition
Biggest day+763 mabout 8 h up and back
SeasonSep–Oct
Gear
- High-altitude boots
- Crampons
- Ice axe
- Harness & rope
- Ascender
- Oxygen
- Tent
Map
The furniture of the route map on each mountain’s photograph, drawn there in white.
- NorthEvery map is drawn north up. The arrow stands beside the scale bar.
- SummitA solid triangle with its height.
- Hut or campA night on the mountain. Himalayan camps move from year to year and are placed approximately.
- LiftThe top of a cable car.
- VillageWhere the walking starts.
- WaypointA named point on the way, with its height.
- Normal routeDotted where it is schematic.
- Recorded trackSolid where it was walked.
Difficulty, for me
Seven squares, filled up to the level.
- 1, HikingLong days on trails. Proven on Olympus.
- 2, Glacier introA first 4,000 m glacier summit, guided, after a skills course.
- 3, High alpineA long summit day near 5,000 m, acclimatised, on glacier and snow.
- 4, Technical alpineHours of exposed rock and mixed ground, roped and moving fast.
- 5, High altitude6,000 m peaks: fixed ropes, cold, and expedition pacing.
- 6, Expedition7,000 m: high camps, rotations and weeks on the mountain.
- 7, Eight thousandAbove 8,000 m, on oxygen, after everything before it.
Difficulty, for anyone
Boxed letters: the route’s own grade.
- T3SAC hiking scale, T1–T6.
- FAlpine scale: facile.
- F+Facile, with a step.
- PDPeu difficile.
Axes
Five squares each: endurance, altitude, technical, exposure. Ten for the effort of a day.
- 3 of 5An axis on the difficulty panel.
- 5 of 10Effort, from the watch.
Gear
What the normal route asks for.
- Hiking bootsAnkle support and grip for long trail days.
- PolesFor the long descents.
- Alpine bootsStiff, crampon-compatible (B2 or B3).
- CramponsGlacier and snow slopes.
- Ice axeBalance and self-arrest on snow.
- Harness & ropeRope team on the glacier; the guide carries the rope.
- HelmetRock sections and anything under other parties.
- AscenderA jumar for the fixed ropes.
- High-altitude bootsInsulated double boots for 6,000 m and above.
- OxygenBottled oxygen from the high camps.
- TentHigh camps on the mountain.
Stage
Filled for done, outlined for the rest, dashed for an alternative.
- DoneDoneWalked and recorded.
- 2028PlannedThe year its stage comes round.
- 2027, alternativeAlternativeStands in for the mountain beside it.
Progression
What a mountain adds. Summits are milestones; these are the progression.
- Technical ability
- Altitude experience
- Expedition experience
- Endurance
- Mountain judgment
- Risk management
Mark
Twelve rays beside the name; S8, the short name, on the browser tab.
- SAR 8The site mark, beside the name.
S8The short name: the icon on the browser tab.