SummitPost.org

Someone asked me a question last week that I really couldn't answer:

"Which mountain has killed the most people?"

What do you think? Everest? Denali? Another peak?

?????????

Two different questions.

I thin the most dangerous if expressed in terms of percentage killed per attempt could possibly be Annapurna.

As for the most deaths, I would imagine, the Mont Blanc massif would easily win that contest, although Mt Fuji as a popular suicide location may be an outside contender.

Mount Rainier might not be dangerous now, but wait until it erupts!

lcarreau wrote:Mount Rainier might not be dangerous now, but wait until it erupts!

good point, most dangerous mountain was probably Mount Tambora in Sumbawa.

In terms of total number killed, Mt Blanc. In terms of percentage killed, something in the Himalaya.

colint wrote:In terms of total number killed, Mt Blanc. In terms of percentage killed, something in the Himalaya.

Thanks, I think the person was asking about the absolute most number killed.

Mt. Blanc it is? Thanks Colint. Ever get out to the South Platte?

Just checked. To literally answer your question, the answer is Mt Tambora.

radson wrote:Just checked. To literally answer your question, the answer is Mt Tambora.

Oops. Clarification:

"Which mountain has killed the most number of CLIMBERS who were CLIMBING the mountain at the time of their deaths."

Annapurna and K2.

By number of climber, Mount Blanc might have the highest number, but one book I have (Eiger Wall of Death) says that Tanigawa-dake in Japan had killed over 600 climbers as of 1982.

Apparently the number is now up to at least 670:

http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/1 ... 417544.php

Does anyone know how many climbers Blanc has claimed?

I believe the mountain with the highest death rate ratio vs successful summits is probably Gongga Shan at 87%.

The more famous and more often climbed mountains Annapurna and K2 have current death ratios of 43% and 23%, but since 1990 both have death ratios of 20%.

See also here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-thousander

Mt. Sunflower

Don't forget Nanga Parbat.

xDoogiex wrote:Mt. Sunflower

I was wondering about this peak myself. People are getting killed left and right by mad cows on Mt. Sunflower.

Death ratios.
I have difficulties to see any peak beat Kawakorpo/Kawagebo, 6740 meters, Meili Xue Shan, Yunnan, China.
19 killed, no one on the summit yet.

Total number of deaths.
Probably Mt Blanc. Some years back I read the mountain had claimed over 2000.
Comparing the total number of mountaineering related deaths in the US with Mt Blanc alone.

Could be Fuji. Yes, many deaths are caused by suicide, but a huge number is climbing related. It's a holy mountain and therefore all and everyone "should" climb it once in life. Imagine children, really old people, extremely unfit etc. heading for a relatively high peak totally unprepared and without any clue about the potential consequences.