The 14 8000’ers, a group of 14 giant mountains with their summits above 8000m, all located in the Himalayan & Karakoram mountain ranges within Asia, all requiring climbers to enter the death zone.
Summiting all 14 8000m peaks is considered one of, if not the biggest achievements and challenges for any high altitude mountaineer. For good reason, summiting all 14 requires a high level of skill, patience, fitness, endurance, strength, mental strength, desire, bravery, resilience, determination and funds. Summiting any mountain above 8000m is a huge achievement. The extremely cold conditions, the 40+ day expeditions and high altitude makes summiting any 8000m a real challenge, so summiting all 14 is on an another level. The risk of altitude related illnesses such as cerebral oedema and pulmonary oedema is significantly increased along with the risk of hypothermia, frostbite and pneumonia. But despite this hundreds if not thousands of motivated climbers dream of climbing and summiting all 14 and many fail and/or die.
So with that being said what mountains make up the 14 8000’ers? How high are they exactly? Where are they exactly? How much does it cost to climb them? When do climbers climb them? How do climbers die on them? Read on because these questions are answered, along with other interesting facts about these remarkable mountains.
MOUNT EVEREST
Also known as Chomolungma “Goddess Mother of the World” or Sagarmatha “Peak of Heaven”
Height: 8,848m
Location: Border of Nepal & China
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: US $35,000 – US $100,000+, average US $55,000
Most common causes of death:
- High altitude pulmonary oedema
- High altitude cerebral oedema
- Extreme fatigue
- Falls
- Avalanche
- Cardiac arrest
- Exposure (prolonged periods of extreme conditions leading to hypothermia, frostbite, etc)
Death per summit average: As of 2018 there have been 9,159 successful summits & 295 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 31 successful summits
Peak Climbing Season: April – June
First Accent: 29th of May 1953, Edmund Hillary & Tenzing Norgay
First Winter Accent: 17th of February 1980, Krzysztof Wielicki & Leszek Cichy
First Accent without oxygen: 8th of May 1978, Reinhold Messner
Most Common Routes to the top:
- South Cole Route
- Northeast Ridge Route
Average Duration of expedition: 60 days
K2
Also known as Mount Godwin-Austen or Chhogori
Height: 8,611m
Location: Border of China & Pakistan
Mountain Range: Karakoram
Cost to climb: US $15,000 – US $50,000+, average US $25,000
Most common causes of death:
- Fall
- Lost
- Killed in storm
- Avalanche
- Altitude Sickness
Death per summit average: As of 2018 there have been 367 successful summits & 86 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 4 successful summits
Climbing Season: June – August
First Accent: 31st of July 1954, Achille Compagnoni & Lino Lacedelli
First Winter Accent: Nil
First Accent without oxygen: September 6th 1978, Louis Reichardt
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Abruzzi Spur
Average Duration of expedition: 55 days
KANGCHENJUNGA
Also known as the Five Treasures of Snow
Height: 8,586m
Location: Between Nepal & India
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $20,000 – US $50,000+, due to the difficulties of the trek into base camp and the remoteness of the mountain not much companies offer expedition services to Kanchenjunga making it hard to figure out costs
Most common causes of death:
- Fall
- Avalanche
- High Altitude Cerebral Oedema
- Altitude Sickness
- Hypothermia
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 283 successful summits & 40 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 7 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – May
First Accent: 25th of May 1955, George Band & Joe Brown
First Winter Accent: 11th of January 1986, Krzysztof Wielicki & Jerzy Kukuczka
First Accent without oxygen: 16th of May 1979, Doug Scott, Peter Boardman & Joe Tasker
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Southwest Face
- Northwest Face
- Northeast Face
Average Duration of expedition: 55 days
LHOTSE
Also known as South Peak
Height: 8,516m
Location: Border of Nepal & China
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $20,000-US $50,000+, average US $30,000
Most common causes of death:
- Altitude Sickness
- Fall
- Avalanche
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 461 successful summits & 13 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 35 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – June
First Accent: 18th of May 1956, Fritz Luchsinger & Ernst Reiss
First Winter Accent: 31st of December 1988, Krzysztof Wiellicki
First Accent without oxygen: October 4th 1979, Jerzy Kukuczka
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Lhotse Face Route
Average Duration of expedition: 55 days
MAKALU
Height: 8,463m
Location: Border of Nepal & China
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000 – US $25,000+ US, average US $20,000
Most common causes of death:
- Altitude sickness
- Fall
- Avalanche
- High altitude cerebral oedema
- High altitude pulmonary oedema
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 361 successful summits & 31 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 12 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – May
First Accent: 15th of May 1955, Jean Couzy & Lionel Terray
First Winter Accent: 9th of February 2009, Simone Moro & Denis Urubko
First Accent without oxygen: 1975, Stane Belak
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Southeast Ridge
Average Duration of expedition: 60 days
CHO OYU
Also known as the Turquoise Goddess
Height: 8,188m
Location: Border of Nepal & China
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $20,000-US $40,000+, average US $30,000
Most common causes of death:
- Avalanche
- Altitude Sickness
- Fall
- Illness
- Crevasse
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 3138 successful summits & 44 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 71 successful summits
Climbing Season: September – October
First Accent: 19th of October 1954, Joseph Joechler, Pasang Dawa Lama & Herbert Tichy
First Winter Accent: 12th of February 1985, Marciej Berbeka & Maciej Pawlikowski
First Accent without oxygen: 19th of October 1954, Joseph Joechler, Pasang Dawa Lama & Herbert Tichy
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Northwest Ridge Route
Average Duration of expedition: 45 days
DHAULAGIRI I
Height: 8,167m
Location: Nepal
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $25,000
Most common causes of death:
- Avalanche
- Fall
- Altitude Sickness
- Cerebral Oedema
- Cold & Exhaustion
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 448 successful summits & 69 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 6 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – May
First Accent: 13th of May 1960, Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Nawang Dorje, Nima Dorje, Ernst Forrer & Albin Schelbert
First Winter Accent: 21st of January 1985, Andrzej Czok & Jerzy Kukuczka
First Accent without oxygen: 13th of May 1960, Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Nawang Dorje, Nima Dorje, Ernst Forrer & Albin Schelbert
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Northeast ridge route
Average Duration of expedition: 50 days
MANASLU
Also known as the Kutang or Mountain of the spirit
Height: 8,163m
Location: Nepal
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $10,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $18,000
Most common causes of death:
- Fall
- Avalanche
- Altitude Sickness
- Hypothermia
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 661 successful summits & 65 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 10 successful summits
Climbing Season: September – August
First Accent: 9th of May 1956, Toshio Imanishi & Gyalzen Norbu
First Winter Accent: 12th of January 1984, Maciej Berbeka & Ryszard Gajewski
First Accent without oxygen: April 25th 1972, Reinhold Messner
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Northeast Ridge Route
Average Duration of expedition: 45
NANGA PARBAT
Also known as Diamer, Naked Mountain or Killer Mountain
Height: 8,126m
Location: Pakistan
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $10,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $15,000
Most common causes of death:
- Avalanche
- Exposure
- Fall
- Altitude Sickness
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 335 successful summits & 68 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 5 successful summits
Climbing Season: September – October
First Accent: 3rd of July 1953, Hermann Buhl
First Winter Accent: 12th of January 1984, Maciej Berbeka & Ryszard
First Accent without oxygen: 3rd of July 1953, Hermann Buhl
Most Common Routes to the top:
- West Face, Diamer District
Average Duration of expedition: 50 days
ANNAPURNA I
Height: 8,091m
Location: Nepal
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $10,000-US $25,000+ US, average US $15,000
Most common causes of death:
- Avalanche
- Fall
- High Altitude Cerebral Oedema
- Hypothermia/Exhaustion
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 191 successful summits & 61 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 3 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – May
First Accent: 3rd of June 1950, Maurice Herzog & Louis Lachenal
First Winter Accent: 3rd of February 1987, Jerzy Kukuczka & Artur Hajzer
First Accent without oxygen: 3rd of June 1950, Maurice Herzog & Louis Lachenal
Most Common Routes to the top:
- South face route
- Northeast face route
Average Duration of expedition: 45 days
GASHERBRUM I
Also known as K5 or Hidden Peak
Height: 8,080m
Location: Border of China & Pakistan
Mountain Range: Karakoram
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $25,000
Most common causes of death:
- Disappeared
- Avalanche
- Fall
- High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 334 successful summits & 29 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 12 successful summits
Climbing Season: June – July
First Accent: 5th of July 1958, Andrew Kauffman & Pete Schoening
First Winter Accent: 9th of March 2012, Adam Bielecki & Janusz
First Accent without oxygen: June 28 1984, Reinhold Messner & Hans Kammerlander
Most Common Routes to the top:
- Western Side via north-west face
Average Duration of expedition: 50 days
BROAD PEAK
Also known as Faichan Kangri
Height: 8,047m
Location: Border of China & Pakistan
Mountain Range: Karakoram
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $25,000
Most common causes of death:
- Avalanche
- Fall
- Pulmonary Oedema
- Disappeared
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 404 successful summits & 21 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 19 successful summits
Climbing Season: July – August
First Accent: 9th of June 1957, Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger & Hermann Buhl
First Winter Accent: 5th of March 2013, Maciej Berbeka, Adam Bielecki, Tomasz Kowalski & Artur Malek
First Accent without oxygen: 9th of June 1957, Fritz Wintersteller, Marcus Schmuck, Kurt Diemberger & Hermann Buhl
Most Common Routes to the top:
- West Ridge
Average Duration of expedition: 50 days
GASHERBRUM II
Also known as K4
Height: 8,035m
Location: Border of China & Pakistan
Mountain Range: Karakoram
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000-US $30,000+ US, average US $25,000
Most common causes of death:
- Fall
- Avalanche
- High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema
- Hypothermia, Exhaustion
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 930 successful summits & 21 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 44 successful summits
Climbing Season: June – July
First Accent: 7th of July 1956, Fritz Moravec, Josef Larch & Hans Willenpart
First Winter Accent: 2nd of February 2011, Simone Moro, Denis Urubko & Cory Richards
First Accent without oxygen: June 25th 1984, Reinhold Messner & Hans Kammerlander
Most Common Routes to the top:
- The South West Ridge Route
Average Duration of expedition: 50 days
SHISHAPANGMA
Also known as Gosainthān
Height: 8,027m
Location: China
Mountain Range: Himalayas
Cost to climb: Estimate US $15,000-US $35,000+ US, average US $30,000
Most common causes of death:
- Crevasse
- Avalanche
- Fall
- Disappearance
- High Altitude Sickness
- High Altitude Cerebral Oedema
Death per summit average: As of 2012 there have been 302 successful summits & 25 deaths. Giving you an average of approx. 1 person dying every 12 successful summits
Climbing Season: April – May
First Accent: 2nd of May 1964, Xu Jing, Chang Chun-yen, Wang Fuzhou, Chen San, Chen Tien-liang, Wu Tsung-yue, Sodnam Doji, Migmar Trashi, Doji & Yonten
First Winter Accent: 14th of January 2005, Piotr Morawski & Simone Moro
First Accent without oxygen: 7th of May 1980, Michael Dacher, Wolfgang Schaffert, Gunter Sturm, Fritz Zintl, Sigi Hupfauer & Manfred Sturm
Most Common Routes to the top:
- North-West Face
- North Ridge
Average Duration of expedition: 45 days
Thomas "The Tank" Dade 
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