Mountaineering
11 amazing peaks that are easier to summit than you think
Forget training to tackle the Himalayan foothills – take your trekking up a step and begin your mountaineering journey with one of these top starter spots.
Anyone with decent fitness and an ability to stomach exposed drop-offs can give mountaineering a go – you just need to pick the right route and get a good guide to lead the way.
Some are challenging hikes with added scrambling, others involve coping with altitude and some feature more technical climbing – but a day of training with an expert will teach you all the skills you need to cope.
Get to know how a paralysed ex-rugby player climbed the equivalent height of Mount Everest:
There are lots of guiding companies for beginners, like Explore-Share, that can ensure you reach your first summit safe and sound. So, what are you waiting for? Check out the list and take your pick.
On higher slopes, altitude quickly starts to become a big challenge so take it seriously – it's worth building in days to acclimatise and remember not to climb too quickly.
1. Mount Whitney
At 4,421m, Mount Whitney is the tallest mountain in contiguous America
© David Doan
- Location: Sierra Nevada, California, USA
- Altitude: 4,421m
This is the highest peak in the lower 48 states and of the many different paths to the top the Mountaineer’s Route is an ideal test for beginners.
Pioneered by the legendary John Muir in 1873, this 16km round-trip route involves some serious exposed scrambling and gives good practice in working with safety ropes.
The craggy top of Mount Whitney’s exposed peak
© Ken Lund
It may be short, but an elevation gain of 1,800m means it can take up to three days, including overnight stays in mountain camps. It’s best done in early or late season when snow covers the slopes, otherwise the rocky scree is slow going.
The trail begins at Whitney Portal, 21km from the mountain town of Lone Pine. Book early to secure a stay there and make sure you can get a permit in peak season. The climb can also be integrated into one of the region’s mega wilderness trails, like the John Muir or Pacific Crest.
2. Lanín
Lanín is estimated to have last blown no more than 10,000 years ago
© Omar E. Ortiz
- Location: Andes, Neuquén, Argentina
- Altitude: 3,747m
Straddling Argentina and Chile, the glaciated summit of this mighty volcano stands out as one of the region’s biggest challenges.
The two-day climb involves 3,000m of ascent through Monkey Puzzle tree forests, volcanic rock, scree and deep packed snow. The north face route limits technical climbing, while the south, which covers more ground on glaciers, is ideal for building experience with crampons and ice axes.
There are a maximum of 60 climbers a day. Most access it from Argentina via Junín de los Andes or San Martín de los Andes, but it can also be reached via Pucón in Chile, where you can add a climb of Villarrica volcano to your list.
3. Gran Paradiso
A perfect warm-up for a stab at Mont Blanc?
© Tor des Geants
- Location: Alps, Aosta Valley, Italy
- Altitude: 4,061m
This alpine classic, which includes a spectacular crossing of the Lavaciau glacier, is often used as a warm-up for climbs of nearby Mont Blanc.
The ascent begins with a day hike to the stunningly located Chabod or Vittorio Emanuele II refugios. Summit day involves the glacier crossing, a vertiginous ridge and a 60m scramble. Some add a day on a nearby peak to acclimatise and learn techniques before going for the summit.
Although one of the area's easier peaks, it still requires a bit of skill
© Explore-Share.com
Andrea Benato, a certified local guide, said: “This is one of the easiest 4,000m peaks in the Alps and a great training ground for the more difficult peaks nearby.”
The route starts in Pravieux, best accessed from Aosta or Courmayeur. It’s one of the most popular peaks, so best avoid August or holidays to escape the crowds.
4. Mount Toubkal
The Atlas mountains are easily accessible during a trip to Marrakesh
© lluis Cabarrocas Ribas
- Location: Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- Altitude: 4,167m
This place looks like a set from Star Wars and you’ll need the strength of a Jedi to get to the top on this fascinating and challenging climb.
The high-altitude route, which combines steep ascents, sharp vertical drops, traditional Berber villages and endless panoramic viewpoints, is literally breathtaking. Despite Morocco’s heat, the route is usually extremely cold and often snow-covered.
Trekking in Toubkal literally takes the breath away
© Explore-Share.com
The ‘base camp’ village of Imlil is just 60km south of Marrakesh and can easily be accessed from the city by taxi. The climb can be done in three days, via the Toubkal Refuge, but most take longer to allow time to acclimatise.
5. Mount Khüiten
All smiles at the top of Mongolia’s Khuiten
© martin_vmorris
- Location: Altai Mountains, Western Mongolia
- Altitude: 4,374m
Literally translated as ‘Cold Mountain’, this isolated glacier-filled peak is the high point of the Five Saints range on the China-Mongolia border.
The climb can be done in one long day from base camp, but requires rope skills to cross the crevasse-filled glacier and climbing experience to scale the steep, exposed upper slopes on the north or north-west ridges.
This remote and rarely visited region is home to just a few herders and hunters – as well as the yeti (it has the world’s highest number of sightings). To get there, take a plane or bus from Ulaan Bataar to Ölgii, from where it’s a bum-numbing five hours by jeep and 16km by camel to the start.
6. Mount Triglav
Views at the top of Slovenia’s Triglav are tough to beat
© Explore-Share.com
- Location: Julian Alps, Slovenia
- Altitude: 2,864m
Slovenia’s tallest summit is becoming famous with climbers thanks to the epic 1,000m-high, 4,000m-wide limestone wall on the North Face – but its exposed slopes are not ideal if you have a fear of heights.
The easiest route is along the Krma Valley and the hardest is via Vrata Valley, but both have perilous via ferrata routes to negotiate. The Zadnjica Valley route is longer, but has a fixed rope for the exposed upper sections.
Whichever way you do it, this is a serious climb and beginners are best off taking an experienced guide – such as Mitja Šorn.
The national park is just two hours from the capital, Ljubljana, with routes leading from either Mojstrana or Trenta villages.
7. Kebnekaise
Tick off a climb within the Arctic Circle
© Bengtham
- Location: Scandinavian Mountains, northern Sweden
- Altitude: 2,097m
The isolated icy scenery around this remote summit, which is 150km north of the Arctic Circle, makes it a stunning first place to try your hand at mountaineering.
The eastern route to the summit, which must be done with a guide, is the most interesting as it includes scrambling, snow sliding and a glacier crossing, then ends with a via ferrata climb on the exposed final stretch.
It takes nine to 12 hours to reach the summit from Kebnekaise Fjällstation, a fully equipped base – but even that is a 19km hike from the nearest town of Nikkaluokta, which is accessed by bus from Kiruna – a town that has an airport to connect to the south.
8. Nevado Pisco
- Location: Cordillera Blanca, Peru
- Altitude: 5,753m
In the heart of one of the most stunning and remote mountain regions in the Andes, this mountain is permanently covered with ice and snow.
It’s one of the easiest ascents in the region, but it requires several days of hiking just to reach the base camp and the final climb up the saddle includes a long 30º ice slope.
The start point is at Cebollapampa, but as this is a high peak it’s vital to do some acclimatisation hikes before attempting it. The good news is there are plenty of beautiful routes past stunning waterfalls and glaciers that start from nearby Huaraz.
9. Tryfan
Mix hiking with scrambling on an ascent of the Tryfan
© Rob Johnson
- Location: Snowdonia, Wales
- Altitude: 917m
This is one of the UK’s most popular summits and the infamous North Ridge is a great, if tough, place to start mountaineering.
The 600m sustained scramble on the upper reaches can be perilous in tricky conditions and picking a route through the pathless rock can take four hours or more, depending on how many dead-ends you hit.
Follow others and you might quickly get out of your depth – but persist to the summit and you can jump between Adam and Eve, two high-rising pinnacles at the mountain’s top.
Skip the queues on Snowdon and head to Tryfan instead
© Explore-Share.com
Mountain guide Dave Talbot said: “This is the only mountain in Wales with a proper scramble to the top. The North Ridge gives superb easy climbing on wonderfully rough rock to the summit.”
The route can be started from any of the carparks or lay-bys on the A5 road that runs along the foot of the towering peak.
10. Sgùrr Dearg
Sgùrr Dearg is the only Munro that requires rock climbing
© Stravaiger
- Location: Cuillin, Isle of Skye, Scotland
- Altitude: 985m
A thin 50m-long fin of rock known as the Inaccessible Pinnacle makes this the only Scottish Munro that requires serious rock climbing to reach the top.
The most popular route up is on the East Ridge on two roped 30m pitches. It’s graded ‘moderate’ as it has good holds, but it’s narrow and extremely exposed. The West Ridge is shorter but graded ‘very difficult’. There’s a permanent anchor on the summit to abseil back down off the west end.
Think you could tackle the Inaccessible Pinnacle?
© Explore-Share.com
The trek to the pinnacle begins at Glen Brittle and the most interesting route involves climbing the screes of Sron Dearg then scrambling up the narrow rocky southwest ridge.
11. Mount Kenya
Although Kilimanjaro's 'easier' cousin, Mount Kenya isn't plain sailing
© Joxean Koret
- Location: Kenya, Africa
- Altitude: 5,199m
Often seen as the ‘baby’ cousin of Mount Kilimanjaro, this offers some of the most challenging high-altitude climbing in Africa.
The difficulty depends which of the ‘peaks’ you choose. The true highest, Batian, is 5,199m high but is only for experienced mountaineers. Nelion, at 5,188m, is better for beginners but still involves multi-pitch climbing. There's more information on the routes here.
Expect 360º views across Kenya and a glimpse of Kilimanjaro
© John Spooner
The summit has stunning 360º views of the Kenyan plains and the mountainous area below – and there’s even sometimes a glimpse of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. The trail start is 200km north-east of Nairobi and can be easily reached by bus.
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