7 of the Tallest Unclimbed Mountains in the World

Multiple groups have tried—and failed—to climb Karjiang I in Tibet and its 23,691-foot peak. The highly technical nature of the climb coupled with avalanche-prone landscapes and ever-shifting weather, have given this mountain near the border with Bhutan a dangerous reputation littered with failed attempts.

Located in Pakistan, this 24,591-foot mountain is likely the tallest unclimbed mountain that folks can legally climb. While the police won't stand in your way, Muchu Chhish itself stops folks. In a remote area of Western Karakoram, the mountain doesn’t have a long history of climbs and its most recent attempt from mountaineer Peter Thompson didn’t produce the full result needed to take this off the list.

There is little, if any, dispute that Gangkhar Puensum stands as the tallest unclimbed mountain in the world. At 24,836 feet,it easily surpasses the benchmark set by Bhutan officials in 1994 that restrict the climbing of any peak higher than 6,000 meters (this peak is over 7,500). Located near China, parts of the mountain were climbed in earlier years and failed attempts to summit the mountain stand as the most recent attempts.

Located in the Himalayan range on the border of India and Nepal, Kabru Massif is a two-summit mountain. Folks have successfully ascended the south summit, but the north, at 24,110 feet, remains unconquered. Heavy avalanche activity has proven the key reason teams haven’t been able to climb a mountain located within a range known for massive peaks.

With only two recorded attempts, this Tibetan mountain stands at 23,786 feet. A new expedition has announced plans for a fall 2018 effort, but the extreme difficulty of traversing a mountain with so little past experience to draw from gives climbers a technical challenge that the weather only makes more difficult.

While much shorter in height than others on this list (just 10,203 feet) the remoteness of Siple Island off Antarctica gives Mount Simple the potential to be the most remote mountain never climbed. In fact, not much is known about the mountain,and there is even speculation it may be an active volcano. And with no real topography information, this (potential) volcano provides a one-of-a-kind climbing opportunity.