MOUNT HUA SHAN, CHINA
Biggest danger: rickety wooden platforms, vertical stairways and tricky handholds
The western mountain of the Five Great Mountains of China has a long history of religious significance… and death. There are no official statistics on fatalities on Mount Hua Shan, but it has been estimated that the mountain claims around 100 lives per year! The trails up to the highest point of South Peak at 2,154m (7,000ft) involve steep stairways, vertical ascents and “trails” consisting of wooden platforms bolted onto the mountainside.
It’s estimated that Mount Hua Shan claims 100 lives per year
SNOWMAN TREK, BHUTAN
Biggest danger: capricious weather, extreme cold and altitude sickness.
This is one of the most dangerous hikes in the world as thru-hikers must stay above 4,000m (13,000ft) for a prolonged period of time – about 21 to 30 days. Staying at this altitude for any protracted length of time can lead to acute mountain sickness (AMS) or even high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Additionally, the steep assents, high-level passes (11 in total), remoteness of the locale and ever capricious weather conditions ensure an extremely challenging trek.
Gangkhar summit in Bhutan as seen from the Snowman Trek
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