Climbing peaks above 8000 meters, known as the “eight-thousanders,” represents the highest level of mountaineering. There are 14 such peaks in the world, all located in the Himalayas and Karakoram ranges across Nepal, China, Pakistan, and India. These expeditions require excellent physical fitness, technical climbing skills, and careful acclimatization to extreme altitude. Common challenges include altitude sickness, unpredictable weather, and high objective risks such as avalanches and crevasses. Most expeditions last 6–10 weeks and involve the use of fixed ropes, multiple camps, Sherpa support, and bottled oxygen above 7000m or 8000m, depending on the peak. Due to their danger and difficulty, 8000m climbs are often seen as the pinnacle of high-altitude adventure.
