Climbing
Compared globally, mountains in the United States are often not considered particularly dangerous. Many of the peaks in the U.S. are considered dangerous because they are heavily trafficked, often by inexperienced climbers. Since these peaks aren’t ‘Himalayan-big,’ they can often be underestimated. Here’s a list of the five most dangerous mountains in the U.S. and what makes them so dangerous.
Mount Rainier, WA
Mount Rainier is a volcanic mountain in the Pacific Northwest. At 14,411 feet, it is filled with large glaciers, seracs, and crevasses. Although Mount Rainier has not produced a significant eruption in the past 500 years, it is the most dangerous volcano in the Cascade Range. The mountain has also claimed over 400 lives, of which around 125 are climbing-related.
Mount Washington, NH
Sitting at 6,288ft, Mount Washington is one of the most dangerous mountains in the U.S. due to its unique location. Temperatures of up to -40 °F with wind gusts of up to 231 mph pose a threat, and the weather on the mountain is frequently considered unpredictable. Because of the low altitude, many people bring less gear and have less experience, resulting in an underestimation of the mountain. Since the count began in 1849, there have been 161 deaths on Mount Washington.
Mount Saint Elias, AK
Mount Saint Elias is infrequently climbed today because it has no easy route to the summit. Elias sits at 18,008ft on the Yukon-Alaska border and is the second-tallest mountain in the US. Elias has few ascents and can go multiple seasons with someone making it to the top. Only eleven expeditions have been carried out, with 43 climbers, of which only ten people successfully reached the summit.
Denali, AK
At 20,320 ft, Denali is the largest mountain in the United States and North America. Climbing poses significant dangers, including high altitudes and dangerous weather patterns. The fatality rate is 3.08/1,000 summit attempts, and the mountain has claimed 127 lives since 1932.
Mount Hood, OR
Every year, over 10,000 climbers attempt to reach the summit of Mount Hood. As one of the deadliest mountains in the Cascade Range, Hood has 46 deaths since 2002 and at least 130 all-time reported deaths. Hood sits at 11,250ft, has 11 glaciers, and requires technical climbing. Rockfall and glacial features are frequent hazards that make climbing routes difficult or out of season.
