Top 50 Ultra Prominent Peaks of the World

In a blog that I posted in December 2018 here, I wrote about the concept of Ultras as a means of classifying mountains. “Ultra” is shorthand for Ultra high prominence. My blog listed the 10 most prominent mountains in the world. It explained the classification and it listed the names of people who had climbed many of them. This blog goes further and lists the Top 50 Ultras of the World and the names of people who I have found who have climbed at least 10 of them.

The table below contains the lists. It is a large table so it might not easily be read on a phone screen. Use of a laptop is likely to be better.

Whilst the list is complete so far as the Top 50 Ultra Prominent Peaks of the World is concerned, it is almost certainly incomplete where it comes to individuals and the mountains individuals have climbed.

In other words, there are almost certainly more people who have climbed 10 or more of the Top 50 Ultra Prominent Peaks of the World. For example, mountaineering is a burgeoning pastime in eastern Asian countries. Whilst activities such as climbing the Seven Summits can be a source of national pride, there does not seem to be the same culture of websites that record worldwide ascents more generally – such as peakbagger.com. Accordingly, there might easily be nationals of China, Japan, South Korea and India who should feature on this list. And, of course, there are those who quite reasonably prefer to keep their activities to themselves.

It is also likely that certain individuals listed have climbed additional mountains to those that are shown.

The Sources

So where does the information on individuals come from? Largely it comes from work that the late Adam Helman started and has since been continued by Andy Martin. In addition, there is quite a lot of information on the internet.

Andy is the custodian of a number of lists as I mentioned in my previous blog. These are available via his website. Over the last couple of years, as a part of my research on the Volcanic Seven Summits, I have come across individuals on the internet who also seem (consciously or otherwise) to be Ultra baggers. Occasionally I make contact with (or am contacted by) people, most of whom are kind enough to respond and provide me with information. When I have obtained information, I have in turn informed Andy.

The table below therefore is a combination of our efforts.

“Leading Nations”

It probably necessarily follows that the “leading” nationalities of the listed individuals are European or from English speaking countries. That will reflect the cultural factor I refer to above and the in-built prejudices in my research.

So the nations that currently feature most are:

Undoubtedly with further information the balance would shift somewhat. But I suspect that the Americans would keep the lead as “bagging” – whether this be State highpointing, the Colorado 14ers or county highpoints – is very popular in the USA.

“Leading Summits”

The Seven Summits challenge is clearly a popular one. The ten most climbed peaks reflect this fact:

• Kilimanjaro – 172 ascents
• Aconcagua – 164 ascents
• Elbrus – 160 ascents
• Denali – 150 ascents
• Vinson – 126 ascents
• Mont Blanc – 123 ascents
• Everest – 120 ascents
• Carstensz – 115 ascents
• Pico de Orizaba – 110 ascents
• Ojos del Salado – 83 ascents

It is perhaps a little surprising, given the number of Americans on the list, that Mount Rainier does not make the top 10. Similarly, easier Ultras such as Jebel Toubkal and Pico de Teide do not feature near the top 10.

There are more ascents of K2 than of Yushan. For some of the remote peaks – e.g. Namcha Barwa, Kongur Tagh and Erebus – there are no recorded ascents amongst this list of individuals.

The Table

Here is the table. With all its undoubted omissions, I would be happy to receive corrections via the contact form on this website. I am also happy to receive any other comments.

There is no magic in the order of names where the numbers of peaks climbed are the same. I have little or no information on the dates of ascent of peaks, other than as available on the peakbagger.com website. To try to obtain all of this information would be futile. I also make the point that I have no information about claims of ascents. I take claimants at their word. The table includes links to other websites which contain information on some of the climbers. X’s indicate an ascent.

I have not yet decided what effort I will take to update the list, though I will add details of anyone new or otherwise make corrections if contacted. So, for the moment, the list will be dynamic. You will need to come back to see if any changes are made.

	Nationality	Number climbed	Everest	Aconcagua	Denali	Kilimanjaro	Pico Cristobal Colon	Logan	Orizaba	Vinson	Carstensz	Elbrus	Mont Blanc	Damavand	Klyuchevskya Sopka	Nanga Parbat	Mauna Kea	Pik Pobeda	Chimborazo	Bogda Feng	Namcha Barwa	Kinabalu	Rainier	K2	Ras Dashen	Tajumulco	Pico Bolivar	Fairweather	Yushan	Stanley	Kangchenjunga	Tirich Mir	Cameroon	Kenya	Gunung Kerinci	Erebus	Fuji-san	Jebel Toubkal	Cerro Cirripo	Gunung Rinjani	Cook	Pico de Teide	Boising	Cerro San Valentin	Gunnbjorn Fjeld	Ojos del Salado	Gunung Semeru	Ritacubo Blanco	Gongga Shan	Ararat	Kongur Tagh	Blackburn
Matthew Holt	UK/South Africa	36	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X			X	X			X	X	X		X	X		X	X	X				X	X	X		X
Jaime Viñals	Guatemala	33	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X	X		X		X				X		X	X	X		X	X			X	X				X	X	X		X				X	X	X		X
Petter Bjørstad	Norway	31		X	X	X	X	X	X			X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X	X		X	X					X		X	X	X	X		X	X		X	X	X	X		X		X
Gerry Roach	USA	30	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X			X				X	X	X			X				X		X		X		X
M J Kim	South Korea	30	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X	X		X	X			X		X		X	X	X	X		X			X		X	X		X
Geri Winkler	Austria	30	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X		X			X			X	X	X		X	X			X		X		X	X	X	X		X			X	X	X	X		X
Junko Tabei (D)	Japan	28	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X	X	X			X			X	X	X		X				X				X	X	X	X	X	X				X	X			X
Bob Packard	USA	27		X	X	X			X			X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X	X		X				X		X		X	X	X	X	X	X				X	X	X		X
Morgan Batt	Australia	26	X	X		X			X	X		X	X	X			X		X			X			X	X	X		X	X			X	X			X	X	X		X	X			X	X				X
Rob Woodall	UK	25		X		X			X				X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X			X	X			X	X	X		X	X	X	X		X				X	X	X		X
Gerhard Schmatz (D)	Germany	25	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X		X				X			X				X				X		X		X	X		X			X	X	X			X	X	X		X
Ken Jones	USA	24		X	X	X			X			X	X	X			X						X		X	X			X	X			X		X		X	X	X	X		X				X	X	X		X
Doug Mantle	USA	24	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X				X		X			X	X			X			X	X				X	X			X			X				X	X				X
Michael Kelsey	USA	22		X		X			X			X	X	X			X		X			X	X		X	X	X		X				X		X		X	X	X	X		X					X
David Hart	USA	21		X	X	X		X	X				X				X		X			X	X		X	X		X	X	X				X			X	X	X			X										X
Eric GIlbertson	USA	21		X	X	X		X	X			X	X				X	X	X			X	X			X		X		X				X				X	X		X	X				X
Christian Stangl	Austria	20	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X	X					X	X				X			X			X	X			X												X		X
Mario Trimeri	Italy	20	X	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X		X			X		X																X		X		X	X		X			X	X				X
Ludmila Korobeshko	Russia	20	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X			X								X				X			X	X			X	X			X	X				X
Ronald Naar (D)	Netherlands	19	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X	X	X			X			X		X						X								X				X		X	X
Eamon "Ginge" Fullen	UK	19			X	X			X			X	X	X								X			X	X	X		X	X			X	X			X	X	X			X								X
Waldemar Niclevicz	Brazil	19	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X					X		X	X			X									X		X			X	X	X
Helmut Linzbichler	Austria	18	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X					X	X							X							X	X				X								X
Sean Disney	South Africa	18	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X								X								X				X	X		X	X								X				X
John Klein	USA	18	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X				X		X				X			X				X				X					X	X						X
David Hamilton	UK	17	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X					X						X					X		X		X												X				X
Lars Holme	Norway	17		X		X			X			X	X	X								X			X		X		X	X			X				X	X				X				X				X
Khoo Swee Chiow	Singapore	17	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X								X		X					X		X				X		X			X										X
Dagmar Wabnig	Austria	17		X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X			X					X			X			X				X					X			X	X
Vassily Vorobiev	Russia	17	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X			X		X				X														X				X				X	X
Gary Pfisterer	USA	16	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X	X				X		X				X											X							X					X
Harry Kikstra	Netherlands	16	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X							X	X			X									X							X		X
Lyngve Skrede	Norway	16		X					X				X						X			X				X			X						X		X	X	X	X		X				X	X			X
Pete Ellis	UK	16	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X				X		X				X														X	X				X				X
Mandy Ramsden	South Africa	16	X	X	X	X				X	X	X			X												X			X					X			X								X	X	X		X
Alexandr Abramov	Russia	16	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X					X																		X				X	X				X				X
João Garcia	Portugal	15	X	X	X	X				X		X	X	X		X			X				X	X							X							X												X
Javier Botella de Maglia	Spain	15		X	X	X			X			X	X	X					X				X											X			X	X				X				X				X
Mark Aitken	UK	15		X	X	X			X			X	X									X			X	X			X	X				X				X				X								X
Matthew Gilbertson	USA	15		X	X			X	X			X	X				X						X			X			X								X	X	X		X	X
Richard Birrer	USA	15	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X				X		X				X														X				X									X
Ramon Portilla	Spain	15	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X		X														X							X	X												X
Greg Slayden	USA	15		X	X	X			X				X				X					X	X			X		X	X					X			X		X							X
Mikhail Rodionov	Russia	15		X	X	X			X			X	X	X					X						X		X										X	X				X				X				X
Vernon "Vern" Tejas	USA	15	X	X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X	X			X		X			X	X																						X
Petter Kragset	Norway	15		X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X						X								X		X	X				X								X				X
Bruno Baschung	Switzerland	15		X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X				X													X							X	X				X				X				X
Jake Meyer	UK	15	X	X	X	X			X	X		X							X				X	X			X							X				X				X				X
Adam Helman (D)	USA	14		X		X			X								X					X	X			X	X								X		X		X	X							X	X
Reinhold Messner	Italy	14	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X			X			X					X						X	X			X
Andres Karu	Estonia	14		X		X			X			X	X	X								X				X											X		X			X				X				X
Vaughan de la Harpe	South Africa	14	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X								X													X		X									X
Diego Wellig	Switzerland	14	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X					X																		X									X				X
Per Fredrick Ostman	Sweden	14		X	X	X			X			X							X			X				X				X								X	X			X				X				X
Serge Massad	Canada	14	X	X	X	X		X	X	X	X	X					X					X	X			X													X
Fred Zalokar (D)	USA	14		X	X	X			X			X	X				X		X			X	X														X		X		X	X
Wilco van Rooijen	Netherlands	13	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X										X										X				X												X
Ed Viesturs	USA	13	X	X	X				X	X		X	X			X			X				X	X							X										X
Ronald Oliver	USA	13		X		X			X			X					X					X	X		X	X											X	X	X											X
Graham Illing	UK	13		X		X			X				X									X			X	X							X				X	X				X								X
Stipe Božić	Croatia	13	X	X	X	X		X	X	X		X	X											X							X			X							X
John Biggar	UK	13		X			X			X		X	X				X		X								X											X	X			X				X		X
Sharon Crawford	USA	13		X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X				X		X				X							X				X
Garrett Madison	USA	13	X	X	X	X			X	X		X	X						X				X	X										X												X
Reid Larson	USA	13	X	X	X	X			X			X		X			X		X				X			X											X		X
Marie-Pier Desharnais	Canada	13	X	X	X	X			X		X	X	X	X					X			X															X									X
Ginette Harrison (D)	UK	12	X	X	X	X		X		X	X	X																			X			X							X					X
Ricardo Torres	Mexico	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X							X			X	X																											X
Vladimir Doronin	Russia	12		X	X	X			X		X	X		X			X					X	X														X									X
Igor Povalin	Russia	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																								X								X				X
Kurt Wedberg	USA	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X							X				X											X																X
Ralf Dujmovits	Germany	12	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X			X			X					X							X
Karen Jones	USA	12				X								X			X						X		X	X											X	X	X	X		X					X
Caroline (Kay) LeClaire	USA	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X				X															X
Sylvia Alfery	Austria	12				X								X			X					X				X			X						X		X			X		X					X	X
David Roskelley	USA	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																							X									X
Mark Horrell	UK	12	X	X		X			X			X							X						X	X				X								X								X		X
Igor Cherkasin	Russia	12		X	X	X			X	X		X	X	X					X																		X	X								X
Bernard Voyer	Canada	12	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X																		X	X
Takayasu Semba	Japan	12	X	X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X											X										X												X
Richard Carey	USA	12			X	X			X								X					X	X			X			X								X		X			X					X
Travis Greiman	USA	12				X			X				X				X					X			X	X				X			X	X				X	X
Klaas Koehne	Germany	12		X		X			X				X						X			X								X								X		X		X				X				X
Andrew Hughes	USA	12	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X						X				X																							X
Josep Pujante	Spain	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X										X													X		X								X
Scott Woolums	USA	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X										X											X
Walter Laserer	Austria	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X															X				X
Bo Parfet	USA	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X										X																		X
Mauricio Purto	Chile	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X							X																			X								X				X
Wally Berg	USA	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X										X	X																						X	X
Phinella Henderson	UK	11		X		X			X			X	X	X											X								X					X										X		X
Georgia Briscoe	USA	11		X	X	X			X			X	X				X		X			X	X														X
Christine Boscoff (D)	USA	11	X	X		X			X	X	X	X	X						X				X											X
Robert Kay	USA	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X				X						X
Branndon Bargo	USA	11		X	X	X			X			X		X									X			X				X									X											X
Andrey Gundarev	Kazakhstan	11		X	X	X			X		X	X	X	X																X																X				X
Daniel Bull	Australia	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																																X
Gabriel Viti	USA	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X				X																							X
Naim Logic	Bosnia	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X									X																											X
Chung Kin Man	Hong Kong China	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																															X
Bernard François	France	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																																X
Rudy von Snick	Belgium	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X															X												X
Robert Smith	UK	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X											X														X			X
Satyarup Siddhanta	India	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																																X
Theodore (Ted) Fairhurst	Canada	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																																X
Albert Bosch	Spain	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X																								X				X
Jon Herring	UK	11		X	X	X			X				X						X				X		X	X												X		X
Crina Popescu	Romania	11		X	X	X			X	X	X	X	X	X																																X				X
Thomas Knob	Austria	11				X			X			X	X	X								X				X				X							X	X	X
Richard McLellan	UK	11				X			X			X	X										X		X	X											X	X	X			X
Duane Gilliland	USA	11		X	X	X			X			X	X				X						X			X											X									X
Robert Gropel	Australia	11	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X				X
Rolfe Oostra	Australia	11	X	X	X	X				X		X	X																	X				X				X			X
Radek Jaroš	Czech Republic	11	X	X	X	X				X		X	X			X								X						X	X
Niels Toft	Denmark	11		X		X			X			X	X	X					X			X			X													X												X
Martin Szwed	Germany	11	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X																X																X
Vyacheslav Adrov	Russia	11				X			X			X	X	X			X													X							X	X								X				X
a href="https://www.alanarnette.com/index.php" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Alan Arnette	USA	11	X	X		X			X	X	X	X	X						X				X	X
James Stone	UK	10				X			X			X	X	X									X			X												X				X				X
Rob Milne (D)	USA/UK	10		X	X	X				X	X	X	X									X	X											X
David Keaton	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X					X						X																											X
Louis Bowen	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X										X																		X
Phil Ershler	USA	10	X	X	X	X			X	X		X							X				X								X
Francois-Guy Thivierge	Canada	10	X	X	X	X		X		X	X	X	X																								X
Lee Farmer	UK	10	X	X	X	X				X		X	X									X	X															X
Park Young-Seok (D)	South Korea	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Nasuh Mahruki	Turkey	10	X	X	X	X				X		X		X				X						X																										X
Randall (Randy) Peeters	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X				X						X
Chris Birrer	USA	10		X	X	X			X			X	X				X						X														X													X
Robert Link	USA	10	X	X	X	X			X		X	X							X				X								X
Pere Rodés Muñoz	Spain	10		X	X	X						X	X									X															X	X				X				X
Chris Kopczynski	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X										X					X
Jake Norton	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X			X										X															X			X									X
Oliver Klemm	Germany	10				X						X	X	X								X				X											X		X			X								X
Shelley Rogers	USA	10		X	X	X			X								X									X											X	X	X											X
Guy Cotter	New Zealand	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X																					X							X
Mihail Turovskii	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Olga Rumyantseva	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Viktor Bobok	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Vitaliy Simonovich	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Sergei Dmitriev	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Vanessa O'Brien	USA/UK	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X					X
Tim Ralph	UK	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X									X																X
Charley Mace	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X							X					X										X
Peter Hamor	Slovakia	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Colin O'Brady	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X							X				X														X
Liang Jhang	China	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Katie Sarah	Australia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X		X	X	X																																X
Leszek Cichy	Poland	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X																									X							X
Joxe Ramon Agirre	Spain	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X							X																			X			X
Noel Hanna	UK	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X											X										X
Nikos Migitsis	Greece	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X																			X
Katrina Follows	UK	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X						X																											X
Karla Wheelock	Mexico	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X							X																						X
Vladislav Lachkarev	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Herbert Hellmuth	Germany	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X											X							X
Andreas (Andy) Holzer	Austria	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X																																				X
Malli Mastan Babu (D)	India	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X							X								X																			X
Carlos Soria Fontán	Spain	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Israfil Ashurly	Azerbaijan	10	X	X	X	X				X		X		X																	X						X													X
Arthur Marsden	South Africa	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Frits Vrijlandt	Netherlands	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X																	X
John Starbuck	UK	10		X	X	X		X		X	X	X																										X				X			X
Rafael Villegas	Spain	10				X			X			X	X	X											X												X	X				X								X
Michel Waechter	Canada	10		X	X	X		X		X	X	X					X									X													X
Blandonn Smith	USA	10		X		X			X	X	X	X	X						X																						X					X
Roxanne Vogel	USA	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X																									X					X			X	X
Jorge Egocheaga	Spain	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Constantin Lăcătușu	Romania	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X
Oleg Mezentsev	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Paul Fejtek	USA	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X											X															X												X
Valentyn Sypavin	Ukraine	10	X	X	X	X			X			X	X						X																											X				X
Søren Gudmann	Denmark	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X	X	X																															X
Carlos Pauner	Spain	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
Douglas Harris	USA	10			X	X			X								X					X	X												X			X				X				X
Dmitry Tertychny	Russia	10	X	X	X	X			X	X	X	X		X																																X
Kim Hong-bin (D)	South Korea	10	X	X	X	X				X	X	X				X								X							X
John Gupta	UK	10	X	X	X	X					X	X	X											X										X				X
	Nationality	Number climbed	Everest	Aconcagua	Denali	Kilimanjaro	Pico Cristobal Colon	Logan	Orizaba	Vinson	Carstensz	Elbrus	Mont Blanc	Damavand	Klyuchevskya Sopka	Nanga Parbat	Mauna Kea	Pik Pobeda	Chimborazo	Bogda Feng	Namcha Barwa	Kinabalu	Rainier	K2	Ras Dashen	Tajumulco	Pico Bolivar	Fairweather	Yushan	Stanley	Kangchenjunga	Tirich Mir	Cameroon	Kenya	Gunung Kerinci	Erebus	Fuji-san	Jebel Toubkal	Cerro Cirripo	Gunung Rinjani	Cook	Pico de Teide	Boising	Cerro San Valentin	Gunnbjorn Fjeld	Ojos del Salado	Gunung Semeru	Ritacubo Blanco	Gongga Shan	Ararat	Kongur Tagh	Blackburn

Does any of this matter?

Quite possibly not. The motivations for mountaineering and publicity for one’s endeavours are disparate. But it might provide some inspiration at some point in the future for a social scientist looking at leisure fashion or man’s (and it is mainly men, only around 12% in the list are women) desire to tick off lists.

Discuss.

For some other challenges, please see:

• the Top 50 Highest Volcanoes in the World
• the Top 50 Most Prominent Volcanoes in the World