In 1981, Dick Bass, 51, a successful Texas businessman and owner of Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah, and Frank Wells, 49, president of Warner Brothers Studios, set out to climb the highest peak on each of seven continents.
On April 30, 1985, on the summit of Mount Everest, Dick Bass became the first person to complete the Seven Summits.
Following are the "8" Seven Summits.
- Everest (29,035f /8,848m) Asia-Nepal/China
- Denali (20,320f / 6,194m) North America-Alaska, USA
- Aconcagua (22,841f / 6,962m) South America-Argentina
- Elbrus (18,510f / 5,642m) Europe-Russia
- Kilimanjaro (19,335f / 5,895m) Africa-Tanzania
- Vinson Massif (16,067f / 4,897m) Antarctica
- Kosciuszko (7,310f / 2,228m) Australia
- Carstensz Pyramid (16,023f / 4,884m) Oceana-Indonesia
Why are there 8 Seven Summits? Kosciuszko is the highest point in Australia, considered the seventh continent when Dick Bass climbed them. But many view Australia as part of the larger continental formation of Oceana, or Australasia. From that perspective, Carstensz Pyramid (Indonesia), also known as Puncak Jaya Kesuma, is the taller peak.
Climbing the Seven Summits has become a popular goal. See 7summits for statistics. I'm not sure how accurate these statistics are, as it assumes everyone who climbs the Seven Summits notifies this website. I did : )
