This detailed mountaineering calendar serves as an invaluable resource for climbers worldwide, offering a month-by-month breakdown of ideal climbing seasons for some of the planet's most iconic and challenging peaks. Compiled from extensive expedition knowledge, this guide aims to simplify the intricate planning process for aspiring adventurers. It highlights a diverse range of mountains, from the formidable Eight-thousanders to notable regional summits, ensuring a comprehensive overview for various skill levels and aspirations. The calendar intentionally focuses on non-winter ascents, providing practical information for the majority of climbing enthusiasts. Furthermore, it represents a dynamic project, continuously open to contributions and updates from the climbing community, striving to become the definitive reference for global mountain expeditions.
Optimal Climbing Seasons Across Global Peaks
In January, the mountaineering season kicks off with prime conditions for scaling South American giants. Argentina's majestic Aconcagua, a Seven Summit, stands out as the world's highest non-technical mountain, welcoming climbers. Simultaneously, Mount Kenya's south face in Kenya, a Seven Second Summit, offers optimal climbing, alongside Ecuador's grand volcanoes—Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe—benefitting from dry, low-wind periods. Remote Puncak Mandala in Indonesia and Mount Tyree in Antarctica also see favorable conditions. Mid-to-late January is ideal for Antarctica's Vinson Massif and Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, with the latter, a Seven Summit, being climbable year-round but peaking in the dry season. Notably, California's Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, provides excellent trekking from late May to October, while seasoned mountaineers prefer January and February for rigorous winter training.
As February unfolds, diverse opportunities emerge across the globe. Antarctic Peninsula voyages commence, offering ship-based expeditions. Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, a prominent Seven Summit, enters a popular climbing period due to its moderate conditions. In Ecuador, Antisana, the nation's fourth-highest and most demanding volcano, presents its best climbing window. West Africa's highest mountain, Mount Cameroon, hosts its annual Race of Hope, and adventurous North Pole skiing expeditions embark in late February. Kilimanjaro, Africa's pinnacle, remains a year-round trekking destination, with February being particularly favored. Antisana, while climbable throughout the year, experiences its driest and least windy conditions in February, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a technical challenge.
March ushers in the beginnings of high-altitude expeditions. The Ojos del Salado expedition between Chile and Argentina, targeting a Seven Second Summit, is typically underway. Significantly, the initial Everest expeditions in Nepal, aiming for the world's highest peak and an Eight-thousander, commence. Concurrently, Everest Base Camp treks begin, allowing adventurers to journey to the foot of this colossal mountain.
April marks a busy period, especially in the Himalayas. New Zealand's Mount Cook and the Southern Alps offer good climbing conditions. The Canadian Rockies present their best month for winter mountaineering. Expeditions to Everest, Lhotse, and their combined ascents in Nepal surge, targeting the world's first and fourth highest peaks. Pre-monsoon expeditions to Manaslu and Makalu, the eighth and fifth highest mountains respectively, also begin. Kanchenjunga, the third highest, sees its expeditions launch. Annapurna I, often considered the most dangerous Eight-thousander, usually sees attempts begin in early April. Later in the month, expeditions to Ama Dablam, Shishapangma, and Dhaulagiri are initiated, alongside Greenland crossings. The Alaska Range's climbing season also starts, and Nepal's highest trekking peaks, Mera Peak and Island Peak, welcome their first expeditions, providing ideal Himalayan introductions.
May brings a new wave of climbing seasons across various continents. Europe's Central Alps, Morocco's Mount Toubkal and Atlas Mountains, and the California and Colorado ranges in the USA all kick off their climbing seasons, including the iconic Mount Whitney. The Pacific Northwest also sees the start of climbing on Mount Rainier and the Cascade Range. In Peru, May is the prime month for hiking the Inca Trail and visiting Machu Picchu. Expeditions to Denali, North America's highest peak and a Seven Summit, commence in early May, though warmer conditions and fewer crevasses make late May and June more favorable. Mid-May sees the crucial summit bids for Everest and Lhotse in Nepal, while Mount Logan in Canada and Nanga Parbat in Pakistan also begin their expeditions. The Bolivian Alpine season for 6,000m peaks in the Andes also opens, concluding the month with climbing opportunities on Mount Gunnbjorn in Greenland.
June presents a peak period for many significant climbs. The Scandinavian mountaineering season begins. Mount Gunnbjorn in Greenland continues to offer opportunities, and Denali expeditions in the USA experience their most successful summit rates mid-to-late June. The Bolivian Alpine season remains active. Notably, Mount Kenya's north face opens for climbing. In the Karakoram range, expeditions to Gasherbrum I, II, Broad Peak, and the formidable K2, the world's second-highest mountain, commence, with summits usually in late July/early August. Japan's "Three-thousanders" also begin their climbing season.
July marks the high point for European Alpine ascents. Mont Blanc, the Eiger, and the Matterhorn, along with other Alpine four-thousanders in France, Switzerland, and Italy, are at their best. The Canadian Rockies offer dry climbing. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania continues to be popular, often combined with wildlife safaris. Ecuador's Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Cayambe experience their driest conditions, though strong winds can be a factor. The Bolivian Alpine season persists, and remote Mount Khuiten in Mongolia sees climbing activity. Expeditions to Russia's Elbrus and Dykh-Tau begin. Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia, while climbable year-round, enters its peak season. Peru's Alpamayo, Artesonraju, and the Peruvian Andes also offer optimal climbing conditions.
August mirrors many of July's prime locations. Mont Blanc, the Eiger, and the Matterhorn in the European Alps continue to be ideal. Elbrus and Dykh-Tau expeditions in Russia remain active. The Bolivian Alpine season concludes. Later in August, Nepal's autumn summit season for Everest begins, and expeditions to Cho Oyu, the world's sixth-highest mountain, commence on the Nepal/China border. The iconic Matterhorn, with its striking pyramidal shape, and the formidable Eiger, known for its challenging North Face, both in the Alps, are best attempted during the summer months of July and August.
September welcomes post-monsoon expeditions in the Himalayas. The second Manaslu and Makalu expeditions begin in Nepal/China. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan's Khan Tengri offers optimal climbing, as do Himlung and Saribung in Nepal for late-season mountaineering. The Pamir Mountains across Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan also see their best climbing period. Nepal's Mera Peak and Baruntse launch their second expeditions, continuing opportunities for trekking and non-technical climbing.
October focuses on Central Asian ranges and specific technical challenges. The Tian Shan mountains, spanning China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, offer prime climbing. Meru Peak's Shark's Fin, renowned as one of the world's toughest routes, is historically noted for its first successful ascent in October 2011. In Nepal, Ama Dablam and Cholatse present opportunities for exposed technical alpinism at altitude.
November inaugurates the climbing seasons in Patagonia, a region known for its tempestuous weather. Argentina's Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, alongside Chile's Cordillera Paine and Torres del Paine, see ascents begin. Mexico's Pico de Orizaba and Iztaccihuatl also enter their dry season, with Pico de Orizaba being North America's third-highest peak. New Zealand's Mount Cook and Southern Alps start their climbing season. Antarctic Peninsula voyages become possible again, and a polar skiing expedition to the South Pole begins. Late November sees the start of Vinson Massif expeditions in Antarctica and Aconcagua expeditions in Argentina, marking the onset of the climbing season in the surrounding Andes.
December concludes the year with favorable conditions in several key climbing regions. New Zealand's Mount Cook and the Southern Alps continue to offer good climbing. Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre in Argentina, and Cordillera Paine in Chile, remain excellent choices. Ecuador's Antisana and the broader Ecuadorian Alpine season begin. Mexico's Pico de Orizaba experiences its best month for climbing. Antarctic Peninsula voyages are active, and Mount Tyree and Vinson Massif in Antarctica are prime destinations. Argentina's Aconcagua continues its climbing season, and Colombia's Cordillera Central offers its best climbing period.
The journey to a mountain's summit is an extraordinary endeavor, often pushing the limits of human endurance and spirit. While reaching the pinnacle is a celebrated achievement, the true essence of mountaineering lies in the complete experience—the meticulous preparation, the arduous ascent, and most critically, the safe return. As Reinhold Messner, the legendary alpinist, wisely observed, "Mountains are not fair or unfair, they are just dangerous." This profound truth underscores the inherent risks and unpredictable nature of the alpine environment. It is a constant reminder that the mountains operate by their own rules, impervious to human desires or expectations. Therefore, every expedition demands not just physical prowess and technical skill, but also profound respect for nature's power, a keen understanding of one's own limitations, and an unwavering commitment to safety. The mountains offer unparalleled beauty and profound lessons, but they also demand ultimate humility and caution. The greatest triumph in mountaineering is not merely reaching the top, but returning safely, enriched by the journey and wise to the mountain's immutable laws.