The first comprehensive guidebook of climbing routes to the highest peak on each of the world's seven continents* First and only guidebook to climbing all Seven Summits* Full color with 125 photographs and 24 maps including a map for each summit route* Essential information on primary climbing routes and travel logistics for mountaineers, with historical and cultural anecdotes for armchair readers. Aconcagua. Denali. Elbrus. Everest. Kilimanjaro. Kosciuszko. Vinson. To a climber, these mountains are known as theSeven Summits - the highest peaks on each continent. And from Antarctica to Alaska, Nepal to Tanzania, each year thousands of climbers from all over the world attempt at least one of them, while a growing number have plans to climb each and every mountain.Drawing on years of experience, veteran Seven Summits mountain guide Mike Hamill describes overall considerations for expedition planning and high-altitude trips, gear recommendations, tips on international travel and logistics, and estimates of financial costs. In-depth descriptions of each of the Seven Summits include a regional map, a map of theprimary climbing route or a route overlay on a photo, and a sample climbing itinerary that covers peak-specific technical climbing tips and what to expect on summit day. Throughout Hamill's descriptions, renowned alpinists offer their own advice: Eric Simonson on Everest, Vern Tejas on Denali, and Melissa Arno on a female's perspective of expedition planning. Hamill also includes complete information about the "other" Seven Summit, the Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea; climbing facts and figures for each peak; a history of the Seven Summits challenge; and a "compare and contrast" chart that reveals how the peaks stack up against each other.From the first steps of trip dreaming, to figuring out gear and plane tickets, to kicking those final, sublime steps up to the snowy top of Denali or Aconcagua - this is the one-and-only authoritative book to guide readers to all of the world' s SevenSummits.