List of climbers and mountaineers
This list of climbers and mountaineers is a list of people notable for the activities of mountaineering, rock climbing and ice climbing.
A
- Vitaly Abalakov Russia, climbed Lenin Peak and Khan Tengri
- Yevgeniy Abalakov Russia, climbed Communism Peak
- Premlata Agarwal India, first Indian woman to complete all Seven Summits
- H. P. S. Ahluwalia India, climbed Mount Everest in 1965
- Pierre Allain France, championed bouldering at Fontainebleau, and inventor of rubber rock-climbing shoes
- Christian Almer Switzerland, numerous first ascents, including Eiger
- Ashraf Aman Pakistan, first Pakistani ascent of K2
- Luigi Amedeo, Duke of Abruzzi Italy, first ascent of Mount Saint Elias of the Rwenzori Mountains
- Pat Ament US, rock climber and pioneer boulderer
- Melchior Anderegg Switzerland, guide, with numerous first ascents, including new routes on Mont Blanc
- Conrad Anker US, discovered Mallory's body on Everest in 1999
- Tyler Armstrong US, in 2013, at age 9, the youngest to climb Aconcagua
- Melissa Arnot US, five ascents of Everest
- Armando Aste Italy, first Italian ascent of Eiger north face
- Peter Athans US, seven ascents of Mount Everest
- Peter Aufschnaiter Austria, mountaineer and companion of Heinrich Harrer
B
- Samina Baig - Gilgit-Baltistan, 3rd Pakistani and only Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest
- John Bachar US, noted for climbs in Yosemite National Park and free soloing
- John Ball Ireland, naturalist and climber, Alps guidebooks author, first president of Alpine Club in 1857
- Jacques Balmat Duchy of Savoy, Chamonix-based guide, first ascent Mont Blanc
- George Band UK, Everest expedition, first ascent Kanchenjunga
- Kinga Baranowska, Poland, first Polish woman to have climbed Dhaulagiri, Manaslu and Kangchenjunga
- Anna Barańska Poland, first Polish woman on the North Face of Mount Everest
- Henry Barber US, leading US rock climber in the 1970s
- Andrzej Bargiel Current record holder in speed to get Snow Leopard award and current record holder Elbrus Race
- Lilliane and Maurice Barrard France, Gasherbrum II, Nanga Parbat, both killed on K2
- Charles Barrington UK, first ascent Eiger
- Richard Bass US, businessman and amateur mountaineer, first to complete Seven Summits
- Robert Hicks Bates US, first ascent Mount Lucania, on US attempts on K2
- Mark Beaufoy UK, fourth ascent Mont Blanc
- Fred Beckey Germany/US, many first ascents in US and Canada
- Bentley Beetham UK, on 1924 Everest expedition; pioneer of Borrowdale rock climbing
- George Irving Bell US, physicist, biologist and mountaineer, first ascent Masherbrum, rescued on K2
- Gertrude Bell UK, many ascents in Alps and further afield
- Maciej Berbeka first winter ascents of eight-thousanders: Manaslu, Cho Oyu, Broad Peak
- Josune Bereziartu Basque, rock climber; first female climber in grade 9a/5.14d
- Patrick Berhault France, many ascents in the Alps.
- Didier Berthod Switzerland, featured in First Ascent
- Adam Bielecki first winter ascents of eight-thousanders: Gasherbrum I and Broad Peak
- Isabella Bird UK, traveller, writer and natural historian
- Barry Blanchard Canada, mountain guide; first ascents in the Saint Elias range of Alaska
- Smoke Blanchard US, developed Buttermilk bouldering area
- Karl Blodig Austria, mountaineer, optician and journalist; first to climb all 4,000 metres peaks in the Alps
- Arlene Blum US, first US female attempt on Everest, led first all-woman ascent of Annapurna
- Peter Boardman UK, Everest 1975, Changabang West Wall 1976, Kanchenjunga 1979, died on Everest with Joe Tasker
- Emmanuel Boileau de Castelnau France, first ascent La Meije with father and son Pierre Gaspard
- Jean-Marc Boivin France, exponent of extreme ascents and descents
- Walter Bonatti Italy, mountaineer and writer, solo new routes on Aiguille du Dru and Matterhorn
- Sir Chris Bonington UK, first ascent Central Pillar of Freney, Annapurna II, Nuptse, Central Tower of Paine, ascent of Everest
- Thomas George Bonney UK, geologist and mountaineer, president of Alpine Club
- Jack Borgenicht, USA, garment manufacturer, philanthropist, oldest person to climb Mount Rainier at age 81
- Alastair Borthwick Scotland, climber and author of Always a Little Further
- Christine Boskoff US, 6 8,000m summits, including Everest twice, died on Genyen Peak
- Anatoli Boukreev Russia, climbed seven 8,000 m peaks without supplemental oxygen, died on Annapurna 1997
- Loulou Boulaz Switzerland, several first ascents and first female ascents in the Alps
- Tom Bourdillon UK, Cho Oyu, British Everest expeditions, South Summit of Everest, died on the Jägihorn
- Stipe Božić FPR Yugoslavia, completed Seven Summits, second European to climb Everest twice
- Lydia Bradey New Zealand, first woman to climb Mt Everest without oxygen 1988
- Samuel Brawand Switzerland, politician and mountain guide; first ascent of Mittellegigrat
- David Breashears US, Everest twice, directed IMAX film Everest
- Meta Brevoort US, alpinist of Victorian period, aunt of W. A. B. Coolidge
- Russell Brice New Zealand, record for fastest single solo ascent without oxygen of Cho Oyu and Ama Dablam
- Jim Bridwell US, rock climber, first one-day ascent of Nose of El Capitan in 1975
- David Brower US, Executive Director of Sierra Club and Yosemite climber
- Joe Brown UK, rock climber, first ascent Aiguille de Blaitière west face, Kanchenjunga, Mustagh Tower
- Katie Brown US, won 1995 X Games and climbing Junior World Cup
- Geoffrey Bruce UK, in 1922 reached on Everest on his first mountain climb.
- Hermann Buhl Austria, first ascent Nanga Parbat and Broad Peak, died on Chogolisa
- Alexander Burgener Switzerland, first ascent Matterhorn Zmuttgrat, Grands Charmoz, Aiguille du Grépon, Lenzspitze, Grand Dru
- Jean Buridan France, climbed Mont Ventoux for the view, before Petrarch
C
- Tommy Caldwell US, rock climber, free climbed the Dawn Wall on El Capitan
- Una Cameron UK, ascents in Alps, Caucasus and Africa
- Louis Ramond de Carbonnières France, scientist and Pyrenean pioneer
- Kim Carrigan Australia, leading technical rock climber of the 1980s
- Carlos Carsolio Mexico, 14 8,000m summits
- Riccardo Cassin Italy, first ascent Piz Badile north-east face ; Grandes Jorasses Walker Spur ; Mount McKinley Cassin Ridge
- Cristina Castagna Italy, first Italian female ascent Makalu
- Alison Chadwick-Onyszkiewicz Britain, first ascent Gasherbrum III
- Ludwik Chałubiński Poland, first ascent Mięguszowiecki Szczyt Wielki
- Armand Charlet France, many first ascents in Mont Blanc massif
- Isabella Charlet-Straton UK, first ascents in Alps, first winter ascent Mont Blanc
- Maxime Chaya Lebanon, Everest, Seven Summits and Three Poles Challenge
- Chhurim Nepal, first woman to reach Everest summit twice in a week
- Renata Chlumska Sweden, first Swedish female ascent Everest
- Yvon Chouinard US, pioneer of Yosemite climbing, founder of Chouinard Equipment and Patagonia
- Leszek Cichy Poland, first winter ascent Everest
- John Clarke Canada, explorer and wilderness educator, over 600 first ascents in Coast Range of British Columbia
- Vern Clevenger US, first ascent Cholatse, numerous first routes ascents in Sierra Nevada
- Ian Clough UK, first ascent Am Buachaille, first UK ascent Eiger north face, died on Annapurna
- Norman Clyde US, pioneer of California's Sierra Nevada
- Johann Coaz Switzerland, first ascent of Piz Bernina
- J. Norman Collie UK, first ascent Ben Nevis Tower Ridge, Nanga Parbat expedition
- Emilio Comici Italy, first ascent Cima Grande di Lavaredo north face with Angelo and Giuseppe Dimai, died in accident in Val Gardena
- Achille Compagnoni Italy, first ascent K2 with Lino Lacedelli
- Kyra Condie US, member of the 2020 US Olympic climbing team
- Herb and Jan Conn US, early pioneers of climbing in areas like Carderock in Maryland, Seneca Rocks in West Virginia, and Black Hills of South Dakota
- William Martin Conway UK, surveyor and explorer
- Kenton Cool UK, ten-time Everest summiter
- W. A. B. Coolidge US, 1,700 expeditions in Alps, Alpine historian
- Janne Corax Sweden, adventurer and climber
- Henri Cordier France, first ascents Aiguille du Plat de la Selle, Les Droites died in accident on Le Plaret
- Dr Patrick Cordier France, first ascent French Direct on Norway's Troll Wall, solo ascent The Nose, Yosemite, first ascents in Mont Blanc massif
- Jean Couzy France, first ascent Makalu with Terray
- Lucy Creamer British champion climber
- Peter Croft Canada, many hard first ascents in the Sierra Nevada
- Aleister Crowley UK, occultist, writer, and rock climber, led early expeditions on K2 and Kanchenjunga
- Michel Croz France, numerous first ascents, died on descent after first ascent of Matterhorn
- John Cunningham Scotland, pioneered new techniques of ice climbing
- Bronisław Czech Poland, a mountain rescue pioneer in the Tatra Mountains
- Anna Czerwińska Poland, oldest female ascent Everest, first Polish female Seven Summits
- Andrzej Czok, Poland first winter ascent of Dhaulagiri and first ascent of Mount Everest through South Pillar
D
- Kalpana Dash India, first from Odisha, India to climb Mount Everest
- Steph Davis US, second female one-day free climb El Capitan
- Johnny Dawes UK, rock climber, introduced two new grades in British grading system
- José Antonio Delgado Venezuela, five 8,000m summits, died on Nanga Parbat
- Clinton Thomas Dent UK, Caucasus, Alps, first ascent Lenzspitze, Aiguille du Dru
- Ardito Desio Italy, geologist and mountaineer, leader of K2 first-ascent expeditionbonatt
- Catherine Destivelle France, first woman to solo the Eiger North Face in winter
- Kurt Diemberger Austria, first ascent Broad Peak and Dhaulagiri, climbed K2
- Sasha DiGiulian US, first woman to free climb Magic Mushroom, Eiger
- Jan Długosz mountaineer
- Jim Donini US, first ascent of Torre Egger, noted mountaineer
- Hans Christian Doseth Norway, climbed Great Trango Tower east face, died during descent
- Lord Francis Douglas Scotland, died on descent after first ascent of Matterhorn
- Lonnie Dupre US, Solo climb of Mt. Denali in winter
- Hans Dülfer Germany, rock climber killed in World War I
- Hayatullah Khan Durrani Pakistan, mountaineer and rock climber
- Günther Dyhrenfurth Germany/Switzerland, Himalayan explorer, led German expeditions to Kanchenjunga
E
- James Eccles UK, first ascents in Mont Blanc massif
- Oscar Eckenstein UK, alpinist, rock climber and boulderer
- Patrick Edlinger France, award-winning rock climber, featured in several rock climbing movies
- Angela Eiter, Austria, first woman in history to climb a 9b route
- Zsolt Erőss Hungary, ten eight-thousanders, two with prosthetic leg, died on descent from Kangchenjunga summit
- Susan Ershler US, first married couple to climb the Seven Summits, together
- Leila Esfandyari Iran, first Iranian woman to climb Nanga Parbat; died on Gasherbrum II
- Jens Esmark Norway, first ascent Snøhetta and Mount Gaustatoppen, led first expedition to Bitihorn
- Nick Estcourt UK, killed on K2 by avalanche
- Charles Evans UK, Alps, Wales, leader of Kangchenjunga first ascent expedition
- John Ewbank Australia, pioneer of Australian rock climbing, invented Australian grading system
F
- Freda du Faur Australia, first female ascent Mount Cook
- Ron Fawcett UK, one of the first professional rock climbers
- Sue Fear Australia, five 8,000ers, killed in crevasse fall on Manaslu
- Rudolf Fehrmann Germany, pioneer rock climber in Elbsandsteingebirge
- Darby Field Ireland?, first European to climb Mount Washington
- George Ingle Finch Australia, reached 8,300 m on 1922 Everest expedition; Dent d'Hérens north face
- Scott Fischer US, Lhotse 1990, K2 1992, Everest 1994; died in 1996 Mount Everest disaster
- Hans Florine US, speed climber, ascent The Nose El Capitan in 2:36:45
- James David Forbes UK, first British ascent Jungfrau
- Charlie Fowler US, free solo rock climber and high-altitude mountaineer
- Mick Fowler UK, explorer and mountaineer, winner of Piolet D'Or
- Douglas Freshfield UK, Alps, Scotland, Himalayas, Pyrenees
- Tom Frost US, rock climber, first ascents of big walls in Yosemite Valley
- Fritiof Fryxell US, geologist and park ranger, first ascents in the Teton Range
- Wang Fuzhou China, first ascent Everest north face, first ascent Shishapangma
G
- Patrick Gabarrou France, first ascents in Mont Blanc massif
- Will Gadd Canada, various hard mixed routes including the first M12
- Ryszard Gajewski
- Lene Gammelgaard Denmark, author of Climbing High, first female Scandinavian ascent of Everest
- João Garcia Portugal, first Portuguese to climb Everest and tenth to climb all 8,000m summits
- Rolando Garibotti Argentina/US, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre traverse
- Pierre Gaspard France, first ascent La Meije with his son and Emmanuel Boileau de Castelnau
- Chanda Gayen India, first woman from West Bengal to climb Everest, killed on Kanchenjunga western side
- Lakpa Gelu Nepal, 12 Everest ascents
- Lester Germer US, physicist, World War I fighter pilot and rock climber
- Conrad Gessner Switzerland, naturalist and early mountaineer in the Alps
- Azim Gheychisaz Iranian mountain climber who climebed all 14 Eight-thousanders
- John Gill US, father of modern bouldering, introduced chalk and modern dynamics in the 1950s
- Stefan Glowacz Germany, professional rock climber
- Alessandro Gogna Italy, mountaineer, adventurer and mountain guide from
- Dan Goodwin US, rock/building climber, climbed World Trade Center, Sears Tower, John Hancock Center and CN Tower
- Dave Graham US, rock climber and boulderer
- Tormod Granheim Norway, climber and extreme skier, first ski descent Everest north face
- Chloé Graftiaux Belgium, rock and sport climber and mountaineer
- William Spotswood Green New Zealand, Selkirks
- Paul Grohmann Austria, numerous first ascents in the 19th century
- Michael Groom Australia, ascents of Lhotse, Kangchenjunga, K2 and Everest without bottled oxygen
- Bear Grylls in 1998, at age 23, was the youngest Briton to summit Mount Everest
- Wolfgang Güllich Germany, rock climber and boulderer, first 5.14d - Action Directe
- Paul Güssfeldt Germany, first ascent Peuterey ridge and Piz Scerscen, first European attempt on Aconcagua
- Veikka Gustafsson Finland, all 8,000m summits
- Jesse Guthrie one of the pioneers of sport climbing in the US
H
- Peter Habeler Austria, first ascent without supplementary oxygen Everest with Reinhold Messner
- Douglas Robert Hadow UK, died on first ascent Matterhorn
- Dave Hahn - US, 11 Everest ascents, 26 Vinson Massif ascents, 19 Denali ascents
- Artur Hajzer Poland, first winter ascent of Annapurna with Jerzy Kukuczka
- Lincoln Hall Australia, rescued at 8,700m on descent from Everest
- Rob Hall New Zealand, Seven Summits in seven months, died in 1996 Mount Everest disaster
- Peter Harding UK, prominent climber of the 1940s
- Warren J. Harding first ascent El Capitan
- Alison Hargreaves UK, first female unassisted Everest, died on descent from K2 summit
- John Harlin US, direct route pioneer, killed on Eiger north face
- Heinrich Harrer Austria, first ascent Eiger north face and Carstensz Pyramid, author of Seven Years in Tibet
- Ginette Harrison UK, Seven Summits, first female ascent Kangchenjunga, killed on Dhaulagiri
- Dougal Haston Scotland, first ascent Annapurna south face , killed in avalanche near Leysin
- Elizabeth Hawkins-Whitshed UK, pioneer of mountaineering, mountain photographer, author
- Margo Hayes, US, first woman to climb 5.15a
- Andreas Heckmair Germany, first ascent Eiger north face
- Zygmunt Andrzej Heinrich
- Gary Hemming US, first ascent south face Aiguille du Fou
- Siegfried Herford UK, first ascent Scafell Central Buttress
- Derek Hersey UK, many free solo routes in the US
- Maurice Herzog France, led 1950 French Annapurna expedition
- Tom Higgins US, first and first free ascents in US, also in France outside Chamonix
- Lynn Hill US, first free ascent The Nose on El Capitan, Yosemite
- Sandy Hill US, Seven Summits
- Edmund Hillary New Zealand, first ascent Everest with Tenzing Norgay
- Alan Hinkes OBE UK, first Briton to climb all 8,000m summits
- Andreas Hinterstoisser Germany, attempted Eiger north face in 1936 with Toni Kurz, both died during the retreat
- Yuji Hirayama Japan, World Champion 1998, 2000
- Marty Hoey US, died on Everest
- Charles F. Hoffmann US, surveyor and mountaineer, several first ascents in Sierra Nevada
- Jim Holloway US, perhaps first to achieve V11+ levels
- Alex Honnold US, free solo of Half Dome northwest face, Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park, and Freerider on El Capitan
- Tom Hornbein US, first ascent Everest west ridge
- Steve House US, solo ascent K7, first ascent Nanga Parbat Rupal face
- Charles Houston US, first ascent Mount Foraker, attempts on K2 in 1938, 1953
- Alexander and Thomas Huber Germany, free ascents Yosemite, speed record El Capitan
- Charles Hudson UK, first ascent Monte Rosa, Matterhorn, died on descent of Matterhorn
- Tomaž Humar Slovenia, Piolet d'Or for new route Ama Dablam, solo Dhaulagiri south wall
- Alexander von Humboldt Germany, Chimborazo
- John Hunt UK, leader, 1953 Everest expedition
I
- Marcel Ichac France, filmed first French expedition in Himalaya Karakoram and 1950 French Annapurna expedition
- Dimitar Ilievski Macedonia, first Macedonian to climb Everest, died on the way back
- Ulrich Inderbinen Switzerland, guide, 371 Matterhorn ascents, the last at 90 years old
- Alberto Iñurrategi Spain, youngest person to climb all eight-thousanders
- Andrew Irvine UK, died on Everest with George Mallory
- R. L. G. Irving UK, Alpine pedagogue and author
J
- John Jackson UK, first ascent of Jackson's Route
- Margaret Jackson UK, pioneer female mountaineer in the Alps
- Nicolas Jaeger France, first French ascent of Mount Everest
- Tim Jarvis Australia/UK, re-created Shackleton’s South Georgia traverse
- Zbigniew Jaworowski
- Narendra Dhar Jayal a.k.a. 'Nandu' Jayal India, first Director of Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering
- Ganesh Jena India, first male from Odisha, India to climb Mount Everest
- Jimmy Jewell UK, prolific rock-climbing soloist
- Konstanty Jodko-Narkiewicz
- Alex Johnson US, five-time United States national champion and two-time Bouldering World Cup gold medalist
- Raghav Joneja India, youngest Indian to climb Mount Everest
- Kevin Jorgeson US, first free climb of the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, US
K
- Conrad Kain Austria/Canada, over 50 first ascents in the Canadian Rockies, amongst which was Mount Robson
- Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner Austria, first woman to climb all 14 eight-thousanders without supplemental oxygen
- Bob Kamps US, pioneer of golden age of Yosemite climbing and 5.10 & 5.11 routes in America
- Harish Kapadia India, Himalayan veteran
- Mieczysław Karłowicz
- Fritz Kasparek Austria, first ascent of Eiger north face
- Peter Kaufmann Switzerland, guide in Alps and Canadian Rockies
- Ron Kauk US, rock climber, many first ascents in Yosemite, stunt work for Hollywood climbing movies
- Robert Kayen US, rock climber, professor, scientist, first solo ascent of West Buttress of El Capitan
- Dora Keen US, 8 ascents of first-class peaks in the Alps, member of Royal Geographical Society, 1914
- Pat Kelly UK, rock climber and founder of Pinnacle Club
- E. S. Kennedy UK, first ascent Monte Disgrazia, Mont Blanc du Tacul
- Mikhail Khergiani, Svan mountaineer of Soviet Georgia, known as the Tiger of the Rocks
- Clarence King US, geologist and climber, first director of USGS, first ascent Mount Tyndall
- Andy Kirkpatrick UK, rock and ice climber, motivational speaker
- Colin Kirkus UK, rock climber and alpinist
- Zygmunt Klemensiewicz
- Christian Klucker Switzerland, guide, prolific first ascentionist in Bernina Range and Bregaglia
- M.S. Kohli India, leader of the Indian Everest expedition
- Layton Kor US, rock climber and mountaineer, author of Beyond the Vertical
- Dai Koyamada Japan, sport climber and boulderer
- Jon Krakauer US, author and mountaineer, summited Everest, wrote Eiger Dreams, Into The Wild and Into Thin Air
- Hans Kraus Austria, pioneering rock climber and one of fathers of sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation
- Göran Kropp Sweden, rode bike from Sweden, soloed Everest without oxygen and rode home
- Moriz von Kuffner Austria, a number of first ascents, including Eiger Northeast Face and Kuffner Ridge Mount Maudit
- Julius Kugy Austria-Slovenia, considered the father of modern mountaineering in the Julian Alps
- Jerzy Kukuczka Poland, second man to climb all 8,000m peaks, ascent in the winter four eight-thousanders, the only man in the world to ascent in one winter two eight-thousanders
- Władysław Kulczyński
- Colonel Narendra Kumar India, Siachen Glacier and Himalayan veteran
- Jaan Künnap Estonia, mountaineer and photographer
- Janusz Kurczab
- Wojciech Kurtyka Poland, pioneer of alpine style in high mountains
- Toni Kurz Germany, attempted Eiger north face in 1936, died during the retreat
L
- Constantin Lăcătușu Romania
- Lino Lacedelli Italy, first ascent K2 with Achille Compagnoni
- Louis Lachenal France, first ascent of Annapurna 1950, with Maurice Herzog; died skiing in Chamonix
- Jean-Christophe Lafaille France, 11 eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen; died on Makalu
- David Lama Austria, climber and alpinist, notable for first free ascent of Cerro Torre
- Raymond Lambert Switzerland, reached 8611m, highest altitude at that time, with 1952 Swiss Everest expedition
- Samantha Larson US, youngest person to complete Seven Summits, at 18 in 2007
- Philip Ling Australia, notable for one of the highest rescues, of two injured Sherpas on Mt. Pumori, Nepal
- Pete Livesey UK, influential rock climber in the 1970s
- John Long US, rock climber and writer; author of How to Rock Climb series
- Erhard Loretan Switzerland, 14 8,000m-plus summits
- Alex Lowe US, climbed Great Trango Tower, Rakekniven in Antarctica and Sail Peak on Baffin Island; died on Shishapangma
- George Lowe New Zealand, last surviving member of 1953 British Mount Everest Expedition
- Jeff Lowe US, made over 1000 first ascents in the US and Canadian Rockies, Alps and Himalayas
- Fritz Luchsinger Switzerland, first ascent of Lhotse, in 1956
M
- Ashish Mane India, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Manaslu
- Tim Macartney-Snape Australia, Everest, first to climb Everest from sea level
- Dave MacLeod Scotland, established world's first E11
- M. Magendran Malaysia, Everest, first Malaysian/Tamil to reach summit
- Nasuh Mahruki Turkey, Snow Leopard, first Turkish and Muslim climber of Everest
- Janusz Majer a Polish alpinist, himalaist and traveler
- Maki Yūkō Japan, first ascents of Mittellegigrat, Mount Alberta; first winter ascent of Mount Yari; led expedition that achieved first ascent of Manaslu
- Antoni Malczewski
- Rafał Malczewski
- Tashi and Nungshi Malik India, many world first female twins records
- George Mallory UK, initial and the initial ascent efforts of the 1922 and 1924 British Mount Everest expeditions, died on Everest at 8,150+ metres
- Sergio Martini Italy, seventh ascent of all eight-thousanders
- Marie Marvingt France, first woman to climb most major peaks in French and Swiss Alps
- William Mathews UK, founder of Alpine Club, first ascent Monte Viso, Grande Casse
- Chantal Mauduit France, six 8,000m summits without supplementary oxygen, died on Dhaulagiri
- John Oakley Maund UK, first ascents in Mont Blanc massif
- Eylem Elif Maviş Turkey, first Turkish female ascent of Everest
- Pierre Mazeaud France, Walter Bonatti's climbing partner, first French ascent of Everest
- Daniel Mazur US, numerous ascents in the Himalayas and America
- Steve McClure UK, first Briton to climb 9a twice
- Duncan McDuffie US, summits in the Sierra Nevada
- Richard "Dick" McGowan US, first US successful ascent of Everest, International Himalayan Expedition
- Ammon McNeely US, noteworthy first one-day ascents and speed records on El Capitan, Yosemite and Zion big walls
- Alex Megos, first climber to on-sight 5.14d/9a route
- Alain Mesili France, disputed ascent on Fitz Roy with Ricardo Arzela, pioneered routes in Bolivia
- Reinhold Messner Italy, first to climb all eight-thousanders and without supplementary oxygen, first ascent without supplementary oxygen of Everest with Peter Habeler, first solo Everest
- John Middendorf US, big-wall rock climber, first ascent East Wall Great Trango Tower
- Thomas Middlemore UK, first ascents in Mont Blanc and Bernina massifs, and Bernese Alps
- Gwen Moffat UK, author of Space Below My Feet
- Jerry Moffatt UK, sport climber and boulderer
- Silvio Mondinelli Italy, 13th person to climb all eight-thousanders
- Ben Moon UK, sport climber and boulderer, established world's first F8C+
- A. W. Moore UK, first ascent Fiescherhorn, Barre des Écrins, Piz Roseg, Ober Gabelhorn
- Fritz Moravec Austria, first ascent Gasherbrum II
- Piotr Morawski Poland, many 8000m summits, died on Dhaulagiri/Manasu expedition
- Nea Morin UK, rock climber and mountain climber
- Simone Moro Italy
- Don Morrison UK, Pioneer of Alpine Style, first ascents in Canada, England and the Himalayas
- Patrick Morrow Canada, first to complete both the Bass and Messner Seven Summits lists
- Tomáš Mrázek Czechoslovakia, rock climber, World Champion 2003, 2005, winner of World Cup 2004
- John Muir Scottish-born US conservationist and mountaineer, summits in California and Alaska
- Norrie Muir Scotland, prolific winter first ascentionist in Scotland
- Albert F. Mummery UK, Alpine and Himalayan pioneer, killed on Nanga Parbat
- Don Munday Canada, mountaineer and explorer, husband of Phyllis Munday, explored region around Mount Waddington
- Phyllis Munday Canada, mountaineer and explorer, explored region around Mount Waddington
- Malli Mastan Babu India, mountaineer and explorer, world record in completing seven summits in 172 days.
N
- Yasuko Namba Japan, oldest woman at the time to climb Everest at 47, died on descent
- Wasfia Nazreen Bangladesh, motivational speaker and the second Bangladeshi woman to climb Everest
- Vitor Negrete Brazil, first Brazilian to climb Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen
- Hilaree Nelson United States, first female to summit two 8000-meter peaks in one 24 hour push. First ski descent Lhotse Couloir from the summit
- Fred Nicole Switzerland, numerous first ascents of sport routes and boulders
- Jamling Tenzing Norgay Nepal, son of Tenzing Norgay, climbed Everest with Edmund Hillary's son, Peter Hillary
- Tenzing Norgay Nepalese Sherpa, first ascent Everest with Edmund Hillary
- Edward F. Norton leader of 1924 British Mount Everest Expedition with Mallory and Irvine
- Sue Nott US, ice climber and first American woman to climb the Eiger north face in winter
- Maksymilian Nowicki
- Wilfrid Noyce UK, on Everest expedition, reaching South Col, killed in Pamirs
- Arne Næss Norway, philosopher and mountaineer, leader of expedition on first ascent Tirich Mir
- Arne Næss jr. Norway, leader, Norwegian Everest expedition
O
- Vanessa O'Brien First British-American woman to summit K2
- Cathy O'Dowd South Africa, first female ascent of Everest from both north and south, fourth female ascent Lhotse
- Oh Eun-Sun South Korea, first Korean woman to climb Seven Summits, controversy over eight-thousanders claim
- Juanito Oiarzabal Basque, all eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen, record 24 ascents of eight-thousanders
- Clare O'Leary Ireland, first Irish woman to climb Mount Everest
- Adam Ondra Czech Republic, first to redpoint a 9c
- Janusz Onyszkiewicz
- Stanisław Osiecki
- Dan Osman US, rock climber, soloist, killed whilst attempting his new sport of rope jumping
- James Outram Canada, first ascent of Mount Assiniboine
P
- Michel-Gabriel Paccard France, first ascent Mont Blanc
- Bachendri Pal first Indian female ascent Everest
- Tsewang Paljor India, died on Everest in 1996 Mount Everest disaster
- Ines Papert German ice climber, apinist and author
- Marie Paradis France, first female ascent Mont Blanc
- Young-seok Park South Korea, first true Explorers Grand Slam, died on Annapurna
- Elizabeth Parker Canada, journalist and mountaineer
- Chris Webb Parsons England/Australia, rock climber and boulderer
- Edurne Pasaban Spain, first woman to climb all eight-thousanders
- Pasang Lhamu Sherpa first Nepali woman to summit Everest, died on descent
- Tom Patey UK, first ascent Muztagh Tower, Am Buachaille, killed in abseiling accident, author of One Man's Mountains
- Krushnaa Patil India, second youngest Indian girl to climb Mount Everest
- Maciej Pawlikowski
- Ryszard Pawłowski
- Julius Payer Czech-Austrian polar explorer who made many first ascents in the Adamello and Ortler mountains in the 1860s
- Annie Smith Peck US, mountaineer
- William Penhall UK, first ascent Matterhorn west face
- Carla Perez Ecuadorian climber, first Latin American female to ascend mount Everest with no supplemental oxygen
- Jim Perrin UK, over 200 first/free ascents in Britain
- Oliver Perry-Smith US, rock climber in Saxon Switzerland and the Dolomites
- Petrarch Italy, climbed Mont Ventoux
- Elfrida Pigou Canadian female climber, discovered crash site of Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810, died on Mount Waddington
- Tadeusz Piotrowski mountaineer
- Burçak Özoğlu Poçan Turkey, first Turkish female over 8,000 m
- Klára Poláčková first Czech female ascent Everest
- Dean Potter US, speed soloed El Cap in 4:17; speed soloed El Cap and Half Dome in one day
- Paul Preuss Austria, early promoter of free climbing, climbed 1200 peaks in his short life
- Paul Pritchard UK, rock climber
- Hristo Prodanov Bulgaria, soloed Lhotse and Everest, died on descent
- Bonnie Prudden pioneering US rock climber and exercise advocate, 30 documented first ascents in the Gunks
- Karl Prusik Austria, introduced widely used Prusik knot
- Ramón Julián Puigblanque Spain, rock climber
- Nirmal Purja Nepal, first to climb all fourteen 8000 meter mountains in one season
- Ludwig Purtscheller first ascent Kilimanjaro
- Piotr Pustelnik
- Boyan Petrov Bulgaria, climbed 10 out of 14 eight-thousanders, all without supplementary oxygen
R
- Brooke Raboutou US, member of the 2020 American Olympic climbing team
- Aron Ralston US, gained fame after amputating his right arm to free himself after a canyoneering incident
- Lisa Rands US, rock climber and boulderer
- Michael Reardon US, freesoloist and film producer
- Dave Rearick US, rock climber, first ascent of Diamond on Longs Peak
- Gaston Rébuffat France, 1950 Annapurna expedition, first to climb all six great north faces of the Alps, Alpine guide and author
- Ernst Reiss Swiss, first ascent of Lhotse
- Monique Richard Canada, first woman to solo climb Mount Logan, first Canadian woman to summit Mt Makalu, Seven Summits in 32 months
- Dorothy Pilley Richards UK, wrote Climbing Days
- Katharine Richardson UK, mountaineer in the Alps in the 1880s
- Rick Ridgeway US, author, filmmaker, photographer, member of first American team to summit K2
- Leni Riefenstahl Germany, filmmaker, actress and mountaineer
- Ang Rita Nepalese Sherpa, climbed Everest ten times without supplemental oxygen
- Royal Robbins US, rock climber, pioneer of modern Yosemite climbing in the 1950s
- Alain Robert France, climber and builderer
- David Roberts US, author, first ascents of Wickersham Wall and other Alaskan peaks
- Paul Robinson US, rock climber and boulderer
- André Roch Switzerland, Everest 1952 attempt, many first ascents in Alps and Asia
- Beth Rodden US, rock climber
- Jordan Romero US, became the youngest person to climb Everest on May 22, 2010, aged 13 years, 10 months, 10 days
- Steve Roper guidebook writer, editor of Ascent
- John Roskelley US, author, alpinist, Himalayan climber notable for technical first ascents of 7000 and 8000 m peaks
- Fred Rouhling France, rock climber, notable for 1995 proposal of grade 9b for his unrepeated climb Akira
- Alan Rouse UK, soloed many of hardest routes of day, died on descent from K2
- Galen Rowell US, photographer and mountaineer, first one-day ascents of Denali and Kilimanjaro, first ascent Great Trango Tower
- Henry Russell France/Ireland, prolific first ascentionist in Pyrenees
- Wanda Rutkiewicz Poland, first woman on K2, 8,000m-peak veteran, died attempting Kanchenjunga
S
- Nazir Sabir Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, first Pakistani to climb Mount Everest
- Hassan Sadpara Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan, starting as a high altitude porter, he climbed 5xPakistani 8000ers and Everest, without supplementary oxygen
- Mostafa Salameh Jordan, first Jordanian to summit Everest, and Seven Summits
- John Salathé Switzerland/US, pioneering Yosemite National Park, inventor of modern piton
- Horace-Bénédict de Saussure France, third ascent Mont Blanc, funded first ascent
- Marcus Schmuck Austria, first ascent Broad Peak, first ascent Skil Brum
- Peter Schoening US, first ascent Gasherbrum I and Vinson Massif, saved five climbers on K2
- Doug Scott UK, Seven Summits, first ascent Everest south-west face, Baintha Brakk, Kangchenjunga, Nuptse
- Vittorio Sella Italy, mountaineer and pioneer photographer
- Chris Sharma US, award-winning rock climber, second climber to redpoint 5.15c/9b+, featured in several rock climbing movies
- John Sherman US, inventor of "V" grading system
- Apa Sherpa Nepal, record for most ascents of Everest
- Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Nepal, first Nepali woman to climb Everest, died during descent
- Pemba Doma Sherpa Nepal, first Nepali female mountaineer to climb Everest north face, died on Lhotse
- Pemba Dorjie Sherpa Nepal, fastest ascent of Everest
- Eric Shipton UK, first ascent Kamet, pioneered route across the Khumbu Glacier
- Ashima Shiraishi US, first female to climb V15
- William Shockley US, Nobel Prize-winning physicist, proponent of eugenics, first ascent Shockleys Ceiling in the Gunks
- Joe Simpson UK, survived a fall on Siula Grande, wrote Touching the Void
- Arunima Sinha India, first Indian amputee to climb Everest
- Todd Skinner US, rock climber, first free ascent Salathe Wall, died on Leaning Tower
- Cecilie Skog Norway, first female to climb Seven Summits and both Poles, Everest and K2
- Laurie Skreslet Canada, first Canadian to summit Everest
- William Cecil Slingsby UK, first ascent Store Skagastølstind, pioneer of Norwegian mountaineering
- Marian Smoluchowski
- Frank Smythe UK, first ascent Kamet with Shipton, R. Holdsworth and Lewa Sherpa, reached 8565m on Everest in 1933 without supplementary oxygen
- Dermot Somers Ireland, climber, author and broadcaster
- Carlos Soria Fontán Spain, the only mountaineer to have ascended nine mountains of more than 8,000 meters after turning 60 years old
- Jaahnavi Sriperambuduru India, first Youngest Upcoming Mountaineer to attempt Seven Summits, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 12, Mount Elbrus at 13, and Mount Kosciuszko at 14
- William Grant Stairs Canada, first non-African to climb in the Ruwenzoris
- Allen Steck US, mountaineer and rock climber
- Ueli Steck Switzerland, soloed Eiger north face in 2:22:50 hours
- Leslie Stephen UK, author and alpinist, first ascent Schreckhorn, Monte Disgrazia, Zinalrothorn
- Fritz Steuri Switzerland, skier and mountain guide; first ascent of Mittellegigrat
- Edward Lisle Strutt UK, deputy leader on 1922 Everest expedition, outspoken Alpine Journal editor, 1927–37
- Gottlieb Samuel Studer Switzerland, first ascent Wildhorn, founding member of Swiss Alpine Club
- Jan Alfred Szczepański
- Mieczysław Szczuka
- Satyarup Siddhanta India, climbed Mont Blanc, climbed 6 of the 7 summits, climbed Mt Everest on 21 May 2016
T
- Junko Tabei Japan, first female ascent Everest; first completion of Bass and Messner's Seven Summits
- Joe Tasker UK, Dunagiri, Kanchenjunga, Changabang West Wall; died on Everest
- Vernon Tejas US, first solo winter ascent Denali, Seven Summits time world record
- Lionel Terray France, first ascents Fitz Roy, Makalu, Chakrarahu, Jannu; second ascent Eiger north face
- Vladislav Terzyul Ukraine, disputed claim to have climbed all eight-thousanders
- Kevin Thaw UK, ascents in Himalaya and Yosemite
- Herbert Tichy Austrian, first ascent Cho Oyu
- Bill Tilman UK, explorer, climbed in Africa and Himalaya, first ascent Nanda Devi
- Luis Trenker Italy, mountaineer, film director and writer
- Sonnie Trotter Canada, award-winning climber, known for hard trad climbing
- Francis Fox Tuckett UK, first ascent Aletschhorn
- Julie Tullis UK, Broad Peak and K2 ; died on descent from K2
- Mark Twight US, advocate of "light and fast" style of mountaineering
- John Tyndall UK, early attempts on Matterhorn, first ascent Weisshorn
U
- Naomi Uemura Japan, first solo winter ascent Mount McKinley, on which he died
- James Ramsey Ullman US, author and mountaineer
- Ugur Uluocak Turkey, mountaineer, photographer and editor, died on Mount Alarcha in Kyrgyzstan
- Um Hong-Gil South Korea, 9th person to climb all eight-thousanders, first to climb 16 highest peaks
- Willi Unsoeld US, first ascent Everest west ridge, died on Mount Rainier
- Karl Unterkircher Italy, Everest and K2 in the same year without oxygen, died on Nanga Parbat
- Denis Urubko Kazakhstan, 14x8000er; first winter ascents of Makalu and Gasherbrum II, Snow Leopard award winner
V
- Arjun Vajpai India, climbed Everest 2010, Lhotse 2011 and Manaslu 2011
- Ivan Vallejo Ecuador, 14th person to climb all eight-thousanders
- Patrick Vallençant France, alpinist/skier and ski mountaineering pioneer
- Anak Verhoeven Belgium, first woman to claim a first ascent of a 5.15a
- Allison Vest Canada, two-time Canadian Bouldering Nationals champion
- Ed Viesturs US, first US climber to climb all eight-thousander
- Sibusiso Vilane South Africa, first black African to summit Everest
- Ludwig Vörg Germany, first ascent Eiger north face
W
- Horace Walker UK, first ascent Mount Elbrus, Grandes Jorasses, Barre des Ecrins, Obergabelhorn
- Lucy Walker UK, first female ascent Matterhorn
- Barbara Washburn US, first ascent Mount Bertha, first female ascent Denali
- Bradford Washburn US, third ascent Denali, pioneered west buttress route
- Ryan Waters US, first American to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam with unsupported north and south poles
- Don Whillans UK, first ascent Annapurna south face
- Rick White Australia, rock climber, developed Frog Buttress
- Jim Whittaker US, first US ascent Everest
- Lou Whittaker US, Rainier guide
- Edward Whymper UK, first ascent Matterhorn, first ascent Chimborazo
- Jim Wickwire US, K2
- Krzysztof Wielicki Poland, first winter ascent Everest; fifth person to climb all eight-thousanders
- Karl Wien Germany, leader of unsuccessful Nanga Parbat expedition
- Fritz Wiessner US, born Dresden, emigrated to US; pioneer of free climbing; K2 expedition
- Walter Wilcox Canadian Rockies explorer
- Richard Williams - rock climber, pioneered many first ascents in the Shawangunks and author of rock climbing books
- George Willig US, climbed South Tower of World Trade Center
- Fritz Wintersteller Austria, first ascent Broad Peak and Skil Brum
- Ian Woodall UK, climbed Everest several times
- Daniel Woods American climber who specialises in bouldering, ascended the world's hardest boulder problem, Flash in 2011
- Fanny Bullock Workman US, geographer, cartographer and mountaineer, notably in the Himalayas
Y
- Santosh Yadav India, Indo-Tibetan Border Police woman, climbed Everest twice
- Simon Yates UK, Joe Simpson's partner on west face of Siula Grande, subject of Touching the Void
- Michael J. Ybarra US, climber and writer, extreme sports correspondent for The Wall Street Journal 2007–2012
- Wang Yongfeng China, first Chinese couple to climb Seven Summits
- Ichiro Yoshizawa Japan, climber and writer; K2
- Geoffrey Winthrop Young UK, first ascent Täschhorn south face, Weisshorn west ridge, Grandes Jorasses traverse
Z
- Mariusz Zaruski
- Andrzej Zawada Poland, pioneer of winter Himalayism
- Li Zhixin China, half of first Chinese couple to climb the Seven Summits with Wang Yongfeng
- Emil Zsigmondy Austria, physician and mountain climber; died trying to force new route on the Meije
- Jerzy Żuławski Polish literary figure, philosopher, translator and alpinist
- Juliusz Żuławski Polish poet, prose writer, literary critic, translator and climber; son of Jerzy Żuławski
- Marek Żuławski Polish painter, graphic artist, author and climber; son of Jerzy Żuławski
- Wawrzyniec Żuławski Polish composer, music critic and teacher; died during Mont Blanc rescue mission; son of Jerzy Żuławski
- Matthias Zurbriggen Switzerland, first ascent Aconcagua