So you are an avid hiker and a person who loves the outdoors. You have probably climbed mountains around your area or while on vacation, but what about those overseas? Asia is full of great mountains to hike that are challenging and beautiful. In this article, we are going to check out the top 5 most gorgeous mountains in all of Asia. Let’s begin!
Makalu
Makalu is the 5th highest peak in the world and is extremely massive and sits like a pyramid. There are many ridges, as well as a double peak that is connected by Chomolonzo, a saddle within the range. This area sits on the south side of Nepal at the border of northern Tibet.
Climbing Makalu is one challenge you will never forget. The locals call it Kumba Karna, or The Giant. Located in the Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area, you will find that there is a ton of wilderness here, where seasonal herding takes place in the higher pastures. The climb is incredibly steep and there are some Monsoon rains during the year.
While the mountain itself is snowcapped, keep an eye out for oak, maple and magnolia trees, as well as herbs, juniper and more. You will also find chestnut and pine forests as well as areas of orchids.
Around Makalu, you will find wildflowers and plants that you won’t find just anywhere. There are over 3,000 species of flowers and the wildlife there includes red pandas, musk deer and leopards, among others. Grab your binoculars because there are about 400 species of birds to watch out for, some of which are very rare.
K2
K2 is also called Mount Godwin-Austen and is known as the second highest mountain on the planet, next to Mount Everest. Located on the Pakistan and China borders, this highest point of this mountain is Karakoram. Bring best camping knife for the money because this is one tough mountain to climb!
Ascending is very difficult and hazardous, so you have to be careful. Along the way, you will find the Tarim sedimentary basin that is located near the lesser Himalayas, as well as many huge glaciers and melted waters. The fresh water from here helps out the agriculture for the locals in the valleys.
The northern portion is the steepest, as it ascends over 10,000 feet. There is a ton of sedimentary and metasedimentary rocks near faults. Metamorphic rocks exist near the Sarpo Laggo Glacier, as well as other glaciers in the area.
The area is stunningly beautiful, along with the protolith around that developed from lots of magma, as well as the leucogranite dikes that are eroding quickly.
Mount Everest
The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, is located in the Himalayas, on the border of China and Nepal. At over 29,000 feet, this mountain is massive and is the home to some flora and fauna as well as rocks and formations.
From Ordovician limestone to dolomite and faults, you are sure to have an amazing time discovering Mount Everest. There are a lot of areas with sedimentary and metamorphic rocks that are located near the Indian Plate. The Rongbuk Formation is made of high-grade granite and metamorphic rocks that were made when India and Asia formed together.
While there is little flora and fauna here, you will find some Arenaria, which is an alpine cushion plant that grows below 18,000 feet on the mountain. You will find some animals here, such as the black jumping spider. Watch out for birds, too, like the bar-headed goose and the chough or its relation, the yellow-billed choughs. Yaks are used here to haul gear and you will also see snow leopards, Himalayan black bears and red pandas, and about 10 species of ants.
You can experience high winds here, which is why climbing Everest in the spring or fall time, when monsoon season is either ending or beginning.
Jengish Chokusu
This is the highest mountain in the Tian Shan mountain range and it sits on the China and Kyrgyzstan border. There are many summits along the ridge and it is separated by the South Engilchk glacier, where most people set up camp. This is why having some camping games for couples can come in handy when there is downtime.
Be sure to stop at Lake Ysyk, which is bordered by Teskey Ala, where the lake sits in the center. You will also pass by the Ak-Say River Basin and the Naryn River. As for the flora of the area, you will find grasses, wormwood and many desert shrubs around the Tian Shan steppe. Among that, you will find meadows and slopes as well as various types of trees like Maple, Aspen and wild fruit trees.
Nut bear forests are interesting, where you can find walnuts, pistachios and more! In the river valleys, you will run into other trees like poplar and birch. As for animals, you can find mountain partridge, alpine chough, crown, Himalayan snow cock, vultures, gazelles, snakes, and antelopes, to name a few.
Mount Kinabalu
Kinabalu is the highest peak in the Crocker Range of Borneo and is also known as the highest mountain in Malaysia, and in the Malay Archipelago. Here, you will find montane grasslands and shrublands. There are upwards of 6,000 plant species, over 300 types of birds, and more than 100 mammalian species.
You will find slipper orchids, rafflesia plants, which is the largest flower in the world, and many rare flowers. This is also home to animals like bare-headed laughing thrush, mountain serpent eagle, dulit frog mouth, and eye browed jungle fly catcher, among many other oddly named animals in the local area.
Conclusion
Are you ready to explore some of the beauty that the mountains in Asia have to offer? With challenging climbs and various plant life, animals, and weather to experience, you are sure to have an adventure of a lifetime.
