The Most Famous Climber, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the climber you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 25, 2024 07:04

Climbing peaks and scaling vertical challenges not only test physical strength and endurance but also inspire awe and admiration amongst enthusiasts. Ranking the most famous climbers helps the climbing community celebrate these individuals' achievements and stories. It gives novice climbers heroes to aspire to and seasoned climbers benchmarks to surpass. On this site, your votes determine the rankings, actively shaping how climbers are recognized and remembered. Each vote is a nod to the climbers' feats and a way to keep their legends alive in the community. Engage with the list and cast your vote to ensure your favorite climbers are celebrated and their stories climb higher on the leaderboard.

Who Is the Most Famous Climber?

1

84
votes
Sir Edmund Hillary

He was the first person to successfully climb Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, in 1953. He is widely considered one of the greatest climbers of all time.
Sir Edmund Hillary in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous New Zealand athlete
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous adventurer
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous person from Nepal
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous person to have climbed Mount Everest
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Kiwi
2

36
votes
Ptolusque · CC BY-SA 4.0

Reinhold Messner

He is widely regarded as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time. He was the first person to climb all 14 mountains over 8,000 meters, and has made numerous other significant climbs.
Reinhold Messner in other rankings
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous person to have climbed Mount Everest
3

34
votes
Niccolò Caranti · CC BY-SA 3.0

Alex Honnold

He is a free solo climber, meaning he climbs without any ropes or other protective gear. He is known for his daring climbs, including the first free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Alex Honnold in other rankings
- Position 7 of 10 in Most famous Alex
4

24
votes

Jarle Vines · CC BY 3.0

Lynn Hill

She is a pioneering female climber who made history by completing the first free ascent of The Nose on El Capitan, one of the most difficult climbs in the world.
5

22
votes

Rachel Sapp · CC BY-SA 2.0

Tommy Caldwell

He is a professional climber who is known for his successful ascents of some of the most difficult routes in the world. He is also known for his perseverance, having lost a finger in a saw accident but continuing to climb at a high level.
6

8
votes

Ludovic Péron · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ueli Steck

He was a Swiss climber who was known for his speed climbing, making record-breaking ascents of some of the world's most difficult peaks. He died in a climbing accident in 2017.
7

0
votes
SAS Scandinavian Airlines · Public domain

Tenzing Norgay

He was a Sherpa mountaineer who, along with Edmund Hillary, made the first successful ascent of Mount Everest. He is considered a hero in Nepal and is widely respected in the climbing community.
Tenzing Norgay in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Sherpa
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous person to have climbed Mount Everest
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous person from Nepal
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular person in Nepal
8

9
votes

Mocco2 (talk) (Uploads) · Public domain

Chris Sharma

He is a professional climber who is known for his difficult climbs and for pushing the limits of what is possible in the sport. He has made numerous first ascents and has won multiple world championships.
9

12
votes

Yellowstone National Park from Yellowstone NP, USA · Public domain

Conrad Anker

He is a veteran climber who has made significant ascents of some of the world's most difficult peaks. He is also known for his work as a conservationist, helping to protect the environment in mountainous regions.
10

2
votes

Catherine Destivelle

She is a French climber who is known for her solo ascents of some of the most difficult routes in the world. She has also made significant contributions to the sport as a writer and filmmaker.

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About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous climber. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or climber is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2702 views
230 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each climber once every 24 hours. The rank of each climber is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous climber

Mountaineering is one of the most challenging and thrilling sports in the world. It requires a tremendous amount of skill, endurance, and courage. Over the years, many climbers have gained worldwide fame for their incredible achievements on some of the most treacherous peaks on the planet. From Sir Edmund Hillary, the first person to summit Mount Everest, to Alex Honnold, the free solo climber who conquered El Capitan, there have been numerous legendary climbers who have inspired awe and admiration in people around the world. In this article, we will explore the question of who is the most famous climber of all time, taking into account their accomplishments, their impact on the sport, and their overall popularity among the general public.