Go Tell It on The Mountain Trivia Quiz

Answer: Antarctica

"Antarctica!" yells Word, shivering in the cold. Vinson Massif is the highest mountain on the continent at 16,050 feet. It was named for a congressman from Georgia, US, because of his strong support for Antarctic exploration. Vinson is in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains,and runs for about 13 miles. It is located about 750 miles from the South Pole. The first summiting of the mountain was in 1966 by an international team. Vinson has seven summits and is considered a snow/ice climb. The weather tends to be dry (Antarctica is technically a desert), but sudden weather changes can occur and become treacherous. The average temperature is -20 degrees F. The best season for climbing is November to January when there is 24 hours of light every day. In winter there is only darkness.

Hint: calVIN SON MASS IF

Answer: Aconcagua

Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Andes chain, which is the longest range in the world at appx. 4400 miles running roughly along the western coast of South America. Aconcagua is in Argentina, is 22,840 feet high and the highest in South America. Word, take a break, you can't just run up and down mountains without resting. The submerged peaks of the northern Andes are the islands of Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Venezuela. The Andes run through seven countries in South America.

Hint: sonorAN DESert

Answer: Alps

Mont Blanc, in the Alps, is 15,782 feet high, and considered on some lists to be the highest in Europe*. The Alps run 750 miles through eight countries, with the most alpine areas being in France, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. Mont Blanc covers the border of Italy and France. The Matterhorn is almost as high at 14,690 feet. From ancient times the Alps were a source of minerals, fresh drinking water and irrigation for many countries in Europe as well as hydroelectric power and eventually cooling water for nuclear plants. These mountains are the source of numerous rivers and lakes, among which are the Rhine, Rhone, Po, and Lake Geneva. The several climactic zones of the region support about 13,000 species of flora and about 30,000 of wild fauna, from the humble flea to large mammals. Throughout history many passes have been built through parts of the Alps. The region supports about 14 million people in neighboring areas and welcomes about 120 million visitors a year. Many Winter Olympics have been held here.

*Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus Range of Russia is higher than Mont Blanc, at 18, 510 feet, but it physically overlaps both Europe and Asia, which causes dissension as to which should be named 'highest in Europe'.

Hint: clerMONT BLANChe

Answer: Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania is 19,340 feet high and contains three volcanic cones, two extinct and one dormant. The name of the mountain in Kiswahili means roughly 'that which defeats'. This mountain is considered a hike rather than a climb in comparison to most of the mountains that are 'summited'. There are seven trekking routes available, and a leisurely hike is recommended in order to adjust to increasing pressure and avoidance of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). The usual time to ascend is seven days.

The snows of Kilimanjaro have been melting over the past century and are estimated to be gone by around 2030.

The incorrect choices: Kosciuszko is the highest mountain in Australia, at 7,310 feet. Klyuchevskaya is the highest of the many strato volcanoes in Kamchatka, Siberia, erupting mildly in 2013. Kanchenjunga, considered a sacred mountain, is known locally as 'Five Treasures of The Great Snow'. Tradition holds that it shall not be summited, so climbers stop before reaching the peak in deference to local beliefs. At 28,170 feet, it is third highest of the Himalayan range.

Word has had no trouble hiking up and down this mountain as he gained a lot of energy from his fricandeau dinner (veal roasted in its own fat).
Hint: A FRICAndeau

Answer: Himalayas

K2, at 28,250 feet, is locally called 'the Savage One' as it is considered a more difficult climb than the highest peak. The death rate here is 25% of climbers. It had never been climbed in winter by the early 21st century. K2 is known for its treacherous storms, avalanches, exposed slopes and steep verticality. It was first summited in 1954. K2 is the second highest peak on Earth.
Annapurna ('Goddess of The Harvests'), only the 10th highest peak on Earth at 26,545 feet, has an even higher mortality rate at 38%, but it is also a more remote location, and its south face is considered one of the most difficult mountaineering challenges on the planet.

The Himalayas cross five countries*, and have more than 100 peaks at over 23,600 feet.
*India, China, Bhutan, Pakistan and Nepal

Hint: K 2

Answer: North America

Word drops from the plane and opens his parachute as he rapidly descends to the top of Denali, highest mountain in North America, at 20,320 feet in the Alaska Range. At times referred to as Mount McKinley, the trend seems to be for the mountain's name to revert to the native name, which is the same as the national preserve of six million acres that surrounds it. There is abundant wildlife here in Denali ('The High One')as well as solitude and peace. The mountain was called 'Bolshaya Gora' when Alaska belonged to Russia.

Denali is about 130 miles from Anchorage, Alaska, and is a popular climb.

Hint: garDEN ALI

Answer: Sierra Nevada

Word looks down at Mount Whitney, highest peak in the contiguous U.S. "A mere 14,500 feet," says he, "I can do that with one eye tied behind my back!" he dons his climbing gear and parasails down. Located in Sequoia National Park, California, the highest point of the continguous states is but 84 miles from the lowest point, in Death Valley, at 282 feet below sea level.

Hint: WHITNEY

Answer: Gunnbjorn

"Gunnbjorn!" screams Word, but his breath is blown away by the wind from this arctic peak. Gunnbjorn Ulfsson (son of wolf) was a Viking explorer mentioned in the Icelandic sagas as having first spotted this highest peak in Greenland. Both the rocky mountain and the ice field, Gunnbjorn Fjeld, are named for him. The mountain rises from a glacier and is 12,140 feet high. It is also the highest mountain north of the Arctic Circle. Greenland is geographically part of North America and politically an autonomous territory of Denmark.

The three incorrect choices are in the Himalayas: Annapurna at 26,200 feet, Kanchenjunga at 28,170 feet and K2 at 28,250 feet. Nanga Parbat, Dhaulagiri, and Makalo are among the highest peaks in the world, all in the Himalayas.

Hint: hirosHIMA LAY A Special

Answer: Carstensz Pyramid

Called 'Punsak Jaya' by native people, this mountain rises 16,024 feet and is on Papua, part of Indonesia. This is a very remote mountain surrounded by dense jungle and aboriginal natives. The mountain is granite and is considered a relatively easy climb. One of the early summiters, Heinrich Harrer wrote "Seven Years in Tibet".

The incorrect choices are products of a deranged mind.

Hint: fIND ONE SIAmese

Answer: Everest

"Everest!" yells Word, and then collapses onto the nearest yak to catch his breath. This is quite literally breathtaking, the view, and the thin air will leave you slightly stoned to violently ill without sufficient oxygen. You are now at the roof of the world. Oops, that's not a yak, it's standing up on two legs, and yet I can't believe what I'm seeing, must be hallucinating this, thinks Word. The incorrect choices are but anthills compared to this.

Extra info: The first person to successfully climb the 'Seven Summits was Richard Bass in 1985.
The fastest known descent of Everest was made by Frenchman, Jean-Marc Boivin by paragliding from summit to base in 11 minutes. Records don't stand long.
There are an estimated 150 bodies on Everest. They are part of the mountain now.

By the way, a mountaineering expert wrote up a rough estimate of what it would cost the average traveler to climb the 'Seven Summits' (highest peaks on each continent), and with any luck, and presuming you survive, *a cool quarter million US should suffice (allowing for inflation and other factors), and that includes airfare, equipment, gear, accommodations, the climb itself, guides and permits. Are you packed yet?
* Prices will vary depending on your location, choices of accommodations etc.

Hint: EVE RESTed