For decades, a few mountains around the world have resisted every attempt made against them. Not for lack of interest, but because of brutal terrain, political restrictions, and conditions. This video from Curiosity Dude covers nine peaks that saw their first ascents in the last few years, many of which were conquered just in 2025.
The list spans the globe, from Nepal to South America. Janu East in Nepal went unclimbed for over 60 years, claiming a climber’s life as recently as 2024 before two French alpinists finally reached its summit in October 2025. Kangwang 1 in Tibet sat untouched for decades simply because no one could obtain permission to try. Muchu Chhish in Pakistan held the grim distinction of being the highest legally climbable unclimbed peak on Earth until a Czech team quietly ended that in 2023.
The most recent summit on the list, Chuama 1 in Nepal, was reached in December 2025 by a local Nepali team. First ascents are still happening and the record books are still being written.
