| What it is | The highest point of a peak |
| Reaching it | 'Summiting' / peak-bagging |
| Watch for | False summits |
| Difficulty | Varies by peak |
A summit is the highest point of a mountain or hill — the top, and the goal of many hikes and climbs. Reaching the summit is called ‘summiting’ or ‘bagging’ a peak. A false summit is a high point that looks like the top from below but isn’t, a common morale-tester on big climbs.
Reaching it
Getting to the top is ‘summiting’; ticking off many summits is peak-bagging.
False summits
Watch for a false summit — see summit vs false summit. Summits are often reached along a ridge after big elevation gain.
Frequently asked questions
What is a summit?
A summit is the highest point of a mountain or hill — its very top. It's the objective of most peak hikes and climbs, and the point from which the terrain falls away in every direction.
What does 'summiting' mean?
Summiting means reaching the summit — the top of the peak. Climbers and hikers also speak of 'bagging' a peak, especially when ticking off a list of summits like the 4,000-footers or 14ers.
What is a false summit?
A false summit is a high point that appears to be the top when viewed from below but turns out to have more climbing beyond it. False summits are notorious for sapping morale on long ascents, since the real top is still ahead.
Sources
- Mountain terminology — The Mountaineers