The climb progression
Five mountains. One year. Earned.
Every Ascend climber works through the same five real mountains in order. Each peak unlocks the next. Hood is the proof. Everest is the legend.
Peak 1
Starter peak
Mt Hood
3,429m · United States
Mt Hood is the first mountain every Ascend climber gets. 3,429 metres of elevation, ~24 workouts to summit at an average commitment. The starter peak rewards consistency over intensity — perfect for building the daily-log habit that keeps you climbing past week three.
Peak 2
Intermediate peak
Mt Rainier
4,392m · United States
Mt Rainier is 4,392 metres and roughly twice the work of Hood. Most climbers reach Rainier in their second month of using Ascend. It's the peak that proves the streak is a habit, not a fluke.
Peak 3
Tāwhakaroa — heritage peak
Aoraki / Mt Cook
3,724m · New Zealand
Aoraki / Mt Cook is New Zealand's highest mountain — 3,724 metres — and the home peak in the Ascend climb progression. Named for the ancestor who became the mountain, Aoraki is both a physical and cultural anchor in the Ascend app, built right here in Auckland.
Peak 4
Cold-zone peak
Denali
6,190m · United States
Denali is 6,190 metres — North America's tallest — and takes about 100 days of consistent training to summit in Ascend. By the time you reach Denali, the streak isn't an app feature anymore. It's part of your week.
Peak 5
Legend peak
Everest
8,849m · Nepal / Tibet
Everest is the legend peak. 8,849 metres. About 240 days — eight months — of consistent training to summit. The Everest summit badge in Ascend isn't gamified vanity; it's a year of your real training, visualised as the world's tallest mountain.
Intermediate peak
Mt Whitney
4,421m · United States
Mt Whitney is the tallest peak in the contiguous United States. The Mountaineer's Route + main trail combine for ~22 miles + ~1,900m vert in one day. Eight weeks of structured hike-load + leg strength gets you there.
Intermediate peak
Mont Blanc
4,806m · France / Italy
Mont Blanc is Europe's highest. The Goûter Route is the standard line — 2 days, glaciated, ~3,800m vertical from Chamonix. The training is identical to Mt Rainier with a touch more alpine-specific volume.
Intermediate peak
Mt Kilimanjaro
5,895m · Tanzania
Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world + Africa's high point. Non-technical (no ropes, no crampons), but altitude + cumulative fatigue make it a serious aerobic test. Most climbers fail not on fitness but on acclimation.
Starter peak
Mt Fuji
3,776m · Japan
Mt Fuji is Japan's tallest + most iconic mountain. Most climbers go overnight in the official season (July–September) from Station 5. ~6 hours up, ~3 hours down. Trainable in 4 weeks of structured hiking + leg strength.
Starter peak
Tongariro
1,978m · New Zealand
Mt Tongariro sits at the centre of New Zealand's first national park. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is the most-walked day trip in NZ — 19km point-to-point with ~800m vert. Trainable in 3 weeks for a fit person.
Starter peak
Mt Taranaki
2,518m · New Zealand
Mt Taranaki is one of New Zealand's most symmetrical volcanoes. The summer summit route gains ~1,500m vert in ~10km return — a serious one-day push. Often summited as Aoraki prep.
Intermediate peak
Mt Damavand
5,610m · Iran
Damavand is the tallest volcano in Asia + the highest peak in the Middle East. Non-technical south route from Polur is accessible to fit hikers. Altitude + sulphurous summit conditions are the real challenge.
Peak 13
Skyline climb
Burj Khalifa
828m · United Arab Emirates
Once you've summited mountains, Ascend opens the skyline tier. The Burj Khalifa is 828 metres and 163 floors — a fast, satisfying climb that turns a busy fortnight of training into a recognisable landmark you can say you 'climbed'.
Peak 14
Planet tier
Mars
21,900m · The Solar System
Beyond Everest, Ascend leaves the planet. Mars is the first stop on the planet tier — a climb scaled to Olympus Mons, the 21.9km volcano that dwarfs anything on Earth. This is a months-long arc for climbers who never want to run out of mountain.
Peak 15
Planet tier
Saturn
60,000m · The Solar System
Saturn is the second planet-tier climb — a scale only the most consistent climbers reach. A multi-year goal mapped to the ringed giant, for people who've made training a permanent part of who they are.
Peak 16
Final frontier
Neptune
100,000m · The Solar System
Neptune is the furthest climb in Ascend — the edge of the solar system and the edge of the progression. Reaching it means years of consistency. It's less a goal than a testament.
Mountains at a glance
Each peak unlocks the next. Difficulty scales with elevation; commitment scales with the days needed at an average effort.
| Peak | Elevation | Country | Days at avg commitment | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mt Hood | 3,429 m | United States | ~30 d | Starter peak |
| 2. Mt Rainier | 4,392 m | United States | ~60 d | Intermediate peak |
| 3. Aoraki / Mt Cook | 3,724 m | New Zealand | ~50 d | Tāwhakaroa — heritage peak |
| 4. Denali | 6,190 m | United States | ~100 d | Cold-zone peak |
| 5. Everest | 8,849 m | Nepal / Tibet | ~240 d | Legend peak |
| 6. Mt Whitney | 4,421 m | United States | ~60 d | Intermediate peak |
| 7. Mont Blanc | 4,806 m | France / Italy | ~70 d | Intermediate peak |
| 8. Mt Kilimanjaro | 5,895 m | Tanzania | ~80 d | Intermediate peak |
| 9. Mt Fuji | 3,776 m | Japan | ~30 d | Starter peak |
| 10. Tongariro | 1,978 m | New Zealand | ~20 d | Starter peak |
| 11. Mt Taranaki | 2,518 m | New Zealand | ~30 d | Starter peak |
| 12. Mt Damavand | 5,610 m | Iran | ~60 d | Intermediate peak |
| 13. Burj Khalifa | 828 m | United Arab Emirates | ~15 d | Skyline climb |
| 14. Mars | 21,900 m | The Solar System | ~220 d | Planet tier |
| 15. Saturn | 60,000 m | The Solar System | ~400 d | Planet tier |
| 16. Neptune | 100,000 m | The Solar System | ~650 d | Final frontier |