Imagine standing at the base of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our solar system. It looms before you, rising an astonishing 22 kilometers (14 miles) above the Martian surface. To put that into perspective, it’s nearly three times the height of Mount Everest, and its base sprawls over an area larger than France. If you were to attempt climbing this massive shield volcano, what challenges would you face? Could a human truly make this ascent?
The Scale of Olympus Mons
Olympus Mons is not just any mountain—it is a shield volcano, built over millions of years by flowing lava that created its broad, gradually sloping structure. Unlike steep, jagged peaks on Earth, Olympus Mons has an average slope of only 5 degrees. At first glance, this may sound like a relatively easy climb. But there’s a catch: the sheer scale of the journey.
The climb from the base to the summit covers a staggering 350 kilometers (217 miles)—roughly the same distance as walking from New York City to Boston. On Earth, an average hiker can cover 20–30 kilometers in a day. Even if you could maintain a steady pace of 5 km/h (3 mph), it would take around 70 hours to reach the top. That’s nearly three days of continuous walking—without considering the obstacles Mars throws in your path.
Challenges of the Martian Environment
While the slope might not be your biggest challenge, Mars itself certainly will be. Unlike Earth, where climbers can rely on oxygen-rich air, moderate temperatures, and a habitable atmosphere, Mars presents an extreme environment that makes such a trek nearly impossible.
1. Gravity—A Small Advantage
Gravity on Mars is only about 38% of Earth’s. This means that a 70 kg (154 lb) person would feel as if they weighed only 27 kg (60 lbs). This lower gravity could allow for greater endurance and easier movement. However, the benefits of reduced weight are outweighed by the other environmental hazards.
2. The Harsh Martian Climate
Mars is an unforgiving planet. Temperatures can drop as low as -143°C (-225°F) at night and can reach up to 35°C (95°F) during the day. This extreme range means that climbers would require advanced, heavily insulated spacesuits that could regulate body temperature and prevent hypothermia or heatstroke.
3. The Thin Atmosphere—A Death Sentence Without Support
Mars’ atmosphere is incredibly thin, just 0.6% of Earth’s atmospheric pressure. This means you wouldn’t be able to breathe without a constant oxygen supply. A standard spacesuit with life support systems could last several hours, but climbing Olympus Mons would require days. Carrying multiple oxygen tanks, along with food and water, would add a significant burden.
4. Treacherous Terrain and Dust Storms
Unlike a well-marked hiking trail, Olympus Mons presents an unpredictable surface. The landscape consists of loose volcanic rock, deep fissures, and ancient lava flows. A single misstep could result in a dangerous fall or getting stuck in the soft regolith.
Mars is also infamous for its dust storms, which can last for weeks and obscure visibility. These storms could make navigation nearly impossible, turning an already grueling journey into a death trap.
What Would You See Along the Way?
Despite the challenges, let’s assume you have all the necessary equipment, resources, and determination to attempt the climb. What would the journey be like?
As you start at the base, the landscape is barren, an endless stretch of red dust and rock. The ground is uneven, occasionally marked by deep channels carved by ancient lava flows. The silence is eerie—no wind rustling leaves, no sounds of wildlife. Just your own breath and the soft crunch of Martian soil beneath your boots.
As you ascend, you might see patches of water-ice, remnants of Mars’ past where liquid water once flowed. The higher you go, the more you’ll notice the thin wisps of water-ice clouds forming above, a rare sight on Mars. These clouds appear due to the high altitude and low pressure around Olympus Mons.
Eventually, after days of struggling against the harsh conditions, you would reach the summit—a massive, gaping caldera stretching 85 km (53 miles) across. This vast crater was formed by successive collapses after volcanic activity ceased. Standing there, you would witness a sight that no human has ever seen firsthand—a view of Mars from the highest point in the solar system.
But there would be no grand reward, no breathtaking panoramic view like on Earth’s mountaintops. Instead, you would see an endless red wasteland stretching far beyond the horizon. The realization would sink in—climbing Olympus Mons is not just a test of endurance but a reminder of Mars’ lifeless, desolate nature.
Is Climbing Olympus Mons Worth It?
Technically, a human could climb Olympus Mons if provided with the right gear and resources. However, the endeavor is nearly impossible given current technology. The sheer length of the journey, the life-threatening conditions, and the lack of real motivation make it more of a theoretical challenge than a practical goal.
Would you be willing to risk your life for a monotonous, exhausting climb with little to no reward at the top? Perhaps future astronauts or robotic explorers will attempt it, but for now, Olympus Mons remains an untouched giant, waiting in the silence of the Red Planet.
References and Sources:
- NASA Mars Exploration Program: https://mars.nasa.gov
- European Space Agency (ESA) – Olympus Mons in close-up: https://www.esa.int
- NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter: https://mars.nasa.gov/mro/
