Mission 14 is all about climbing the 14 tallest mountains in the world – also know as the “eight-thousanders“ - as fast as possible over the span of just two years.

There’s a reason Mission 14 is being called, “the world’s toughest expedition” – Nick Cienski will be racing against the clock to climb the 14 tallest mountains in the world. Thirty-one climbers have climbed all eight-thousanders, but no one has ever climbed more than 5 of the tallest mountains in the world in a single year. Cienski, starting in 2014, plans to be the first.

To complete the Mission 14 expedition, Cienski is raising nearly $6 million and employing scores of sherpas to help set up lines on the mountains and ferry goods. His resources are divided up between Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan, the three countries that house the tallest mountains in the world. It hasn’t been announced which mountain Cienski will climb first, but whether it be Annapurna, Lhotse or Kangchenjunga, Cienski plans on climbing it in record-time.

Check out Mission14.org for the latest news on Cienski, the expedition and the eight-thousanders.

Cover Photo Credit: Jeanne Menj / Flickr.com