This Is Probably The World’s Scariest Mountain Trail, But Wait Until You See What’s At The Top

Fatal drops, deep gorges, thin planks along sheer cliffs, precarious toe holes — Mount Hua Shan in China is home to the world’s scariest and most dangerous trail.

One usually doesn’t associate Taoist monks with extreme adventures, but the heavenly stairs, which lead to the Hua Shan plank path, is just that. These thrill-seeking monks certainly had a taste for exhilaration, as well as meditation of course.

For those brave (or crazy) enough to make their way up this 2,154 meter mountain, something special awaits…

This is the easy part.

The stairs themselves, although beautiful, are daunting.

A lot of stairs but no danger in sight…

And they are the easiest part of the climb.

Don’t let the heavenly stairs lull you into a false sense of security.

However, countless people make the dangerous journey for what's at the top...

The views of the surrounding mountains and villages that dot them are staggeringly beautiful.

As you climb the stairs, you pass little villages and houses that have cropped up on the mountain.

Once you get high enough, you can take a gondola to the southern peak, where the plank path awaits.

Then, once you get high enough, you can take a gondola to the southern peak, where the plank path awaits.

As promised, we present: Danger. Walk along the planks and hold on to the chains for dear life. Safety gear is optional.

This is where the path turns truly dangerous, with nothing but planks to walk on and a rail of chains to hold onto.

These people are officially nuts.

Whatever is waiting at the top better be worth it…

There's almost nothing from keeping you from falling.

If that wasn’t enough, there are parts you must climb — note the toe holes cut out.

There are parts you must climb as well, with toe holes cut out.

Eeek!

Our palms are sweating just looking at this path.

My knees are wobbling just looking at this.

... Woah.

I think her choice of footwear is questionable at best.

There is no point of turning back now.

But, if you're brave enough to keep climbing...

Almost there…

You'll find something pretty interesting at the end of your journey.

Finally! And here is what awaits…

At the very top of the southern peak is a Taoist temple that was converted into a teahouse.

…a Taoist temple that has been converted into a teahouse!

Thousands of people climb the world's most dangerous path to end up at a teahouse.

So, either these people really like dangerous climbing, or they really like tea. I’ll stick to my local coffee shop thank you very much.