Together with Frank Wells, one-time president of Walt Disney, Bass conceived of the adventure challenge of summiting each of the seven continents: Denali (Mt. McKinley), North America; Aconcagua, South America; Mt. Elbrus, Europe; Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa; Vinson Massif, Antarctica; Mount Kosciuszko, Australia; and Mt. Everest, Asia.
He is also an accomplished climber having climbed extensively in the world's great mountain ranges including ascents of Nanga Parbat, at 8125m the world's sixth highest mountain, Rakaposhi (7788m) in the Western Himalaya, Mt Elbrus in The Caucasus and The Matterhorn in The Alps.