uspinjati

1. formal (with se) to climb; to ascend
   Put se polako uspinje prema vrhu brda. — The road slowly climbs toward the top of the hill.
   Planinari su se satima uspinjali uz stenu. — The climbers spent hours climbing up the rock.
2. formal (with se, of a career) to rise; to climb the ladder
   Brzo se uspinjao na društvenoj lestvici. — He was quickly climbing the social ladder.

Used with se; in everyday speech penjati se is more usual, and "to succeed" is uspevati.