Posted on 05/22/2010 1:41:11 PM PDT by Daffynition
BEIJING – The youngest climber to reach the peak of Mount Everest hugged his tearful companions and told them he loved them. Then 13-year-old Jordan Romero took the satellite phone and called his mom.
"He says, 'Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world,'" a giddy Leigh Anne Drake told The Associated Press from California, where she had been watching her son's progress minute by minute on a GPS tracker online.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
WOW! Very impressive! You must have a very large cookie jar!
Are you using the “Bass” list?
Are Vinson Massif and Chomolungma on your list?
I wholeheartedly disagree with your opinion. That’s just MY opinion.
Was quoting from the article all the places this family went...therefore, my reference to their cookie jar. :)
You know what they say!
Everybody’s got one.
If you read the rest of my post on this thread you will find that I in no way would want the state to intrude on a parent’s right to govern his child’s activities.
What I have been try to convey is that I believe that given the deadly risk involved in climbing Everest that a responsible parent would not take his child of 13 on such a trek.
There may be more dangerous activities but if there are I would argue more vigorously against them.
A one in ten chance of dying is bad, something more dangerous is foolhardy in the extreme.
But regardless it is every man’s right to be stupid, foolish or ignorant as long as he does not expect me to pick up the tab for the consequences of his actions.
Exactly.
Why am I hearing concern about this adventure that I did not here regarding the 16 year old Australian girl who just completed sailing around the world, single handed. I would wager there is more danger in what she did than there is in this climb. I admire both, and would not discourage such ambition. She was well trained, and it apppears he is well trained.
Nice.
Yes, I mentioned that upthread. This discussion reminds me of the mothers/families who get very young girls into “beauty pageants” ...who benefits and what motivates. Back to that thin line. ;)
I think the beauty pageant thing is all parent stuff, and not so good. When young people have a dream, have the knowhow, and have support, I would generally not discourage them.
Though not of the same magnetude, when my father was 5 years old (circa 1909)he was allowed, even encouraged to canoe by himself on the Des Moines River, where the family camped in the summer. He was taught by a native American who was friend of the family.
There is one major difference between the two and that is availability of help should you need it.
The sixteen year old girl in a boat could radio for help and had the possibility that help could arrive within a few hours most of the time.
Climbers on Everest once they are above 18,000 feet (about half way) they are pretty much on their own.
With modern satellite tracking the girl is much safer that just a few years ago. As long as the boat is afloat she can be found.
Training is important of course but even the most experienced mountaineers have died on Everest. The weather on Everest if infamous for its unpredictability and on Everest weather is what kills climbers more than anything.
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