Hiking is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. It is an endurance sport no doubt, one for the thrill-seekers and nature lovers of our population. Then we get mountain climbers, which is of another level entirely. One little boy has taken the internet by storm when he became the youngest person ever to climb El Capitan – a notoriously difficult rock formation.
The youngest to climb El Capitan
Some people only start accomplishing goals they set for themselves late in life, and that’s okay because life is not a race. But, there are some people who seem to be goal driven and will stop at nothing to achieve them. It is miraculous when these people aren’t even ten years old yet. Eight-year-old Sam Baker, from Colorado, has amazed the world by becoming the youngest person to climb one of the world’s most difficult rock formations.
El Capitan is found in Yosemite National Park and is 3000ft high. According to the Yosemite website, it is classified as a Class 5 climb. One that is generally reserved for highly experienced climbers. “The routes are for expert climbers who train regularly and have a lot of natural ability,” reads the website. This served as a challenge for Sam and Joe, as opposed to a warning.
Sam and his father, Joe Baker, have been climbing together since he was a young boy. One of his earliest accomplishments was climbing the Garden of the Gods rock formation in Colorado Springs when he was three years old. Yosemite National Park is home to many other tricky rock formations, like the Lost Arrow Spire and Fairview Dome. Both of which Sam has climbed in his young life. You can read more about their climbing escapades on Sam’s website, Sam Adventure. In preparation for El Capitan, Sam trained with his father three times a week over two years.
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“We made it!“
According to CNN, the climb to the summit of El Capitan takes a total of four days. This means they would be climbing where they rely fully on their climbing hooks. When they reach the top on the fourth day, they camp out for the night and enjoy the view they have so well earned. Then, on the fifth day, there is an eight-mile hike to the bottom.
“We made it! And then had a little party with our disco ball,” Joe said on Facebook. “My wife accidentally brought up our double sleeping bag and so Sam wanted to end our adventure with a cuddle. What an amazing week! I’m so proud of Sam. He completed the youngest rope ascent of ElCap! In a few years he might be back breaking more records.”
Not only was it Sam’s first time to the summit if El Capitan, but it as his father’s too. He has climbed the mountain before, but he never made all the way. They made it to the top together. Joe said, “It’s just a mythic place. It’s kind of like the mecca of rock climbing. It’s so big and it’s such a big adventure and also an opportunity. Nobody else is going to do this and so we thought it was a great opportunity to do with our kids.”
On Good Morning America, Sam mentioned that he had been very excited to make the climb, but also a little nervous. He was aware of how big the mountain is. “Humungous” was the word he used.
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Sources
- “Meet the 8-year-old who just made history as the youngest to climb El Capitan.” ABC News. Yi-Jin Yu. October 30, 2022
- “Eight-year-old boy becomes youngest person to ascend Yosemite’s El Capitan.” The Guardian. Guardian staff. October 30, 2022.
- “8-year-old boy becomes youngest person to climb California’s El Capitan.” CNN. Andy Rose. October 29, 2022.
