13-year-old American Youngest To Climb Mt. Everest; 7 Summit Goal Continues

Originally posted by calstorm
That's wonderful. He is an exceptional kid. Although I have to wonder how many other kids would love this opportunity and would have been successful had their parents been able to afford it.

I wonder how many kids will need a costly and sensational rescue, in the event of disaster, simply because they are exceptionally young, and using satellite communication devices.

Originally posted by MadhatterTheGreat
I don't mean to be a dick, but I'm getting sick and tired of all of these "super kids." It has nothing to do with jealousy or anything of the sort, they just think they're so much better than everyone else and always walk around with this attitude. Enjoy being a kid because when you get my age you will have wished you would have stayed a kid as long as possible. You're 13. Stop trying to be something special and go play with your pecker to some internet porn and hope your parents don't catch you. Seriously, I want to punch some of these kids in the face really hard.

I don't know quite what to make of this statement. While it is certain that the superkid wouldn't attempt the climb unless the cellphone rescue option was certainly in place, as it was, it is still a feat. If tshtf, though, I'm pretty sure richie's parents wouldn't pick up the rescue tab. Also, I'm guessing, doing what you suggested is probably possible on the mountain, so maybe he wants the best of both worlds?

I don't want to punch these kids in the face, though. I try to not even see them. There are infomercials on the tube now, showing kids answering meaningless rainman style math questions. I could vomit and these kids aren't even in-your-face famous yet.

[we have a breaking story coming from the top of Mount Everest. A 13 year old boy is stranded there, after getting separated from his parents/rescue work is underway...]

Is it even possible to get stranded on a mountain these days? Seems tacky, and impure.

[edit on 24-5-2010 by davidmann]

reply to post by davidmann

For most humans it takes maximum physical effort to get themselves anywhere near the summit of Everest (it's called the death zone for a reason). To reach someone in trouble in time to make any difference and to return them to lower elevations is unlikely in the extreme.

You do not get rescued from Everest but people just might die trying to do so. You really should read Into Thin Air. The place is a terrifying death trap.


[edit on 5/24/2010 by Phage]

UPDATE

Jordan Romero interview on CNN after returning from his Everest summit success.

CNN Video Interview

...the longest and best 20 minutes of our lives...