13-year-olds climbing Everest

[DanS]

I have no idea whether having a guide is necessary. Do you?

[Asher]

Considering the mortality rate, I'd say it's essential for anyone with a head on their shoulders. Especially for children.

[DanS]

Do you have any data showing that having a guide reduces the mortality rate for people with their mountaineering chops?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

It's certainly advisable. Read the last link I posted for more details.

You can climb with Climbing Sherpas, as "Team Jordan" is doing, but the success rate is far lower where inexperienced climbers are concerned. That's not terribly important, though- the big difference is that Climbing Sherpas are hired employees, not expedition leaders, and it's far harder for them to order a suicidally-determined client to turm back.

[Kuciwalker]

I'll go a step further and say pretty much anyone trying to climb Mount Everest is stupid.

[ColdWizard]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8615400.stm

Quick reminder- for every 5 climbers successfully summiting Everest, one climber dies.

Is that the rate for first time climbers? Have you a source?

Incidentally, the current youngest summiter is Temba Tsheri, who summited at 16. Temba's first attempt was at 14, and he lost five fingers on that go.

Except for the 15 year old Sherpa girl, Ming Kipa.

Next fun fact about this climb, folks. They won't be using a guide, despite never having attempted Everest before.

That's rather retarded. At least there will be a paramedic nearby (unless they get separated):

Then there is the fact that his father is a paramedic with a speciality in high-altitude physiology.

[SlowwHand]

A paramedic stabilizes. Then what?

[ColdWizard]

Doesn't need to stabilize if he recognizes a problem before it becomes serious and goes back down.

[SlowwHand]

Whatever. A child isn't merely a small adult, no matter what Ozzy advocates.

[OzzyKP]

13-year olds can be impulsive, but it is also possible for many of them to understand the consequences of their actions. I think we would have to talk with Jordan to know for sure.

[ColdWizard]

Whatever. A child isn't merely a small adult, no matter what Ozzy advocates.

Yes, they should just sit at home and post on the internet.

[Wezil]

You haven't answered my question Ozzy (post #9).

I was aware of the potential consequences.

[Japher]

Being "aware" of the consequences and "understanding" the consequences are two different things.

I tell my daughter that if she doesn't eat her veggies she can't have any desert and she's complete capable of understanding this. Yet, she still choses to forgo desert so as not to have to eat her veggies. Still, when desert comes and she gets none she regrets her previous decision. Of course she's 4, but it's not a very big decision.

My point; he may be aware that it's a life and death decisions, but he has no idea what he really sacrificing since he hasn't really lived yet. Or, maybe he does.

It's not like his parents are letting him do heroin, where the consequences are less obvious. however, the consequences here are more permanent.

I concur with Sloww.

[SlowwHand]

Yes, they should just sit at home and post on the internet.

There's a vast span between sitting at home on the Internet day after day, and attempting to climb Everest.
It doesn't take much more than a child's mind to understand that fact.

[ColdWizard]

There's a vast span between sitting at home on the Internet day after day, and attempting to climb Everest.
It doesn't take much more than a child's mind to understand that fact.

He's already climbed more mountains than me, how about you?