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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 27, 2011 - 12:57am PT
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VM, let me spell it out a little clearer for you, paying to have your dream handed to you is cheating in my book. It's far from a kid who trains and climbs the seven summits on his own as an equal member of a team, apples and oranges, buddy. Sure I'm happy for him and glad he survived, but a non-guided seven summits by a 15 year old, still awaits.
coz, I agree with that. In my opinion, if one needed a guide to get to the top, he didn't REALLY climb the mountain. There is a big difference between doing your own work and being guided (IMO). In this case however, I believe it is a good thing to have a guide for the kid, because he is a minor. There was a sh#t-storm when he went to Everest. Imagine what it would be like if he was going unguided lol. His parents would have been crucified by the media, and internet judges from around the world.
This is a world of high altitude mountaineering (expeditions and prize peaks! climb does not matter, only summit counts). It is not real climbing or alpinism. Different kind of outdoor activity. Although I am not keen to do any of it, I give him respect for having a different goal than millions of other kids, and working his ass off (in training) to get up those hills. Although it (7 summits) is not a BIG challenge to most people who CLIMB mountains on regular basis, it is a big challenge to regular people who train for their 1 yearly expedition. I hope he develops into a self sufficient man in the mountains.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Dec 27, 2011 - 12:59am PT
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an ascent of everest is going to get you no where later in life,,
NO CHONGO! You can become a motivational speaker!!!! : )
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Dec 27, 2011 - 01:00am PT
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I would think much much worse has been done in the name of basketball, football, swimming, gymnastics, baseball, motorcross, hockey, beautiy contests, ect. ect. ect. No one has gotten hurt here and they figured out how to get it done. I would be interested though for them to let everyone know what the details were. Did he lead any significant pitches or was it all jumaring a fixed rope or being short halled. I think it is still great casuse at a certain point a kid will do what a kid will do and most would never keep going. Go to your local ski hill and find any 15 year old that would walk up the hill instead of taking the lift and you will find few takers.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Dec 27, 2011 - 01:02am PT
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It's not a "either-or", Pass The Chongo Chongo. The Kid can do both. He can still go to college. He's only 15.
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WBraun
climber
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Dec 27, 2011 - 01:02am PT
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Hey man
It's just a kid.
Leave him the fuk alone.
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Pass the Chongo, Chongo
Social climber
camped on P3 of WOS
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Dec 27, 2011 - 01:09am PT
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ummm Chaz,,,, and where did you get that from my posts? i said if they really are going broke on this i hope his parents will still have money to pay for a college for him if he chooses to follow that route,,,,,
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apogee
climber
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Dec 27, 2011 - 03:02am PT
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"Hey man
It's just a kid.
Leave him the fuk alone."
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
BIG ISLAND or Vail ; just following the sun.......
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Dec 27, 2011 - 03:14am PT
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The kid is lIght years ahead of most his age. He will write his own ticket for sure.
"Just a walk up a hill" funny, nothing above 20k is a walk. You should try.
Lots of old man jealousy going on here....
Rg
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Steve L
Gym climber
SUR
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Dec 27, 2011 - 03:20am PT
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Not from steve but from me/beth (fluoride) via his iphone:
Here's the million dollar question: If jordan was say 17 and did this and it was not a new age record, how would this play? It might show a little more that he was doing it for himself and not a new age record and the cache and worldwide attention that goes along with his "youngest to summit7".
Had he done this for himself at an age he could pull it off without the help of guides would it get any attention? Probably not. I hope he keeps achieving great summits in the high peaks if that is really his goal. If he's done all these than what's a little excitement on say huascaran. Wish him the best if he hits the cordillera blanca next. And it's insanely cheap compared to his previous summits
I'm just glad he made it through this okay. Cause somewhere there's a 10 yr old and their folks with an eye on jordan's prize and one of these times the odds of the high peaks could have a devastating outcome. I find that quest for glory qt being the "youngest" conquerer disturbing. I give it less than two years before another child ties or breaks his record. That makes me sad
Beth/fluoride (using steve's iPhone while he sleeps). All of the above is my opinion only, not his
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rick d
climber
ol pueblo, az
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Dec 27, 2011 - 08:05am PT
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one down, 13 to go.
maybe Herman's route next.
my prediction, no more impressive ascents climbing wise for 2 decades.
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Crimpergirl
Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
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Dec 27, 2011 - 10:29am PT
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Cragman - at least the way I understand it is as follows. A couple of questions at least.
As I said above - Jordan - awesome job! I'd say that to anyone - it's a cool accomplishment! Others disagree. So be it. That is the first question being discussed.
The second question deals with money. Jordan et al. don't owe anyone any explanations on their finances. The talk of finances came up in whether money mattered in this feat or not.
It was stated up thread though that money isn't a part of this - only wanting it badly enough. This is where I and others disagree. Money is a part of it, but that is no value judgment, it is just a fact. Money is always a part of it just like money is a part of being able to go to Yosemite or a much closer location. Not everyone has the opportunity to go to Yosemite or the seven summits because of money. Hey, that's life, it ain't always fair. Good on Jordan and others for having enough money to do it. I imagine they themselves are very thankful to have managed to do it. But to state money is irrelevant isn't the reality to many of us.
That is my two cents (which is likely worth less than what was paid for it).
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Dec 27, 2011 - 11:56am PT
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Who the hell cares any more? Certainly nobody in Africa, India, or China.
Has he hooked up with David Lama and Red Bull yet?
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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Dec 27, 2011 - 12:05pm PT
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Lots of armchair quarterbacks here.
I see it as an odd but impressive accomplishment.
Unless you know the family, all criticism is mere speculation.
I don't know the family, so I'll refrain from speculation.
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Gene
climber
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Dec 27, 2011 - 12:10pm PT
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Well said Brandon. My concern is whether the kid could make an informed decision on what he was getting into. I have no way of knowing that.
At a minimum, young Jordan has a kickass topic for his college application essay.
g
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landcruiserbob
Trad climber
BIG ISLAND or Vail ; just following the sun.......
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Dec 28, 2011 - 02:41am PT
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How many here have done one of the seven?
Unless you have been there your opinion well is worthless.
It's like commenting on freeing the nose when your best lead is 5.10 sport.
Rg
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Social climber
Retired to Appalachia
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Dec 28, 2011 - 02:53am PT
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A Southern California teenager became the youngest person to successfully climb to the summit of the seven tallest mountains on Earth's seven continents, according to his website.
Jordan Romero, 15, called his mother Leigh Ann Drake on Saturday to confirm that he'd achieved his goal of reaching the top of Mt. Vinson Massif in Antarctica.
Ah, to be young and rich...
Personally, I think that the life of a dumpster-diving Camp 4 bum is more worthwhile. At least I earned my ascents.
The kid is lucky to have had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. At least he is taking full advantage of his opportunities and good fortune.
Personally, I've never aspired to do the 7 summits, seems a bit contrived to me. Kinda like climbing all the "14ers." After a couple of trips to Denali I've lost my interest in such endeavors (expeditions). I'd rather have fun.
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kiwi
Trad climber
Bozeman, MT
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Dec 28, 2011 - 04:41am PT
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cool, what if you donated all of you're parents money too the poor where it would have actually done some good?
the kid didn't pay for jack sh#t, great that he climbed the peaks but it's more impressive that he didn't buckle under the immense pressure put on him by his vicarious parents.
I believe that climbing all over the world is something that's earned, or at least undertaken when you can appreciate it. there's plenty of hard routes in the sierras or cascades if he was motivated to climb for climbing sake, instead he does this sh#t to get into the record books? f*#k that. Now if he ends up becoming a really solid climber who puts up rad FA's in impeccable style than I'll eat my words and end up worshiping him like the other climbing gods. However until that happens I really don't care and I sure as hell am not going to donate money to his parents bullshit record books empire.
Climbing (along with pretty much any other activity) when it comes down to it is done for oneself and not for anyone else, no matter what anyone says.
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reddirt
climber
PNW
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Dec 28, 2011 - 06:07am PT
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Congrats on people achieving dreams & best of luck to them, esp afterwards (what does one do when the thing they strive for is achieved?...). Extra congrats if that dream includes bettering of the lives of "the least of these" in our crazy world.
That said, I wanna hear about the oldest 7-summiter, as in summitting all 7 in their 80's or 90's or older. That, to me, would be more interesting in many ways.
WTF is up w/ the anti-Tami-&-her-valid-points angst?
His next goal is to climb all 50 state high-points. True!
BTW for the 50 state high points the crux might be permission of the property owner.
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