Backpacker Magazine is reporting in their Daily Dirt Blog that 17-year old Johnny Collinson of Utah has become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits after reaching the top Mt. Vinson yesterday.
Collinson has yet to post anything to his own website, but he was climbing with a Mountain Madness team, and they have reported the teen’s success. Johnny was part of a four person team that was guided up by North Face athlete Willie Benegas, who will be on his way to Aconcagua shortly.
A quick glance at Johnny’s website tells us that he has climbed the Carstenz Pyramid version of the Seven Summits, which is of course the most challenging and technically demanding. There is no word on whether or not he’ll head to Australia to nab Kosciusko, the tallest mountain on that continent. But considering that it is a simple walk up, it would only be a bump in the road for him after claiming these other peaks.
Congrats to Johnny on a job well done. Will he hold the record long though? Jordan Romero plans to head to Everest this spring and Vinson in the fall.
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That is amazing! What a great feat for a him. Thanks for the link to his site. I'm looking forward to keeping track of his success.
Agreed Casey. A great accomplishment, and I'm jealous of all that he's already had the opportunity to do. I'd love to go to Antarctica and take a shot at Vinson. Unfortunately, I don't have the cash to do so. Still, what a great adventure.
he did it also in exactly 2 year time!
Will he hold the record long though?
Who will be the next teenage "athlete", supported by their parent's wealth, to challenge this important feat of strength?
Thousands of Haitians are dying to know……
Yeah Wade, it's not like these climbs are cheap, that's for sure. And I'm still not so sure about a 13-year old climbing on Everest this year.
That said, while the Haiti tragedy is a disaster o epic proportions, I don't think we need to stop doing these expeditions and visiting remote places because of it. There is a lot we can do to help, and many of us are in some way or another, but that doesn't mean we should stop pushing boundaries and exploring these places too.
Just my thoughts on the subject.
Congratulations, Johnny – what an amazing accomplishment!
It is something of an accomplishment, but it must be taken with a dose of salt.
My reference to Haiti is sarcastic.
If you over-analyze mountaineering, it really is an extremely selfish pursuit, that doesn't really benefit mankind a whole lot. There aren't many mountains left that haven't been climbed, and 99% of expeditions have no real scientific value. It all basically boils down to ego and bragging rights at the bar. If you're good enough to be sponsored by the gear companies, you'll earn a few shekels from your climbs.
I've been on several trips myself, and enjoy the camaraderie, the challenge, the scenery, etc. And it is fun, most importantly!
I can admire folks who climb for a cause – at least they're doing something other than stroking their ego. At the very least, I always schedule a blood donation when I come back from a mountain trip, since my red blood count is usually higher due to the elevation effect…..
I won't disagree with you at all Wade. I think you've nailed it well. Mountaineering can be a selfish pursuit for sure. And I respect climbers for a cause as well. 🙂
Sorry for my mistake on the earlier comment. He did it in 1 YEAR not 2 !