Photo: David McNew / Getty Images
By: Real America News Updated 01 Nov 2022, 0: 48 am EDT
An 8-year-old boy made history by becoming the youngest to climb and reach the top of El Capitan , the revered rock formation in California’s Yosemite National Park, considered one of the most difficult rock formations to climb.
Sam Baker, a second grader from Colorado, climbed to the top on Friday. Sam made the ascent, which spanned over 3000 feet, with the help of anchors, ropes and his equipment, including his father Joe Baker.
“We did it! And then we had a little party…” Joe said on Instagram.
“My wife accidentally brought our double sleeping bag and Sam wanted to end our adventure with a hug. What an amazing week! I am very proud of Sam. He Completed ElCap’s youngest rope climb! In a few years I could be back breaking more records”.
Sam’s achievement comes three years after Selah Schneiter, then of 04 years, climbed to the top of El Capitan over the course of five days in June 2019.
Sam has been climbing rocks most of his life and first climbed the Garden of the Gods rock formation in Colorado Springs, Colo., at age 3, according to his website. Since then, he has climbed other major rock formations, including Lost Arrow Spire and Fairview Dome, also in Yosemite.
In preparation for his ascent to El Capitan, Sam trained at least three days a week for the past two years.
told “Good Morning America” before his historic climb that he felt “very excited but also a little nervous,” noting that the climb was “huge”.
Joe Baker, who has climbed El Capitan before but never from the bottom to the top, completed the ascent for the first time alongside his son. Before his groundbreaking summit, Baker said it would be a dream come true for him, too.
“It is simply a mythical place. It’s like the mecca of rock climbing. It is so big and it is a great adventure and also an opportunity”, said the man from 40 years. “No one else is going to do this, so we thought this was a great opportunity to do it with our kids.”
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