# Should a 13 year old be climbing Everest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192 "2010-04-15T10:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/181 "2010-04-22T03:31:00Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I hope they all come off the mountain alive and intact. Then we’ll all know it wasn’t so dangerous after all, and other kids should be encouraged to try, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/182 "2010-04-22T05:57:52Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Then we’ll all know it wasn’t so dangerous after all, and other kids should be encouraged to try, yes? Or the need to carry solar powered lanterns to lead the way for other stupid people if they fail. A serious of frozen lawn-jockeys lining the mountain would make excellent trail markers. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/183 "2010-04-22T13:21:27Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Then we’ll all know it wasn’t so dangerous after all, and other kids should be encouraged to try, yes? Unfortunately, but I’m not going to wish death on the kid. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/184 "2010-04-22T13:45:02Z")
> [@carm](#): > > Almost anything fits this description. Allowing a child to play contact sports, for example. > > You really think it would be a good idea for social services to take the child from his parents? That the parents deserve to lose their kid? Or that the boy deserves to lose his parents? They wouldn’t be taking the kid from his parents–only from his father. His mother is not involved with the expedition. But it’s too late for any legal intervention. It’s all up to the mountain. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/185 "2010-04-22T14:05:21Z")
I see this scenario: kid freezes to death, tearful dad goes on TV, tells world that “this is what his son wanted”. Meanwhile, state prepares manslaughter case against dad…and high profile lawyer (Gerry Spence) takes case pro bono. TV frenzy commences… dad is “vindicated”-sets up memorial foundation for his son. All is well. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/186 "2010-04-22T15:24:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Or the need to carry solar powered lanterns to lead the way for other stupid people if they fail. A serious of frozen \*\*lawn-jockeys \*\*lining the mountain would make excellent trail markers. But who is going to carry the water melons and fishing poles? And do you know how hard it is to get African American kids to climb mountains? Besides Mount Hood of course. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/187 "2010-04-22T17:25:44Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > But who is going to carry the water melons and fishing poles? > > And do you know how hard it is to get African American kids to climb mountains? Besides Mount Hood of course. The mythology behind the original lawn jockey is that George Washington had one made for his Mount Vernon estate. It was to honor a young African American named [Jocko Graves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_jockey)who froze to death holding a lantern while tending the horses during a raid on the British. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/188 "2010-04-22T17:32:14Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The mythology behind the original lawn jockey is that George Washington had one made for his Mount Vernon estate. It was to honor a young African American named [Jocko Graves](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawn_jockey)who **froze to death** holding a lantern while tending the horses during a raid on the British. Interesting. And, of course, that just brings even more humor to your suggestion of Everest Lawn Jockies. Maybe Travelocity could sponsor kiddy Everest climbs and have the kiddies dressed as gnomes. I think frozen traveling gnomes lining the path might be a bit more high class and politically correct. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/189 "2010-04-22T17:39:29Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’m not going to wish death on the kid. Indeed. But I can’t help feeling that, wishes aside, the _best_ outcome for the greater good might be for them to die on the mountain–father included, to avoid **ralph** ’s “memorial” scenario. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/190 "2010-04-22T17:45:16Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > Indeed. But I can’t help feeling that, wishes aside, the _best_ outcome for the greater good might be for them to die on the mountain–father included, to avoid **ralph** ’s “memorial” scenario. Zactly. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/191 "2010-04-22T17:53:41Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Zactly. > > The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the stupid. That made me laugh out loud. Part of me wants the dad to fall off a ledge (while posing for a picture) and break his leg causing the expedition to fail. Then they can sell T-shirts with the kid’s picture on it that say “my dad spent $25,000 to climb Mt Everest and all I got was this T-shirt”. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/192 "2010-04-22T18:20:12Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > That made me laugh out loud. Part of me wants the dad to fall off a ledge (while posing for a picture) and break his leg causing the expedition to fail. Then they can sell T-shirts with the kid’s picture on it that say “my dad spent $25,000 to climb Mt Everest and all I got was this T-shirt”. If he falls and breaks his leg, he’ll just tell the kid to “run on ahead”. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/193 "2010-04-24T05:19:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > If he falls and breaks his leg, he’ll just tell the kid to “run on ahead”. didn’t realize the price went up. it’s now $50K per person. That includes one Sherpa and I’m guessing a continental breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/194 "2010-04-24T05:37:13Z")
It might _seem_ expensive, but remember you can deduct future burial expenses, as your frozen corpse will remain on the mountain. And who knows, maybe one day the technology will exist to thaw you out and revive you. And, if you left money in a savings account accruing interest… ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/195 "2010-04-24T06:27:55Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Sounds like a money-making stunt to me… > Seriously, isn’t it time to call a halt to this? I mean 185 dead bodies and a pile of trash on the mountain..whatever climbing Everest once meant, it doesn’t anymore. I would do it if I could, and my reasons have nothing to do with what it means to other people. As for the kid, I’m for it. I don’t think he’ll succeed, but I don’t think he’ll be allowed to kill himself either. Good point about the trash, though. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/196 "2010-04-24T12:07:15Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It might _seem_ expensive, but remember you can deduct future burial expenses, as your frozen corpse will remain on the mountain. And who knows, maybe one day the technology will exist to thaw you out and revive you. And, if you left money in a savings account accruing interest… Maybe the kid just can’t wait for the Wii Eleven to come out. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/197 "2010-04-24T15:22:06Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > didn’t realize the price went up. it’s now $50K per person. That includes one Sherpa and I’m guessing a continental breakfast. You only get half that breakfast unless you go up one side of the mountain and down the other, in which case you get the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/198 "2010-04-27T20:57:21Z")
As of yesterday, [he was 21,000 feet up](http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=7408137), 8,000 from the summit. Meanwile, looks like the mountain has [added a couple more bodies](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2948699/Everest-scare-for-Lewsey.html) to its collection. (This article doesn’t say much, though, other than that the famous guy _didn’t_ die.) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/199 "2010-04-27T21:31:59Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Meanwile, looks like the mountain has [added a couple more bodies](http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2948699/Everest-scare-for-Lewsey.html) to its collection. (This article doesn’t say much, though, other than that the famous guy _didn’t_ die.) Is that the most callous reporting ever? No mention of names at all. The important thing is that they’re continuing on. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/200 "2010-04-27T21:49:24Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > As of yesterday, [he was 21,000 feet up](http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=7408137), 8,000 from the summit. Keep in mind that the vast majority of the expedition is spent climbing up to the various camps and back down again as part of the acclimatization process. If you just go straight up, you’re more or less certain to be forced down short of the summit by altitude sickness. IIRC, base camp is 19,000 or some such, so 21,000 is just getting started. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192.md?page=11)