# 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:** 11
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/201 "2010-04-27T22:33:39Z")
So about how many days before his summit window? **pulls up stool and bag of chips** ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/202 "2010-05-06T15:19:22Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > 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. Looks like he was at Advanced Base Camp. [Cite.](http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2010/04/27/13-year-old-closing-in-on-everest-summit/) This is really before the climbing starts; as far as I know, you pretty much just hike from base camp to ABC. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/203 "2010-05-06T16:07:57Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > Looks like he was at Advanced Base Camp. [Cite.](http://blog.outdoorzy.com/2010/04/27/13-year-old-closing-in-on-everest-summit/) This is really before the climbing starts; as far as I know, you pretty much just hike from base camp to ABC. I think that to get to the advanced base camp, you have to cross the Khumbu Icefall, which is pretty dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/204 "2010-05-06T16:34:51Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I think that to get to the advanced base camp, you have to cross the Khumbu Icefall, which is pretty dangerous. He’s climbing from the Chinese side; I don’t think he’s going through the Khumbu. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/205 "2010-05-07T12:47:10Z")
Just saw them for a minute on the Weather Channel. Delayed by the weather (high wind?) though it was sunny. They all seemed to be having a swell time. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/206 "2010-05-07T13:32:01Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > Just saw them for a minute on the Weather Channel. Delayed by the weather (high wind?) though it was sunny. They all seemed to be having a swell time. As my dad used to say, “Its always fun until somebody dies a horrible death while the world watches” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/207 "2010-05-07T18:59:55Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > As my dad used to say, “Its always fun until somebody dies a horrible death while the world watches” Yeah, my dad used to say something like that when he spotted Nascar on TV, flipping through channels. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/208 "2010-05-22T04:18:17Z")
Looks like he’s made it to the summit and the team is on their way down. Lots of risk still ahead but they’ve done well so far. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/209 "2010-05-22T23:05:35Z")
Well, The upside will be when some braggart in a bar tells his Everest climbing story I can say, “what, that mole hill thats been climbed by a blind guy and a 12 year old?” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/210 "2011-11-30T17:52:10Z")
Bringing this old thread back for the next big event. He’s now headed for Mt Vinson in Antarctica in his quest for the last of his 7 Summits. [http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/29/teen-who-summited-everest-to-tackle-antarctica/](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/29/teen-who-summited-everest-to-tackle-antarctica/) ---
**Author:** ![Untoward\_Parable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/211 "2011-11-30T17:55:17Z")
Considering the permanent damage everest does to the body and brain and how dangerous it is I would say no, 13 is too early. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/212 "2011-11-30T19:19:58Z")
> [@Untoward\_Parable](#): > > Considering the permanent damage everest does to the body and brain and how dangerous it is I would say no, 13 is too early. Isn’t this a tad late, since he already completed the climb and returned apparently unharmed? ---
**Author:** ![Untoward\_Parable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Untoward\_Parable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Untoward_Parable)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/213 "2011-11-30T21:29:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Isn’t this a tad late, since he already completed the climb and returned apparently unharmed? The oxygen debt to the brain likely brought him down with mild brain damage, “unharmed” doesn’t mean “still walking and talking.” (they use O2 but still operate at highly reduced O2 levels for very long periods of time) ---
**Author:** ![leemadison11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@leemadison11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leemadison11)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/214 "2011-12-01T06:15:09Z")
People do a loads of thing at 13 which if you use the stats could be dangerous like surfing, snorkeling, snow boarding, skiing, skate boarding etc. The % of people dieing in such events is a lot but if you put that on the minds of the kids, none of them would become risk takers. I think its a good thing and since the kid would be under parent’s supervision, i don’t think its that bad. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/215 "2011-12-01T08:35:57Z")
> [@leemadison11](#): > > People do a loads of thing at 13 which if you use the stats could be dangerous like surfing, snorkeling, snow boarding, skiing, skate boarding etc. The % of people dieing in such events is a lot but if you put that on the minds of the kids, none of them would become risk takers. I think its a good thing and since the kid would be under parent’s supervision, i don’t think its that bad. Yeah - but since when does surfing or snow boarding kill or maim the same proportion of people that Everest does? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/216 "2011-12-01T16:54:15Z")
> [@leemadison11](#): > > People do a loads of thing at 13 which if you use the stats could be dangerous like surfing, snorkeling, snow boarding, skiing, skate boarding etc. The % of people dieing in such events is a lot but if you put that on the minds of the kids, none of them would become risk takers. I think its a good thing and since the kid would be under parent’s supervision, i don’t think its that bad. Kids are pretty much guaranteed take more risks because their ability to assess risks and make judgments not the same as that of adults. That’s neurological. Nobody’s arguing against risk-taking in general. But not all risk-taking is equal, and it goes without saying that climbing Mount Everest is one of the more dangerous things a person can do (even though there are more dangerous mountains than Everest). All of the seven summits will still be around when Romero is 21 or 25, and better prepared physically and mentally for something like this. As it is, I think he and his parents are severely overconfident. They may suffer the consequences for that and they may not because that’s how life works, but it’s obvious their minds were made up quite a while ago. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/217 "2011-12-01T16:59:16Z")
> [@Untoward\_Parable](#): > > The oxygen debt to the brain likely brought him down with mild brain damage, “unharmed” doesn’t mean “still walking and talking.” (they use O2 but still operate at highly reduced O2 levels for very long periods of time) Can you provide me with some sort of reference material that supports this claim? I know very little about the effects of breathing diminished O[sub]2[/sub] at the top of Everest while supplmented with oxygen masks. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/218 "2011-12-01T18:40:18Z")
My review of the topic of high altitude disease and pediatrics reveals no specific concerns about the brain and low oxygen tensions for healthy kids that doesn’t also apply to adults. However, not a lot of research has been done. > [@](#): > > SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS regarding High altitude disease: Unique pediatric considerations > > •Ascent above 2000 m (6500 ft) may be associated with high altitude illness in children. However most healthy children do well without any serious effects at altitudes less than 3500 m (11,375 ft). > > •Healthy children should ascend to very high altitudes (over 3500 m [11,375 ft]) slowly and only if rapid descent is possible in the event of problems. > > •Children at particular risk for serious high altitude illness include infants under six weeks of age; infants up to one year of age with a history of oxygen requirement or pulmonary hypertension, including premature infants; children who live at very high altitude and undergo a temporary descent; and children with Down syndrome, congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis or neuromuscular problems compromising ventilation. > > •Clinical manifestations of high altitude illness are nonspecific in young children and infants and require a high index of suspicion for detection. Improvement of symptoms after administration of supplemental oxygen (eg, 2 to 4 L/min by nasal cannula for 15 to 20 minutes) or a brief descent supports the diagnosis of acute mountain sickness (AMS). > > •Symptoms of AMS in older children and adolescents are similar to what is seen in adults. > > •Treatment of AMS is based upon symptom severity and follows the same principles as in adults. > > •In young children, high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) presents as increasing respiratory distress over one to two days, but may develop more precipitously. In some young children and infants, primary signs may not include tachypnea, but oxygen saturation will always be low (\<90 percent). > > •Symptoms of HAPE in older children and adolescents are similar to what is seen in adults. Children with high altitude pulmonary edema warrant immediate descent and, if available, supplemental oxygen. > > •Acclimatization and slow ascent are the most effective ways to avoid AMS and HAPE in otherwise healthy children. > > •Healthy children generally tolerate travel to altitude well and rarely experience any serious high altitude illness. The clinician should advise parents that resort communities generally have health care providers with expertise in altitude-related problems who are excellent sources for parents and children if they feel their child might be experiencing high altitude illness. From: [uptodate.com](http://uptodate.com) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/219 "2011-12-02T06:57:52Z")
Is this the same kid from the FRS ad? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192/220 "2011-12-02T07:17:58Z")
> [@leemadison11](#): > > People do a loads of thing at 13 which if you use the stats could be dangerous like surfing, snorkeling, snow boarding, skiing, skate boarding etc. The % of people dieing in such events is a lot but if you put that on the minds of the kids, none of them would become risk takers. I think its a good thing and since the kid would be under parent’s supervision, i don’t think its that bad. Please cite a common childhood activity that has the death rate of an Everest ascent and you might begin to make some sense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-a-13-year-old-be-climbing-everest/536192.md?page=12)