DENVER (KDVR) — An eight-year-old from Colorado is set to match his brother’s record as the youngest person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
The El Capitan climb is one of the most famous in the world. Generations of climbers have faced the vertical rock formation that stretches 3,000 feet from the base to the summit. Climbers from multiple disciplines like aid climbing, free climbing and free solo climbing have ascended to the peak.
One of those climbers who has made it to the top is Colorado Springs’ 11-year-old, Sam Adventure Baker, whose last name has since changed to Evermore, according to a social media post from father Joe Evermore. In 2022, the then-eight-year-old made it to the peak of El Capitan, becoming the youngest person to conquer the climb, the Smithsonian Institute reports.
FOX31’s Jeremy Hubbard sat down with the family on a recent episode of Colorado Conversations, after Sam became the youngest American to climb the Matterhorn in Switzerland this year. Colorado Conversations streams weekdays at noon and 8 p.m. on FOX31+.
Later this week, Sam will find himself at the base of El Capitan once more, but this time with his little brother Sylvan Lightyear Evermore in tow.
Sam will lead Sylvan to the peak where he set the record three years ago. Sylvan has the opportunity to match the claim, and they would share the title of the co-youngest to reach the top of El Capitan.
The brothers will be under the watchful eye of their father and a professional climbing crew, who will support the boys on their days-long climb. They will have to sleep and eat while suspended thousands of feet in the air.
Don’t be surprised to see another Evermore at the top of El Capitan in a few years’ time, as the littlest brother, Joey Danger Evermore, takes a big step in his climbing journey and will face the Lost Arrow Spire in Yosemite after his brothers complete their climb.
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