While most 7-year-olds celebrate their birthdays with cake and presents, American boy Joey Evermore chose a different path. In may, he became the youngest person to conquer El Capitan, the world's largest granite cliff, standing 914 meters tall in Yosemite National Park, US. Joey completed the challenging climb alongside his father, Joe Evermore, his brothers Sam and Sylvan, and a documentary film crew.
Joey's father, Joe, is known for frequently sharing his family's climbing expeditions. His older brother, Sam, also previously held the record for conquering El Capitan at the age of 8. The family celebrated Joey's achievement by arranging the word "GIRL" on the ground, announcing to him that he would soon have a baby sister.
"We want to inspire parents and encourage children to challenge themselves," Joe stated. However, his parenting methods have drawn considerable criticism, with many people believing the family is exposing the child to excessive risk.
 |
Joey climbing El Capitan in may. Photo: People |
On 5/10, Joe revealed that his family had received numerous hostile comments on social media. Some users even contacted US Child and Family Services (CPS). Joe's family later received a letter from the agency, informing them that multiple complaints had been reviewed, but no further investigation or assessment steps would be taken.
According to Joe, many people believe his son should be in a fully structured care system or watching television, rather than training daily for "great missions." Joe has previously shared his desire for all his children to embrace "huge goals" after their 5th birthdays.
"This is like someone asking why you dare to fly, wondering what if the plane's wing falls off," he explained, emphasizing that many people do not understand the sport of free climbing.
Joe clarified that his son was virtually unable to fall because he was securely hooked to the cliff face with safety ropes. The actual risk involves falling objects from above, meaning climbers are safer the closer they get to the summit. As a father, Joe affirmed that he had minimized all risks to the greatest extent possible.
Yosemite National Park, located in eastern California, spans over 3,000 square kilometers within the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Its ecosystem is notable for deep valleys, towering granite cliffs like El Capitan, and rich flora and fauna.
Conquering El Capitan is no simple feat. Free climbing legend Alex Honnold once described much of the cliff's terrain as lacking handholds, feeling "like walking on glass." Park management statistics show that between 1905 and 2018, over 30 fatalities occurred during attempts to climb El Capitan.
Hoai Anh (According to People)
