A father and son duo began their attempt to scale Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. Here’s more on the marvelous duo.
Meet the adventure father-son duo
This week, Sam and Joe Baker, a father and son duo set out to scale the El Capitan at California’s Yosemite National Park. After beginning on Tuesday, the duo is currently mid-way through their route. Achieving the feat will make Sam, an 8-year-old boy the youngest to climb the iconic peak.
Sam Adventure Baker from Colorado Springs started climbing at the age of two. Born into a climbing family, his parents stated Sam “was in a harness before he could walk”.
Sam conquered his first multi-pitch route at age 3 at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, CO, and at age 6, Sam took on the Lost Arrow Spire, a three-pitch climb that starts 2,500 feet above Yosemite Valley, according to the Family’s website SamAdventure.com, which details Sam’s adventures and highlights his climbs.
More on the duo’s climb
Sam said “Day 1 was both both “amazing” and “pretty easy”. With the help of a team, anchors, and ropes, the father-son duo—who have been practicing for the previous two years—plans to ascend more than 3,000 feet of granite together. The expedition is expected to take four days “of hanging from your fingers or hanging from your anchors.”.
Joe Baker, the boy’s father revealed that while reaching the top of El Capitan would set records, that’s not Sam’s sole motivation for the attempt. He’s not in it for the glory.
El Capitan climbing is a serious endeavor that comes with a lot of risk and danger, which has caused some to question whether young people should do it. The National Park Service reports that there are typically 100 climbing incidents in Yosemite National Park each year. Climbers have in the past suffered life-threatening injuries or even passed away as a result of these accidents.