Maybe it's just me, but isn't it somewhat irresponsible to drag an 8 year old up a 20000ft peak? I mean.... theres so many things that are uncontrollable in high altitude mountaineering, is it really something someone that cannot possible understand the risk be dragged into? This story seems very strange and somewhat disconcering to me.

I think this a great story. This kid is having great adventures and appears to be enjoying them.

For you who do not approve, STFU. Parents are well aware of the dangers and have come to peace with their decisions. If my parents protected me like you wish, I would missed out on a magical childhood. Here a few of the things I would have missed out on if my parents insisted that I played soccer instead.

* Racing Lightening sailboats in small craft warnings.
* Speeding around Greek Island on the back of mopeds.
* Living and traveling around West Africa.
* Climbing the volcanoes of the Jos Plateau

Second - Life is difficult with a child with developmental issues. I have 3 friends with autistic children. They search and work very hard at connecting and bringing joy and love to these kids. Bully for these kids. Bully for these parents.

yes - Ages 9 -11.

Social graces - pffffffffft, why waste the time on blow hards.

So ages 9-11 are the same as age 8? Please define blow hard, is that a person who does not tell people to STFU for expressing their opinion? Your "I did it so it must be ok" argument is not really cutting it. You would be better off trying to explain how mountaineering is a safe activity for 8 year olds? Maybe you could describe all of its benefits and how they greatly outweigh the risks, keeping in mind that this is an eight year old we are talking about. Maybe there is something positive to letting a child do this, I just can not think of anything at all right now.

I think my point is being missed entirely. Of course it is a great accomplishment for an eight year old, good for him. What I am questioning is the need to bring a kid so young into a dangerous situation that they in no way could perceive the risk. What is the hurry? A child of that age has a lot of life to live and most experiences will be new, so why the rush to get him into dangerous situations? To state that cars are more dangerous than mountaineering is idiotic, sorry man but that is a very, very weak argument. Who cares where you are from? What does that have to do with anything?

Maybe it's just me, but isn't it somewhat irresponsible to drag an 8 year old up a 20000ft peak?

I think my point is being missed entirely. Of course it is a great accomplishment for an eight year old, good for him. What I am questioning is the need to bring a kid so young into a dangerous situation that they in no way could perceive the risk. What is the hurry? A child of that age has a lot of life to live and most experiences will be new, so why the rush to get him into dangerous situations? To state that cars are more dangerous than mountaineering is idiotic, sorry man but that is a very, very weak argument. Who cares where you are from? What does that have to do with anything?

Do you have children of your own?

.

Or are you one of those goody-two-shoes who preaches to others and advises them how to run their lives?

I agree there is something weird and even selfish on the parents part. What is the hurry to get an eight year old doing such things, at eight years the child has not experienced much in life. What is the big rush to get him into potentially life endangering situations? To think that an eight year old is aware of the dangers and can make a calculated assessment of the risks is absurd.

jred, have you ever climbed with an eight year old? It is sooo not selfish. It would be selfish to be constantly leaving him with the babysitter so that you can climb.

Well, they could sit at home and watch movies together all day instead.

Is an eight year old aware of the dangers of getting in the car?
Actually, he's probably safer on the mountain than riding his bike around the neighbor hood, precisely because an eight year old knows they shouldn't be in the road, but does he get it?

My son wears glasses. Guess how many baseballs have hit him in the eye. Three. Guess how many trees he hit on the ski slope last weekend. Two. Guess how many of his best friends have died at the age of eight. One- diabetes, 24 hours after diagnosis. Guess who says they would rather climb the middle teton this summer than play baseball or soccer this spring.

My daughter has been diligently attempting to ride her unicycle. Her class mates mother, down the road, says "Oh that is so dangerous." She wears wrist guards and a helmet. She follows her brother and her dad through the trees on her skis. She's the youngest to climb Norton Peak in the Idaho Smokey Mountains. She was all smiles up and all smiles down. She is also excited about climbing the middle teton. She is furious that I won't let her ski "the bowl" with her dad and brother.

jred, kids don't like to be cooped up- and my son knows very well that if you want to do something you better get off your butt and do it, because one of his best friends taught him that it could be to late one day.

ihategrigris, so many things uncontrollable in high altitude mountaineering? Things are uncontrollable in New Orleans too. Sharks off the coast of Florida. The teenager that just left school on a warm blue spring day and is driving down your street. The house that collapse in Pakistan. The kid that lives near the beach and the Tsunami hits. . .

It absolutely disgust me that parents would suppress their children. Teach them to not dream, to cast aside courage, to not set goals, to never feel success . . .