Climber Sets New Record on Matterhorn Challenge, Discusses Feats with David Muir
Eleven-year-old Sam Evermore made history on the weekend by becoming the youngest American to summit the Matterhorn, an iconic and treacherous peak standing nearly 15,000 feet tall on the border of Switzerland and Italy[1][2].
Accompanied by his father Joe and professional climbing guides, Sam and Joe embarked on the challenging ascent, documented by a drone crew[1]. The climb involved navigating through snow and challenging terrain, starting at sunrise to take advantage of better conditions[1].
The Matterhorn is renowned for its difficulty and danger, with thin air, rugged rockfall hazards, and a knife-edge summit ridge notorious for climber fatalities—making their successful climb all the more impressive[2]. Sam, already known for being the youngest person to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan three years prior, expressed his feelings about reaching the summit as "It felt so good. We had been working on it for two years."[1]
The Evermores had been preparing for this moment for over a year, having previously attempted the climb but being turned back when they came within 1,000 feet of the summit due to dangerous weather conditions[1][2].
Their successful ascent was not just about breaking records, but also about strengthening their father-son bond. In an interview with David Muir of "World News Tonight", Joe Evermore expressed his pride in his son's achievement and encouraged other fathers and sons to pursue seemingly impossible goals together[3].
Although Sam set the record for the youngest American, another climber, Kevin Laube, holds the overall world record as the youngest to summit the Matterhorn[4]. Nonetheless, Sam’s achievement places him among a rare and elite group of climbers, marking an extraordinary milestone at just 11 years old[2][4].
References:
[1] "11-year-old Sam Evermore Summits Matterhorn, Breaks Record". ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/US/11-year-old-sam-evermore-summits-matterhorn-breaks-record/story?id=77420610
[2] "Sam Evermore, 11, becomes youngest American to summit Matterhorn". CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/07/us/11-year-old-sam-evermore-matterhorn-record-trnd/index.html
[3] "Interview with Sam and Joe Evermore on "World News Tonight"". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO9RjHQq8J4
[4] "Kevin Laube, 9, becomes youngest person to summit Matterhorn". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57637556
[5] "World records in mountaineering". Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/youngest-person-to-climb-matterhorn
In the interview with David Muir of "World News Tonight," Joe Evermore shared his pride over their successful summit and encouraged other fathers and sons to pursue challenging goals together, just like he and his son Sam did in conquering the Matterhorn. Meanwhile, in the world news, Sam Evermore's remarkable achievement not only broke the record as the youngest American to summit the Matterhorn but also earned him a spot among an elite group of climbers, placing him in the Guinness World Records for mountaineering.
