KATHMANDU: Two Australian brothers have set a new record by becoming the youngest climbers to reach the base camp of Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak.
Zachary Kingsley Allen, 3, and Gabriel Robert Allen, 5, have become the youngest brothers to reach the base camp at an altitude of 5,364 meters last week, according to Ganga Raj Thapa, Managing Director of Nepal Hiking Team, a tour agency in Nepal that organized the expedition.
According to Thapa, Gabriel walked all the way unassisted, despite food poisoning, sub-zero temperatures and high altitude, and Zachary with the support of a crew from the Nepal Hiking Team.
Gabriel had undergone training by climbing mountains every weekend for 18 months.
Young Gabriel, who said he would climb the world’s highest summit when he was just four years old, has also climbed Australia’s 10 highest peaks in November 2021.
Thapa said climbing to the Everest Base Camp was his first step to reach his goal.
Gabriel wanted to use his expedition to support children in third world countries who face poverty, lack of food, education, and basic amenities through GoFundMe.
“Every dollar donated will help save these children and make my climb to Everest Base Camp more worthwhile,” Gabriel said.
The siblings were accompanied by their parents, Graham David Allen and Shareen Anne Pote to the base camp.
Graham reached the Everest base camp and reached Kalapathar.
Everest base camp is higher than the highest peaks of three continents – Mont Blanc (4,807 m) in Europe, Vinson Massif (4,892 m) in Antarctica, and Puncak Jaya (4,884 m) in Oceania. Gabriel is a student of Mother of Good Counsel School in Queensland, Australia.
Zachary is 3 years and 8 months old while her brother Gabriel is 5 years and 9 months old.
The children flew to Lukla on April 5 to embark on the trek.
They have arrived back in Kathmandu.
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