Voyagner

Recently a 16 year old sailed around the world solo setting a new record and a 13 year old climbed Mt Everest. Weeks after Jessica Watson completed her solo RTW sail another 16 year old girl was rescued in the Indian Ocean. A 14 year old Dutch girl has recently been allowed by a court to attempt the same feat.

Recent media coverage of extreme sports and arduous expeditions seem to attract a largely negative response from the general public. Heli-skiers, Base jumpers and many mountain climbers and the like are generally deemed to be idiots and selfish morons, that is unless the achievement strikes a chord and the individual becomes something of a national hero.

Pemba Dorje Sherpa wants to take an 11 or 12 year old Nepali to the summit of Everest to keep the record in the hands of an indigenous Himalayan.

I’ll be the last person to suggest a nanny state wrapping everyone up in cotton wool. But that is not to say the dangers should be ignored and as these achievements go, youngest it pretty arbitrary. Not to mention that in their youth they must be completely focused on honing the skills needed to complete the expedition, the planning and fund-raising will be largely left to others to shoulder, forgive me if I am being captious but the I imagine the planning and other lead up to expeditions like this is quite involved, not being part of that would be a bit like inheriting millions rather than building that wealth yourself. Sure you would be ecstatic but you can’t know the effort it took to get there.

On the other hand these kids have an adventurous spirit that definitely should not be ignored or suppressed. The truth is if I was given the chance at 16 to sail around the world I’d jump at the chance, or at least the current ‘me’ would. What is more important to you? Your freedom or your safety? You have to ask…

What will the reaction be when inevitably someone sets a new record, the youngest ever adventurer to die on expedition?