EVEREST'S TOP TOT
Boy, 2, sets a high mark on mountain
A toddler, at just 2 years old, is believed to be the youngest person ever to make it to Mount Everest’s base camp — after his parents took him “on a whim.”
Carter Dallas of Glasgow, Scotland, reached the site in Nepal 17,598 feet above sea level on his father’s back Oct. 25. (The summit is 29,032 feet above sea level.)
He is two years younger than the previous youngest person to have reached the camp, a 4-yearold from the Czech Republic.
Carter’s dad, Ross Dallas, said that he and his wife, Jade, picked up some jackets and sleeping bags in preparation for the trek, saying they “basically did it on a whim” when a yearlong trip across Asia.
“Within 24 hours of touching down in Kathmandu, we started the trek,” said the dad, who wore regular sneakers for the adventure, as did his wife.
“Carter coped better than me and his mom,” said Dallas, adding that medics who checked up on his 2-year-old son throughout the trek were “amazed” at his condition. “We both got slight altitude sickness, but he was absolutely fine!”
Dallas, a 35-year-old former senior sales manager, said that he and his family were well prepared because they regularly practice breathing techniques and take ice baths.
The Dallases had rented out their home in Scotland and set out on a year of travel in August.
So far, they have also visited India,
Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Malaysia.
This week, they were in the jungles of Khao Sok in Thailand, with Bangkok being the next stop on their itinerary, followed by Cambodia.
Dallas said his son has picked up some phrases in foreign languages and has developed a taste for exotic fish curries and chicken feet dishes.
“We hope we can inspire other people to go out and see the real world,” said the father of one.