Joey Danger: Meet Joey Danger: 7-year-old boy climbs 7,500-foot El Capitan wall in five days, sets world record | World News

Most seven-year-olds celebrate birthdays with balloons, cakes and gifts. Joey Danger Evermore spent his birthday climbing one of the most iconic granite walls in the world. Joy climbed El Capitan with her family thousands of feet above the ground in Yosemite National Park, becoming the youngest person known to have completed the climb. The achievement shocked climbers around the world, not only because of Joey’s age but also because El Capitan is considered one of the most technically demanding and challenging big wall climbs in the world. To Joy, however, the intimidating granite surface almost resembles a giant adventure playground suspended above Yosemite Valley.

how Joey Danger Climb El Capitan

Joey started climbing when he was six and completed it seven years later, an achievement that felt almost surreal even to experienced climbers who followed the story online.The climb reportedly lasted five days, during which time Joy remained attached to ropes and an aid-climbing system as she navigated the nearly vertical granite wall. The family experienced high winds, exposure to the elements, exhaustion and limited food and water supplies while spending the night high in Yosemite Valley, according to his father, Joe Evermore.Unlike shorter recreational climbs, El Capitan’s big wall climbs require climbers to live directly on the mountain face for days. Climbers often sleep in tents suspended from cliffs, called tents.Evermore said much of the climb required Joey to independently manage ropes and moving techniques while remaining securely clipped into the system throughout the climb.

Why El Capitan is one of the biggest challenges in climbing

Although El Capitan’s summit is approximately 7,569 feet above sea level, the famous granite wall rises more than 3,000 feet above the Yosemite Valley floor, making it one of the most recognized big wall climbing destinations in the world.Its steep granite face remained unclimbed for decades because many early climbers believed the wall was impossible to climb. That changed in 1958, when climber Warren Harding and his team completed the first ascent in 45 days using ropes, pitons and fixed climbing equipment.Since then, El Capitan has become a proving ground for elite climbers who attempt difficult multi-day ascents, speed records and free ascents with minimal human support.The mountain gained further worldwide fame in 2017 when Alex Honnold completed the first rope-free free ascent of El Capitan, which was later documented in the Oscar-winning film Free Climb.Rock climbing in Yosemite National Park carries significant risks, and the National Park Service reports that there are more than 100 climbing accidents and 15 to 25 climbing rescues in the park each year. Multiple reports over the years have also stated that more than 30 climbers are believed to have died on El Capitan since the early 1900s due to falls, rappelling accidents and rockfalls.

The Evermore family’s unusual climbing legacy

Joey’s achievement isn’t the first historic promotion within the Evermore family.According to reports, before Joey, the youngest climber to climb El Capitan was his older brother Sam Evermore, who completed the climb in 2022 at the age of 8.Prior to Sam’s summit, climber Selah Schneiter achieved international fame in 2019 after climbing El Capitan at the age of 10.The Colorado Springs-based Evermores are known for their adventurous outdoor lifestyle, and their children have been involved in demanding wilderness adventures since childhood.Joey completed the climb alongside his father, brothers Sam and Sylvan Evermore, and a documentary crew documenting the climb.

Videos that shocked the Internet

Pictures and videos of the climb went viral because of the stark contrast between Joey’s petite frame and the massive surrounding granite walls.In the video shared by his family, Joey is seen levitating thousands of feet above Yosemite Valley in a bright blue jacket and colorful hiking helmet adorned with Mohawk-style insignia.Rather than appearing scared, the children often appear calm and playful as they gently bounce off vertical cliffs secured with ropes.One particularly surreal moment reportedly involved Joey and his brothers playing chess on a narrow ledge while resting high on the valley floor.Supporters gathered below Yosemite Valley as Joey neared the summit, reportedly singing “Happy Birthday” on the ground as he continued to climb overhead.The combination of childhood innocence and extreme exposure made the climb almost instantly a viral story on the Internet.

Praise, criticism, and the parenting debate

The rise has sparked heated debate online about parenting, adventure sports and acceptable levels of risk for children.Many praised Joy’s confidence, discipline and courage, calling the achievement inspiring.Others question whether children should be exposed to such dangerous conditions regardless of training or supervision.Critics argue that El Capitan remains dangerous even for experienced adult climbers and blame parents for introducing extreme risks too early in childhood.Joe Evermore defended the climb, arguing that when children are well trained, properly challenged and properly protected, they are often capable of far more than adults imagine.Talking about this experience, he said:“Joey got more than just a record. He got a new identity. I can see his confidence growing. “The debate reflects broader cultural divisions around parenting styles, outdoor risks and whether challenge or protection benefits children in the longer term.

Joey’s last joke after his historic summit climb

Joey reportedly reacted with humor rather than fear after completing one of the world’s most daunting climbs.According to his father, the young climber joked:“I reached the summit at six seven.”This quote refers to the fact that Joey started climbing when he was six years old and completed it when he was seven years old.For most children, a seventh birthday means a birthday party and presents. For Joey Danger Evermore, that meant sleeping on a vertical cliff thousands of feet above the ground while climbing one of the world’s most legendary granite walls with his family.