A six-year-old boy summited 5,642m Mount Elbrus last week to the delight of his family, which hurried to claim the age record — to the dismay of most of the climbing community.
Teghbir Singh from Ropar, India, reached the top of the highest peak in Europe on June 28, according to The Tribune of northern India.
Young Teghbir received an official certificate from the Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, and Sports Tourism Federation of Kabardino, Russia. It stated that he is the “youngest summiter on Mount Elbrus at the age of 6 years, 9 months and 4 days.” The Tribune posted a summit picture of a not-so-happy-looking kid wrapped in mountain clothes too big for him.
It took Teghbir eight days to reach the top with his father, Sukhinderdeep Singh. His mother, Manpreet Kaur, a gynecologist, seemed proud. She told NewsonAir that her son had followed a special diet and had the support of a trainer.
To climb Elbrus, all you need is to pay a fee to enter Priyelbrusie National Park and a $25 climbing permit from one of the rangers’ offices, according to Elbrus Travels.
Not the first
Teghbir Singh was not the first Indian kid to summit Elbrus. He actually broke a previous mark set by another Indian child, Wagah Kushagra, who summited last year at age seven.
While not common, some families push the age limits in taking their kids to higher places and then claiming world records. In 2021, international climbers expressed concern about a 12-year-old girl, Selena Khawaja of Pakistan. She had been left alone with two porters to climb Broad Peak after her father was evacuated due to illness. Three years later, in 2024, Khawaja attempted Nanga Parbat, this time with her father.
Nepal only allows those 16 years and older to climb its 8,000m peaks. It is not clear whether that age limit applies to lesser peaks, but some outfitters will not accept clients below that age on any climb.
Everest Base Camp
Trekking is a different story. Some parents take their kids to Everest Base Camp. Outfitters say that is an option as long as the trek from Lukla is extended to 10-11 days instead of the usual 6-8. This is to ensure the kids are fit and healthy and enjoy the hike. Local outfitters tend to agree that the trek to Everest Base Camp is doable for kids seven or older, so that they are mature enough to tell their parents if they feel sick.
Aerial rescue services are good in Nepal, but even helicopters may be grounded in bad weather, and Acute Mountain Sickness is a serious condition, especially in a young child. Parents who take their kids to the mountains may get some headlines in the local press, but also face strong criticism when things go south. Such is the case of Rakcent Wong, 35, and Carol Tan, 36, a Singapore couple who were traveling the world with their four-year-old boy, Atlas Wong. They tried to reach Everest Base Camp last year but never made it because Atlas was evacuated with AMS.
Kids as young as two years old have been with their families to Everest Base Camp at 5,300m. Carter Dallas of the UK reached it in January 2024, shortly before turning three. In March 2024, Siddhi Mishra of India was there at 2 years, 11 months, which got her into India’s Book of Records. This spring, an Australian toddler “beat” them all:
