An 11-year-old boy from Colorado, Sam Evermore, has become the youngest American to reach the top of the Matterhorn over the weekend.
Last year, Sam and his father, Joe, tried to climb the famous 14,692-foot mountain in the Swiss Alps, but they had to turn back because of bad weather, according to KRDO and NewsNation.
This time, however, they succeeded. On Sunday, Aug. 10, Sam and Joe shared photos on Instagram showing them at the summit, proudly holding an American flag.
Before Sam, the youngest person to reach the top was 8-year-old Kevin Laube from Switzerland. The Evermores wrote on Instagram that Sam now “stands in the rarest company on Earth” and that he “blasted there” rather than just getting to the top.
Sam reached the summit in three hours and 45 minutes from Hörnli Hut. His parents described the climb as more than just a physical challenge—it was a “rite of passage” and a test of courage, endurance, and determination. They added that Sam’s younger brothers are already inspired to aim for the peak themselves.
In an interview with ABC’s David Muir, Sam said he hopes his story will encourage fathers and sons to try things that seem impossible.
The Matterhorn wasn’t Sam’s first major climb. In 2022, he became the youngest person to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan using ropes. Sam has also climbed Moonlight Buttress, Fairview Dome, and Eichorn Pinnacle.
His father, Joe, told CNN that Sam is a “machine” on mountains. “He didn’t stop,” Joe said. “It’s a very difficult and technical, even dangerous mountain. Sam had to master several skills to get to the top.”
Sam lives with his parents, two brothers, and a sister, and his family says the Matterhorn is now an important part of the Evermore boys’ adventure journey.
