Samantha Larson (born 1988) is an American mountain climber from Long Beach, California. On May 16, 2007, at the age of 18, she became temporarily the youngest non-Nepalese woman to summit Mount Everest. By reaching the top of Everest, she also became temporarily the youngest person to have climbed the Seven Summits (the "Bass list"), the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents. She and her father, Dr. David Larson, became the first father-daughter team to complete the Seven Summits.[1] In August 2007 they climbed Carstensz Pyramid, thereby also completing the "Messner list" of the Seven Summits.[2]

Samantha Larson
Born (1988-10-07) October 7, 1988 (age 35)
EducationHughes Middle School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Stanford University
Known forMountaineering
Titleyoungest person to have climbed the Seven Summits with both Carstensz and Kosciuszko
Term2007–2011
PredecessorRhys Miles Jones
SuccessorJordan Romero
ParentDave Larson
Websitehttp://www.samanthalarson.com

The Nepalese government said that she was the youngest foreigner ever to reach Everest's summit, but some climbing Web sites claim a 17-year-old boy from France did it in 1990. 15-year-old Ming Kipa from Nepal was the youngest ever to climb Everest.[3]

Larson began climbing with her father, David Larson, while in the sixth grade at Hughes Middle School. They began the Seven Summits by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2001, when she was 12.[4] Larson graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School in June 2006, deferring her freshman year at Stanford University for a year to train for the Everest climb.

Larson was nominated for an ESPY Award in 2007 and was on the Dare To Explore chapter on the March 2008 issue of National Geographic Kids. In 2009, she was also featured as one of Venus Zine’s “25 under 25” list for her climbing achievements.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Nancy Wride, Los Angeles Times, "Youngest foreigner summits tallest peak," from the San Jose Mercury News, May 19, 2007, page 5B
  2. ^ "Statistics: Facts & figures of all 7summiteers!". The 7 summits. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. ^ 18-year-old California woman scales Everest, becoming youngest to complete 'seven summits', The Associated Press, 19 May 2007
  4. ^ Smith, Michael David (March 1, 2001). "Seventh Grader From Hughes Conquers Kilimanjaro With Dad". Grunion Gazette. Long Beach, California: Gazettes.com. pp. 1A. Retrieved 11 January 2010.

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