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Couple Take Young Son And Daughter Up 11,000ft Mountain

Couple Take Young Son And Daughter Up 11,000ft Mountain

Three-year-old Jackson Houlding became the youngest person to reach the summit of Piz Badile

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Meet Jackson and Freya Houlding, who have just become the youngest people ever to reach the summit of vast mountain Piz Badile.

The youngsters are literally following in the footsteps of their professional climber father.

SWNS

Dad Leo Houlding, 40, led Jackson, three, and Freya, seven, up the 11,000-foot mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy.

Leo climbs some of the most dangerous peaks on Earth, and his 41-year-old wife Jessica, a GP, is an avid climber too.

Now Freya has become the youngest person to climb the mountain unaided, and Jackson the youngest person to get to the top - 153 years to the day since the peak was first climbed.

Jackson got to the top on his mum's back.
SWNS

Jackson said: "It was really good, I enjoyed the bit I climbed on my own and the Haribo sweets.''

Speaking from Bregaglia, Switzerland, Leo said: "It's a super classic route, the best of its grade in the world.

"What was exceptional was we did it with our seven year-old-daughter Freya and our three-year-old son Jackson.

"My daughter climbed it all by herself, all the way, including all the hiking and everything - it was very impressive. She only just turned seven last week.

"My wife Jess carried Jackson on her back, who weighs about 15kg. I carried all the camping equipment and food which weighed a bit more."

Jackson on the three-day trip.
SWNS

Leo went on: "Every summer the kids are bigger and more capable than the past year.

"It's a walk in the park for me, that's why I went up with the kids - if needs be I could have carried them up on my own one at a time.

"Having your own children there, I was conscious that we were on a big adventure together but I never felt that we were in an unacceptable position and I never thought we were out of our depth."

SWNS
SWNS

Piz Badile is a mountain in the Bregaglia range and stands at 10,853ft (3,308m). Its north face is considered one of the six great faces of the Alps.

The Houlding family began their climb on 25 July and took their time completing the route - spending one night in an alpine hut and another two in bivouacs.

Leo began the trip at 39 years old and celebrated his 40th birthday on the summit of the mountain.

Jessica said: "It was great, we keep upping the level each year. It's a huge achievement, especially for my daughter.

"Now we're on our way to a multi-day trek across the highest mountains of Montenegro but it won't be as demanding as the Piz Badile."

Freya said: "I found it really fun and really scary. I'm very proud."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Inspirational, Community