WYOMING — The bar keeps getting set higher, or maybe a better way to say it, younger. Over the Fourth of July weekend this year, 7-year-old Emmalynne Hamilton stood on the summit of Gannett Peak in the Wind River Range, over a 58-mile, three-day trek with her family and friends.
It’s anything but a casual stroll. Horses carried much of the group’s camping equipment to base camp prior to summit day (approximately 26 miles). The Hamiltons were part of a 10-person team that included several experienced backcountry travelers, and the children were closely supervised throughout the trip. Nephi Jeffs, a friend of the family’s, told Buckrail that he was roped up to Emmalynne during glacier travel for safety.
When Emmalynne was asked about why she likes being in the mountains, she replied simply: “Cause it’s pretty.” And when prompted about the hardest part of the day? “Summiting.”
Climbing mountains runs in the family, Emmalynne’s brothers Josiah and Jude both have an impressive track record of their own. Jude climbed the Grand Teton at 5 years old, and Josiah achieved the summit at age 8 with family friend Jeffs and his father Jordan.
Josiah’s favorite part of that trip? “Glissading.” Josiah went on to say that he doesn’t necessarily want to pursue climbing as a career. “I like doing it for fun,” he told Buckrail. “I don’t know, I kinda just … I want to be a firefighter.”
Very young people climbing mountains might be a conversation overheard around Jackson often, especially given the adventurous attitude of the town. Chief Advisor of Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) Anthony Stevens — who also owns Wounded Bear Medicine, which teaches students how to make practical decisions in wilderness environments — gave Buckrail his opinion on the matter: “I would say, it’s amazing to get your kids out in those environments.”
Stevens went on to talk about how his approach is to make sure his kids are prepared, and that the hike or the climb should be their choice, rather than driven by “a parent’s own objectives.”
“I like to set the expectation with my kiddos. Like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re doing, what do you think?'” Stevens went on, and then continued to explain how important it is to him to give his children confidence through preparedness. “Maybe this is the rescuer in me, but I talk through plans with them about what would happen if I got hurt.”
For the Hamilton family, being active and spending time in the mountains is the norm, and while summiting Gannett Peak or the Grand Teton would be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement for many people, in their household it’s simply part of growing up and spending their time outdoors.
Jordan, who works as a concrete mixer driver in Jackson, describes himself as a casual climber who simply enjoys being in the mountains. He says the kids developed their interest naturally by watching him head into the backcountry and asking if they could come along.
“We hadn’t really trained for it,” Jordan said of Gannett. “We just hike as often as possible.”
As for Emmalynne, she’s not sure which mountain comes next. She doesn’t know many mountain names yet.
She’s open to climbing more, though.
If the Hamilton family’s track record is any indication, another summit is probably just an idea away.
It’s clear the children have inherited more than their parents’ love of the outdoors and wild spaces that surround them in Star Valley. Around the Hamilton house, spending long days on the trail is simply what the family does, and the confidence built along the way carries over long after they leave the backcountry.
“That feeling of accomplishment boosts just who they are as a person,” Mom Caitlyn told Buckrail. “[Now they know] ‘I can do something really hard.'”
Stevens seems to have a similar opinion: “The one thing it teaches these kids is grit. It’s not always easy, it’s not always fun, but it can be rewarding if it’s done right.”
Mom Caitlyn had another thing to say about the benefits of having such accomplished children: “I can use it against them a little bit. Like look, you did this really hard thing, why can’t you do the dishes?”
Anthony Stevens of TCSAR also told Buckrail a few things he considers before taking his kids into the mountains:
- Choose your route and mileage carefully.
- Be realistic about your children’s abilities and limitations.
- Know what gear you’re bringing, and always pack more essentials than you think you’ll need.
- Carry a backup method for treating drinking water, such as a purifier or filter.
- Make a clear return plan, and tell someone when you expect to be back so they can check on you if you don’t return as scheduled.
