J

Joshua plans a second record breaking climb

BY MICHELLE CREAN

A little six-year-old Killarney boy - who is believed to have set a world record for climbing North Africa’s highest mountain - now plans to climb Kilimanjaro next year!
Joshua Davison (6) from Countess Road, scaled the 4,000 metre climb of Mount Toubkal in Morocco, with his mom Lyndsey Clarke and her partner Lucky Flynn, on November 9.
And he's believed to be the youngest child ever to complete the summit.
“He is really a natural,” his mom Lyndsey, an avid climber, told the Killarney Advertiser.
“It’s a really good achievement and he loved it. We just said we’d see how it went - but he surprised us. He’s very fast - a speedy little fella and he loved the experience. He’s really keen to do more and has his sights set on Kilimanjaro next year.”
Joshua, who is a pupil in St Oliver’s National School in Killarney, caught the climbing bug from both Lyndsey and Lucky.
The couple are keen climbers and Joshua’s first climb was The Vee in Waterford followed by Carrantuohill - Ireland’s highest mountain - at just over 1,000 metres.
“I started taking him around The Vee and then we climbed Carrantuohill and he loved it - especially the Devil’s Ladder. Then we said we’d try something bigger.
“In Morocco the first day was a trek of 3,000 metres and then we spent the night in a refuge. He was the only child, even going up the summit the next day people were stopping taking pictures and encouraging him.”
She described the summit as a steep snow slope and they adjusted adult crampons for Joshua’s shoes to give him a firm grip.
However, she said as the weather was sunny it made the climb easier.
“We went with no expectations. I was worried it might be cold for him but it was perfect sunny weather. He really is a natural - he’s big and strong for his age. He is the youngest to climb Toubkal and we’ve submitted it to the Guinness World Records. We are just waiting for confirmation. Next year we’re planning to climb Kilimanjaro which is 5,800 metres high. It’s the next most achievable goal."