Jess Roskelley facts for kids
Jess Roskelley near the summit of the Citadel during the first ascent of the Hypa Zypa Couloir, Alaska Range
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jess Fenton Roskelley |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | July 13, 1982 Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 16, 2019 (aged 36) Howse Peak, Alberta, Canada |
| Education | University of Montana |
| Occupation | Welder, mountaineer |
| Climbing career | |
| Type of climber | Sport climbing, bouldering, mountaineering |
| Highest grade |
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| Known for | Youngest American to reach the summit of Everest (2003) after Jordan Romero |
Jess Fenton Roskelley (born July 13, 1982 – died April 16, 2019) was a famous American mountaineer. He was known for his amazing climbing skills.
In 2003, when he was just 20 years old, Jess became the youngest American to reach the top of Mount Everest. This was a huge achievement! Sadly, he passed away in an avalanche while climbing Howse Peak in Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jess Roskelley was born on July 13, 1982. He grew up in Spokane, Washington. He went to Mt. Spokane High School.
His father, John Roskelley, was also a well-known mountaineer. His mother, Joyce Roskelley, was a teacher. Jess later moved to Montana to study at the University of Montana.
Jess's Climbing Adventures
Jess started his climbing career as a guide. He helped people climb Mount Rainier. He passed the guide exam when he was 18. By age 20, he had guided people to the top 35 times!
Conquering Mount Everest
In March 2003, Jess and his father went on an expedition. They called it "Generations on Everest." It was Jess's first time trying to climb Everest. His father had tried three times before but didn't make it.
On May 21, 2003, Jess and his father successfully reached the summit. Jess was only 20 years old. This made him the youngest American to stand on top of Mount Everest. Later, in 2010, Jordan Romero broke this record. Jordan climbed Everest when he was 13.
New Routes and Challenges
Jess loved to climb in Alaska. He also worked as a welder there. In 2012, he and John Frieh climbed a new path. It was on Mount Wake in the Alaska Range. They named this path "The Cook Inlet."
In 2013, Jess, Ben Erdmann, and Kristoffer Szilas found another new route. This was on the Citadel peak in Alaska. They named their new path "Hypa Zypa Couloir." It was a very challenging climb.
Personal Life and Legacy
Jess Roskelley married Allison Spencer on July 25, 2015. He had two sisters, Jordan and Dawn. Jess was a sponsored athlete. He worked with Adidas Outdoor and later with The North Face.
A Tragic Loss
On April 16, 2019, Jess was climbing Howse Peak in Canada. He was with two Austrian climbers, David Lama and Hansjörg Auer. They had just reached the top of the mountain.
Sadly, as they were coming down, an avalanche occurred. All three climbers were caught in the snow. Their bodies were found a few days later. They were remembered as incredibly skilled and brave climbers.
Professional fighter Michael Chiesa dedicated his win at UFC 239 to Jess. This showed how much Jess was respected.
See also
In Spanish: Jess Roskelley para niños
