Rob Gauntlett facts for kids
Rob Gauntlett was a brave English adventurer and explorer. He was also a motivational speaker. In 2006, he became the youngest British person to climb to the top of Mount Everest.
Early Adventures
Rob Gauntlett grew up in Petworth, a town in West Sussex, England. He went to school at Christ's Hospital. After finishing school, Rob went on an amazing bike trip. He cycled all the way from Bilbao in Spain to Istanbul in Turkey. He did this journey with his school friend, Richard Lebon.
Conquering Mount Everest
In 2003, Rob and another school friend, James Hooper, decided to climb Mount Everest. This was a huge goal because they had no climbing experience at all!
To get ready, they trained very hard. They practiced climbing in Scotland and the French Alps. They also climbed Spantik in Pakistan and Ama Dablam in Nepal.
On May 17, 2006, they reached the very top of Mount Everest. Rob was just 19 years old, having turned 19 a week before. This made him the youngest British climber to ever reach the summit. They climbed the North side of the mountain. Their climb also helped raise money for Cancer Research UK, a charity that helps fight cancer.
Pole to Pole Expedition
From April 2007 to October 2008, Rob Gauntlett and James Hooper went on another incredible journey. They traveled from the North Magnetic Pole all the way to the South Magnetic Pole. What made this trip special was that they used only human power or natural power. This meant no engines or motors!
They traveled in many ways:
- They used skis and dog sleds in the cold polar regions.
- They sailed in a boat to New York City.
- They rode bicycles to Panama City.
- They sailed again to Guayaquil in Ecuador.
- They continued cycling to Punta Arenas in Chile.
This amazing trip covered about 22,000 miles (35,200 km). After reaching the South Pole, they sailed another 1,800 nautical miles to Australia.
Their "Pole to Pole" expedition helped raise awareness about climate change. It also collected money for The Prince's Trust, a charity that helps young people. In November 2008, Rob and James were named "Adventurers of the Year" by the National Geographic Society. This was a big honor for their incredible journey.
Tragic Accident
On January 10, 2009, a sad accident happened. Rob Gauntlett and his climbing friend, James Atkinson, were found in the Alps mountains. They had been ice climbing near Chamonix in France. Sadly, both had fallen and died. They were both 21 years old.
Rob, James Atkinson, James Hooper, and Richard Lebon were on holiday together. They were all friends from their school days at Christ's Hospital. The four friends had split into two groups for climbing. Rob and James Atkinson started their climb early. However, James Hooper felt the weather was not safe for climbing that day, so he decided not to go. The exact reasons for Rob and James Atkinson's fall are not known.
On March 21, 2009, a special service was held at Christ's Hospital Chapel. It was a memorial to remember the lives of Rob and James Atkinson.
