Three-year-old boy becomes youngest person to reach summit of 10,000 ft mountain

Toddler was rewarded with packet of Haribo sweets

(Leo Houlding / SWNS)

A British toddler has become the youngest person to climb to the summit of the Piz Badile mountain on the border of Switzerland and Italy, which is 10,000 ft high.

Jackson Houlding, three, climbed the mountain alongside his seven-year-old sister, Freya, and their mother, Jessica, 41, and father, Leo, 40, who is a professional climber.

Freya is now the youngest person to have climbed Piz Badile unaided.

Jessica carried Jackson on her back, while Leo carried all of the family’s camping equipment and food.

The family started their climb on 25 July and spent one night in an alpine hut and another two in bivouac shelters.

The climb up took them four days in total.

The family regularly go climbing together each summer, but this was the first time they climbed such a high mountain together.

“It was really good, I enjoyed the bit I climbed on my own and the Haribo sweets,” said Jackson.

Leo said of the climb: ”It’s a super classic route, the best of its grade in the world.

The Houlding family pictured on their climb. (SWNS)

“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.”

Leo added that when they reached the summit, it was his 40th birthday.

Jessica described the climb as a “huge achievement”.

“It was great, we keep upping the level each year,” she said.

“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.”