A toddler, who climbed his first mountain at two-weeks-old on his dad’s back, has become the youngest person ever to climb Britain’s highest mountains - aged just three years old.
Jaxon Krzysik pictured on his climb of Scafell Pike in England, has become the youngest ever person to climb the Three Peaks. CREDIT: CAL KRZYSIK /SWNS
Jaxon Krzysik took on the famous Three Peaks Challenge with his dad to raise money for his friend, Ralph Rowlands, who died aged two after suffering brain damage.
The young mountaineer's father, Cal Krzysik, 29, said Jaxon walked all the way up each peak unaided, but he did have to carry him back down.
“He loves his mountains, he loves rocks, he likes climbing on rocks. That’s just what he loves to do, to be honest with you,” Mr Krzysik told The Telegraph.
“I’m not going to lie, he does complain. When we were on Ben Nevis about 10 minutes in he started saying ‘oh my legs are hurting, I can’t do it’.
“But then after that after he powered through (and) he didn’t complain once.
“When we got to the top of Ben Nevis there was a massive roar… Obviously everyone that had gone past us were at the top and as soon as Jaxon got to the top everyone was just screaming and shouting.
“And then he turned to me and said, ‘look Daddy everyone is so proud of me’.”
Jaxon completed 20 hours of walking under his own steam, covering 23 miles and climbing a total of 10,052ft.
His best friend, Ralph, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at two weeks old after his mum Jade Smith, 26, experienced difficulties during birth.
He suffered brain damage after being starved of oxygen and was completely paralysed and unable to talk.
But this didn't stop him forming a unique bond with Jaxon, who regularly came home and told his parents about his daily adventures with Ralph.
Mr Krzysik said: "They were like two peas in a pod together.
"Ralph was all he talked about when he came home some days.
"It was a unique friendship because Ralph couldn't speak. They had a connection on a different level."
So far, Jaxon has raised more than £800 for Cerebra, a charity for brain injured children.
The remarkable three-year-old has been going on walks and climbing mountains with his dad since he could walk, and Mr Krzysik said he had hoped to complete the Three Peaks Challenge with his son before his fourth birthday in August.
Now they’ve climbed each mountain separately, Mr Krzysik and Jaxon are aiming to complete the challenge in one go.
“He’s done well, I’m proud of him,” Mr Krzysik said. “He’s always asking, ‘Dad when can we go up the mountains?’”
At a glance | Britain's highest points
Highest mountain: Ben Nevis - 1,344m
Highest city: Bradford - 169m (average height)
Highest market town: Buxton - 316m
Highest town or village: Flash - 463m
Highest pub: Tan Hill Inn, Yorkshire - 528m
Highest paved road: Great Dun Fell, Pennines - 840m
Highest airport: Leeds Bradford - 208m
Highest golf course: West Monmouthshire Golf Club, Wales - 463m
by Lizzie Roberts
This article first appeared on http://www.telegraph.co.uk . The original can be read here .