A man has opened up about the online trolling he has received after he and his wife take their children with them on challenging hikes.
Colorado dad-of-four Joe Evermore says his seven-year-old son has become the youngest person ever to climb 3,000-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park back in May.
However, the 44-year-old says that viewers online have opted to call Child Protective Services on him and his wife Anne Evermore, 39.
“There’s people that think, ‘Hey, your kids would be better put in a foster system’ or put in front of a television, rather than training daily for an epic mission,” the entrepreneur told PEOPLE.
Although CPS has been forced to review multiple complaints, they have declined to pursue them.
Joe Evermore, 44, from Colorado, says people think his ‘kids would be better put in a foster system’ (SWNS)
“There’s people that think, ‘Hey, your kids would be better put in a foster system’ or put in front of a television, rather than training daily for an epic mission,” the father adds.
“They just don’t understand what’s dangerous and what’s not dangerous.
“It’s kind of like someone who says, ‘How can you go on a plane? What if the wings fall off?’ It’s like, no, you’re not even thinking about the actual dangers of the sport.”
The dad-of-four says his parenting techniques are ‘safe’ (SWNS)
While videos of the climbs can look scary on social media, he believes modern climbing systems are far safer than most people realise.
He said: “The biggest danger isn’t actually falling because the gear is incredibly strong.
“What worries me more is someone dropping a rock or a water bottle from above – something the size of a fist could kill somebody.”
Each year, one of his sons are given a major challenge designed to push them beyond their comfort zone.
The rules are that it has to be difficult, remarkable – but safe.
His seven-year-old son has become the youngest person ever to climb 3,000-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park back in May (SWNS)
With Anne now pregnant with the couple’s fifth child – a girl – the family is preparing for its next chapter.
And while Joe jokes he may need to learn a few new parenting skills, there is one thing he is certain about.
He said: “She’s definitely going to climb too. We’ve had so many dads tell us they’ve been inspired by what we’re doing.
“If I can encourage other fathers to get outside, go camping and do something adventurous with their kids, that’s a win.”
Joe believes the extreme adventures are helping transform his kids into ‘confident’ adults.
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