“I remember going around [the pit] and falling in a pile of crap. I fell knee deep, and I stank for like a week or two. There’s no shower, no nothing, there’s no soap. And I still pushed on, wiping myself off in the snow. You know, trust me, it’s not fun. I still bore with it, and I eventually made it to the top of Mount Elbrus. I didn’t think that I was actually gonna make the summit, but he helped me push through. And eventually, we made it. I like how he pushes me a lot more than most people’s parents. And he also allows me to do a lot more than most people’s parents. He gives me a lot of freedom. He also gives me a lot of motivation, and also, tries to push me to what I’m capable of or beyond. He really trusts me a lot.”
– Mark Yurkuns, 10