Jordan Romero Climbs Mt. Everest: 13-Year-Old Is Youngest Ever To Reach Summit

BEIJING — A 13-year-old American boy has become the youngest climber to reach the top of Mount Everest.

A spokesman for Jordan Romero says the boy's team called by satellite phone from the summit of the world's highest peak on Saturday.

The previous record for the youngest climber to scale Everest had been held by Temba Tsheri of Nepal. He reached the peak at age 16.

Romero was climbing Everest with a team that included his father and three Sherpa guides. He left for the peak from the base camp on the Chinese side of the mountain.

Romero has been on a quest to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Comments

[constitutionist]

01:39 PM on 05/25/2010

I have both climbed at 8000 meters and am a Father and when these two return to the States the boy should be put into protective services and his parents should be arrestted for child endangerment. Skill is only apart of being a high altitude climber the mountain itself is out your control the "death zone" is no place for children this was irresponsible and the parents should be prosecuted.

[Ribbitman]

10:38 AM on 05/25/2010

Kudos to the Kid! I guess I'm the only one left that hasn't climbed to the top of this hill.

[htiderem]

06:48 AM on 05/25/2010

Notice not even the slightest mention or acknowledgement of this on his blog:

From a fellow climbers blog

"The day we hiked down to BC was the same day there was an avalanche on the North Col. Who knows whether we would have been caught in the avalanche. All I can tell you is that we were to climb up the North Col that day with team Jordan. Since we were more acclimatized than they were we would have been directly above them. When the avalanche hit, it took out the two Hungarians killing one and injuring the other. The Hungarians were located right above team Jordan. The avalanche hit Jordan and knocked him into his father with Jordan’s crampon hitting him in the head. Fortunately for Paul and Jordan the ropes held them to the mountain and Paul got a cut above his eye that needed only 4 stitches."

You would think they would at least express their condolences to the hungarian families. and why not a word about this in their blog???

[apatheticyouth]

07:04 PM on 05/24/2010

are people really so cynical that they troll this article and belittle this kids accomplishment!?!?

that aside, effing amazing. good luck kid.

[Ish and Em]

07:15 PM on 05/23/2010

Great story .

A New Explorer!

Congratulations Kid!

[I just get seasick watching McHales Navy.]

[Berkeleylefty]

03:54 PM on 05/23/2010

Congrats Jordan...

Now for a dose of reality... with a last name of Romero... Don't do any climbing in AZ they might mistake you...

[Payman Saqib]

03:06 PM on 05/23/2010

Ahhhh! Its good to be rich!

[mikefina]

02:41 PM on 05/23/2010

Relax, scolds.

Congrats young man. Helluva'n acheivement. Descend safely.

World, take notice. The kids are allright.

[NoDubya]

09:38 AM on 05/23/2010

Who cares? Large Moutain climbers are morons. If they get stuck up there, TAX PAYERS should NOT have to pay for their rescue.

[MachCrit]

10:15 AM on 05/23/2010

Thanks for adding your own moronic two cents. Unless you are paying taxes in Nepal or Tibet, you are hardly responsible for rescues on Everest. The area above 26,000 feet (the death zone) is way above helicopter capability so it's usually the Sherpas or other climbers that affect a rescue. In the Alps, rescue insurance is very common (and often abused as climbers in trouble exercise the helicopter option rather than extricate themselves). In the U.S., the largest percentage of rescue costs are for lost hikers, not climbers.

[DevonTexas]

03:28 PM on 05/23/2010

good one

[MachCrit]

09:36 AM on 05/23/2010

What a freak show Everest has become. Jordan might be a talented young athlete, but having a team of Sherpas prepare the Khumbu Icefall and string fixed lines all the way to the summit, carry the loads, stock the camps and cook the meals is de rigeuer for today's poseurs. The real heros that did the first ascents didn't even have an accurate map of the region, let alone helicopters to overfly the long, difficult approaches. Read Hunt's, ASCENT OF EVEREST or Herzog's inspiring, ANNAPURNA.

I can hardly wait for the Swedish Bikini Team to pull off (pun intended) the first nude ascent with matching pink crampons and axes. Now, that'll be newsworthy!

[Village]

05:14 PM on 05/23/2010

He didn't cross the ice fall because he climbed the north face from China. The ice fall is on the south face from Nepal.

BUT, he was almost killed. An avalanche knocked two people off the mountain. One died, and one destroyed his hands 'swimming' on the top of the avalanche to keep from being buried, but he did survive. Jordan was third on that rope, and he suffered a glancing blow from the avalanche. He was knocked off the mountain, but fell on his father, with a crampon to the father's forehead, which required stitches. His father broke his fall and their ropes held, otherwise, this would have been a very different story.

There have been a few close calls on Everest this year, but they are being kept quiet. If you want to follow the action, go to alanarnette.com. He is following all the action on both sides, and you can find out the truth about what is happening.

[MachCrit]

07:36 PM on 05/23/2010

Well, that will play well in the book and movie version. Either side, the Sherpas remain the true heros as they prepare everything and hump the big loads, risking it all for the clients.

[MachCrit]

08:11 PM on 05/23/2010

What should get the press are the groundbreaking ascents, like the West Ridge (Hornbein/Unsoeld), the first oxygenless ascent (Messner/Habeler) or the Kangshung Face (Venables/Webster, et al) (Crickets....), rather than the first guided ascent by anybody, whether 13, blind or handicapped. The sport is exciting enough without novelty.

[turboturd]

09:24 AM on 05/23/2010

They had a satellite phone? I call cheat!

Back in my day I'd climb that in a thong with a toothbrush for a pick axe.

[DevonTexas]

03:30 PM on 05/23/2010

You had a Thong?!?! Musta bin nice

[turboturd]

09:56 AM on 05/24/2010

Ah well.. It was really just some dental floss tied together. Thong seemed the closest description I could think of at the time... sigh.

[YouTubeJEFF9K]

09:07 AM on 05/23/2010

That kid must have a heckuva paper route to afford to travel around the world like that.

[Lakme]

08:13 AM on 05/23/2010

It is only a matter of time before we set a new record for the youngest person who died trying to climb Mt. Everest.

This is completely irresponsible, glory-seeking behaviour on the part of his parents. A lot of people think climbing Mt. Everest has become like a stroll in the park, thanks to modern technology and guiding methods.

The truth is far different, and the statistics do not lie. For every 4 climbers who have reached the top of Everest, 1 climber has died trying to summit Everest.

Think of that.

This is an activity solely for adults who know and accept the responsibility for their own lives, not for minors.

[JacksonHts]

05:57 PM on 05/24/2010

Was he being home schooled too? Because that's where a 13 year old should have been this semester.

[dct1999]

06:30 AM on 05/23/2010

Congratulations to his parents, the newest members of IPimpedMYKid, Inc.

[mrjames1]

09:17 AM on 05/23/2010

The dad is an American hero 2010 style. He realizes that in modern america, the best way to succeed is getting fame. As the country de/clines, he is correct.

So what if he's a fame Who/re for his kid? So what if he sued the govt of Argentina when they wouldn't allow his kid to hike Aconcaqua because he was too young, tying up resources, people, and literally making a (Argentinian) federal case? His kid can now enjoy the fruits of america - all because of fame.

It was smart really- no reality tv with competition to get the fame, no practicing an instrument for 10,000 hours and then compete with musicians - these guys trailblazed their own way to fame, and self promoted every step up the hill . the world is at your feet kid, don't fkkk it up. to the dad: mission accomplished, you are king wh/ore

[GraniteSkyline]

03:25 AM on 05/23/2010

I feel like an old loser. First a 17 year old sails around the world and now a 13 year old climbs Everest. I hiked around the zoo all day yesterday with my kids, and today my butt has been pretty much welded to the couch or this chair. On the upside, I will probably lose weight because I was just too tired and creaky today to get up and get something to eat.

[nsewing]

07:48 AM on 05/23/2010

LOL! Don't sell yourself short. Hiking around the zoo w/kids is quite an endeavor. I'm tired just thinking about it!