Jordan Romero
Encyclopedia
Jordan David Romero is an American
mountain climber
who, on May 22, 2010, became the youngest person to climb
Mount Everest
. He was 13 years 10 months 10 days old when he reached the summit. Romero was accompanied by his father Paul Romero, his father's girlfriend Karen Lundgren, and three Sherpas, Ang Pasang Sherpa, Lama Dawa Sherpa, and Lama Karma Sherpa. He was inspired to climb the tallest mountains of each continent
when he saw a painting in the hallway of his school that had the seven continents' highest mountains
. The previous record for youngest to climb Everest was held by Ming Kipa
of Nepal
who was 15 years old when she reached the summit in 2003.
, California
. He was born to Paul Romero and Leigh Anne Drake.
. Along the way to the top, Romero conducted an interview from an intermediate base camp 18,700 feet above sea level
. Upon reaching Mount Everest's summit
, a Skype
interview was accomplished. Upon reaching the top of Everest, Romero also called his mother, who had been following the climb on a map which included GPS coordinates, pictures and video.
, questioned whether Romero was mentally mature enough and then went on to say, "It is totally against the spirit of true mountaineering. This sounds like it's about mass marketing
, money and it's verging on child abuse
. Nowadays, people are effectively being winched up (the mountains), using ropes that Sherpas have put in for them. It will all be done for him (Romero). He's a token
passenger." Since Nepal doesn't issue climbing licenses to individuals below 16 years of age, Romero had to climb from the Tibet side. On June 10, 2010, the Lhasa-based Chinese Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA), the official channel through which climbers must apply for permission to attempt peaks in Tibet, announced future age restrictions for all those attempting Everest from the north.
commercial that tells us about the climb and his other climbs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mountain climber
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
who, on May 22, 2010, became the youngest person to climb
Climbing
Climbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. He was 13 years 10 months 10 days old when he reached the summit. Romero was accompanied by his father Paul Romero, his father's girlfriend Karen Lundgren, and three Sherpas, Ang Pasang Sherpa, Lama Dawa Sherpa, and Lama Karma Sherpa. He was inspired to climb the tallest mountains of each continent
Continent
A continent is one of several very large landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents—they are : Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.Plate tectonics is...
when he saw a painting in the hallway of his school that had the seven continents' highest mountains
Seven Summits
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such and achieved on April 30, 1985 by Richard Bass .-Definition:...
. The previous record for youngest to climb Everest was held by Ming Kipa
Ming Kipa
Ming Kipa is a Nepalese Sherpa girl who was the youngest person to climb Mount Everest. She reached the summit on May 24, 2003 when she was 15 years old, with her brother Mingma Gyula and her sister Laphka...
of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
who was 15 years old when she reached the summit in 2003.
| Six of the "Seven Summits" Romero has climbed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Summits | Country | Continent | Elevation ft | Elevation m |
| Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:... |
Tanzania | Africa | 19,340 | 5,892 | |
| Mount Elbrus Mount Elbrus Mount Elbrus is an inactive volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range, in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, near the border of Georgia. Mt. Elbrus's peak is the highest in the Caucasus, in Russia... |
Russia | Europe | 18,510 | 5,642 | |
| Mount Aconcagua Aconcagua Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at . It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza and it lies west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the... |
Argentina | South America | 22,841 | 6,962 | |
| Mount McKinley Mount McKinley Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.- Geology and features :Mount McKinley is a granitic pluton... |
United States | North America | 20,320 | 6,194 | |
| Mount Carstensz Pyramid Puncak Jaya Puncak Jaya or Carstensz Pyramid is the highest summit of Mount Carstensz in the Sudirman Range of the western central highlands of Papua province, Indonesia . Other summits are East Carstensz Peak and Ngga Pulu... |
Indonesia | Australia/Oceania | 16,024 | 4,884 | |
| Mount Everest Mount Everest Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point... |
Nepal | Asia | 29,029 | 8,848 | |
Personal life
Romero currently lives in Big Bear LakeBig Bear Lake, California
Big Bear Lake is a city in San Bernardino County, California along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, located northeast of the city of San Bernardino. The population was 5,019 at the 2010 census, down from 5,438 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was born to Paul Romero and Leigh Anne Drake.
Historic Climb
Prior to climbing Everest, Romero had conquered six "highest" peaks in his desire to scale the tallest peaks on the seven continents (counting two for Oceania). Before climbing Everest, Jordan's highest peak was Mount Aconcagua, 6962 m (22,841.2 ft) in elevation. His group chose a northern route out of Tibet and carried a GPS tracking device and satellite phoneSatellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
. Along the way to the top, Romero conducted an interview from an intermediate base camp 18,700 feet above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. Upon reaching Mount Everest's summit
Summit (topography)
In topography, a summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. Mathematically, a summit is a local maximum in elevation...
, a Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
interview was accomplished. Upon reaching the top of Everest, Romero also called his mother, who had been following the climb on a map which included GPS coordinates, pictures and video.
Concerns about the Climb
Before he climbed Mount Everest, there was some criticism over whether a teenager should be allowed to attempt this. David Hillebrandt, medical adviser to the British Mountaineering CouncilBritish Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body for England and Wales that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers...
, questioned whether Romero was mentally mature enough and then went on to say, "It is totally against the spirit of true mountaineering. This sounds like it's about mass marketing
Mass marketing
Mass marketing is a market coverage strategy in which a firm decides to ignore market segment differences and go after the whole market with one offer. It is type of marketing of a product to a wide audience. The idea is to broadcast a message that will reach the largest number of people possible...
, money and it's verging on child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
. Nowadays, people are effectively being winched up (the mountains), using ropes that Sherpas have put in for them. It will all be done for him (Romero). He's a token
Tokenism
In the arts, employment, and politics, tokenism is a policy or practice of limited inclusion or artistic and/or political representation of members of a traditionally marginalized group, usually creating a false appearance of inclusive practices rather than discrimination, intentional or not...
passenger." Since Nepal doesn't issue climbing licenses to individuals below 16 years of age, Romero had to climb from the Tibet side. On June 10, 2010, the Lhasa-based Chinese Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA), the official channel through which climbers must apply for permission to attempt peaks in Tibet, announced future age restrictions for all those attempting Everest from the north.
Book
After Jordan climbed Mount Everest he and Katherine Blanc wrote a book "The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romero Story". The book is a visual journey through Jordan's quest, there are pictures of everything from Team Jordan training and base camps to finally standing on the summit of Mt. Everest. There are also inspirational messages and tips on goal-setting from Jordan. He later appeared on a Disney ChannelDisney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
commercial that tells us about the climb and his other climbs.