Imagine being thirteen. Most kids that age are worried about algebra tests, growing pains, or finally getting their parents to buy them a decent gaming rig. Jordan Romero was different. On May 22, 2010, at exactly 13 years, 10 months, and 10 days old, this kid from Big Bear Lake, California, stood on top of the world. He became the youngest person to climb Mount Everest, a feat so gutsy and controversial that it basically forced the mountaineering world to change its rules.
Honestly, it's a bit wild when you think about it. The "Death Zone" starts at 8,000 meters. Up there, your cells literally start dying because there isn't enough oxygen. Most seasoned adults can’t hack it. Yet, here was a middle-schooler, trekking through the snow with his dad and stepmom, proving that "too young" is a relative term—at least in his mind. For another view, read: this related article.
Jordan Romero and the mural that started it all
You’ve probably had a moment where a random piece of art or a book changed your life. For Jordan, it was a mural in his elementary school hallway. It showed the Seven Summits—the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. He saw it when he was nine. Most kids would’ve just thought, "Cool mountains," and headed to recess. Jordan went home and told his dad, Paul Romero, a critical care paramedic and adventure racer, that he wanted to climb them all.
He wasn't joking. Related coverage regarding this has been shared by Bleacher Report.
By the time they reached Everest, Jordan had already checked off five of the seven peaks, including Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua. He wasn't some tourist being dragged up the slope. He was a trained athlete who had spent 50 days in the Himalayas just to acclimatize.
The team decided to climb from the Tibetan side (North Face). Why? Because Nepal had a strict age limit of 16. China, at the time, didn't have a firm cutoff. They found the loophole, dodged the red tape, and made history.
What happened on the summit?
When Jordan reached the top, he didn't just celebrate. He called his mom. "Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world!" he told her over a satellite phone. It sounds like something out of a movie, but the reality was much grittier. He was exhausted, sunburnt, and facing a treacherous descent. But he did it. He shattered the previous record held by Ming Kipa, a 15-year-old Sherpa girl who had reached the summit in 2003.
The girls who conquered the peak
While Jordan holds the absolute record, the story of the youngest female to climb Mount Everest is arguably even more incredible. Malavath Poorna was just 13 years and 11 months old when she summited in 2014—only about a month older than Jordan was.
Poorna’s background couldn't have been more different from Jordan’s. She grew up in a small village in Telangana, India. Her parents were agricultural laborers. She had never even seen a mountain until eight months before her climb. Think about that. Eight months of training to tackle the most dangerous pile of rock on Earth.
She was part of a social welfare program designed to empower underprivileged students. For Poorna, Everest wasn't just a personal goal; it was a middle finger to everyone who told her that a girl from a poor village couldn't do anything.
"I wanted to prove that girls could do anything," she said later.
She saw corpses on the way up. She faced -30°C temperatures. And yet, she stood there at the top, unfurling the Indian flag. Her success sparked what people in India call the "Poorna effect," leading to a noticeable drop in child marriages in her region as parents realized what their daughters were truly capable of.
The records that came before
Before the 13-year-olds took over the headlines, the record belonged to Temba Tsheri. In 2001, at age 16, he became the youngest person to summit. But his story serves as a grim reminder of why these records are so controversial.
In a previous attempt at age 15, Temba spent too much time at high altitude. He lost five fingers to frostbite. He still went back a year later and made it to the top, but the physical cost was permanent.
Then there's Ming Kipa. She was 15 when she summited with her siblings (including her sister Lhakpa Sherpa, who now holds the record for the most Everest summits by a woman). Like Jordan, she had to climb from the Chinese side to bypass Nepal's age restrictions.
Why you likely won't see a 12-year-old on Everest
After Jordan Romero’s climb, the world didn't just cheer. A lot of people were furious. Professional climbers and doctors argued that a 13-year-old’s brain and lungs aren't developed enough to handle the extreme physiological stress of 29,000 feet. There were accusations of "child endangerment" hurled at Jordan's parents.
China reacted by imposing an age limit of 18 (with some exceptions down to 16). Nepal stuck to its 16-year-old limit. Basically, the door Jordan and Poorna walked through is now mostly slammed shut.
Unless a government grants a special, rare permit, Jordan’s record of 13 years and 10 days is functionally "frozen" in time. It’s a relic of a slightly wilder era of Himalayan mountaineering.
Does age actually matter on the mountain?
The debate over the youngest person to climb Mount Everest usually boils down to two camps:
- The "Age is a Number" Camp: They argue that if a kid is physically fit, mentally mature, and has expert support, they should be allowed to try.
- The "Safety First" Camp: They point out that a teenager cannot legally consent to the risk of death in the same way an adult can. Plus, the long-term effects of high-altitude oxygen deprivation on a developing brain are still a massive question mark.
Jordan himself has been pretty chill about it in the years since. He wrote a book called No Summit Out of Sight and spent years touring schools to inspire kids to "find their own Everest." He doesn't necessarily encourage other 13-year-olds to follow his exact footsteps, but he defends his family’s decision.
Actionable insights for the aspiring (and the curious)
If you're fascinated by these records, you don't have to be a teenager to take a page out of their book. Here is how you can apply the "Everest mindset" without needing an oxygen tank:
- Start with your "Mural": Jordan was inspired by a hallway painting. Find your specific, visual goal and put it somewhere you see it every day.
- Acclimatize to your goals: You don't jump to the summit. Jordan climbed five other major peaks first. Poorna trained for eight months straight. Break your big ambition into smaller, "lower altitude" milestones.
- Build your Sherpa team: No one summits alone. Whether it's a mentor, a supportive family, or a professional coach, identify the people who have the expertise you lack.
- Respect the "Death Zone": Know when to turn back. In mountaineering, the most important skill isn't reaching the top; it's knowing when the conditions are too dangerous to continue.
The youngest person to climb Mount Everest didn't get there by luck. It was a mix of intense preparation, a bit of legal maneuvering, and a whole lot of grit. Whether you think it was inspiring or irresponsible, you can't deny one thing: it changed the mountain forever.
