Jordan Romero, the 13-year-old American who became the youngest climber to summit Mount Everest, said he hopes to inspire other kids.
The eighth grader from California said he first came up with the idea to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents four years ago. On Saturday, he reached the top of the world’s highest mountain.
"I’m doing this to inspire other kids, hopefully across the world, to get outdoors and to set goals in life. I’m doing this to set an example for them,” he said.
His success means he remains just one climb away from his overall goal of reaching the highest peaks on all seven continents. The final is the 16,076-foot Vinson Massif in Antarctica.
The climb had many tough moments, the teen said Monday. At one point, the water bottles froze, and the team went without for liquids for 10 hours. The most difficult point came when he developed stomach cramps on the final ascent.
"It was the toughest part of the climb because I was thinking, ‘Man, I don’t know if I’ll make it ‘cause this is the worst pain I had ever felt in my stomach.’ But when we approached the summit, it all just faded away. I just felt happiness,” he said.
Jordan recalled touching the prayer flags at the peak before standing with his arms outstretched, yelling in exultation.
"I was so happy that all of us as a team, both my parents and all our Sherpas, had made it to the summit,” he said. "I was happy about that … . It was a feeling that will definitely be with me for the rest of my life.”
His father, Paul Romero, a helicopter paramedic who is trained in high-altitude rescue, and his father’s girlfriend, Karen Lundgren, have trained him for mountaineering.
