News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Big Bear Teen Heads to Mt. Everest

Big Bear Teen Heads to Mt. Everest

Part of the Seven Summits Youth Challenge

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, April 5, 2010

Update - Monday 3:40 a.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA - Big Bear Lake teenager — Jordan Romero — leaves Monday, April 5, for Kathmandu in Tibet-Nepal to climb the tallest mountain peak in the world—Mt. Everest (Asia).

Jordan Romero, 13, is slated to leave Big Bear Lake Monday, April 5, on his way to Mt. Everest. Romero expects to be at the base camp on Thursday, April 15. (Photo by www.jordanromero.com.)

The 13-year-old Romero expects to reach the north side base camp at Rongbuk Glacier on Thursday, April 15, as part of the Seven Summits Youth Challenge.

The north face of Mount Everest from the Rongbuk monastery in Tibet. (Photo by carsten.nebel/Wikimedia Commons.)

There are two main climbing routes on Mt. Everest, the Southwest from Nepal and the Northeast ridge from Tibet. Most attempts are made in April and May to avoid the monsoon season.

Once Romero reaches the summit, he will become the youngest person in the world to climb the tallest mountain on each continent.

Romero will be accompanied on his climb by his father, Paul, and step-mother, Karen Lundgren.

Mt. Everest is the highest mountain on earth above sea level and, depending on the source, is 29,035-feet elevation.

Original Story

Big Bear Lake, CA - You can almost hear "Climb Every Mountain" by Julie Andrews each and every time 13-year-old Jordan Romero's name is mentioned.

The Big Bear Lake teenager leaves April 5 for Kathmandu in Tibet-Nepal to climb the tallest mountain peak in the world—Mt. Everest (Asia).

Big Bear Lake resident Jordan Romero, 13, is seeking to climb the 7 Summits including Mt. Everest. (Photo by www.jordanromero.com.)

To reach the 29,029 summit, the Big Bear community is helping raise $1 per foot to help finance the trip and climb.

Tacos For Everest (The Sequel) will raise funds for Jordan Romero in his attempt to climb Mt. Everest. (Photo by www.jordanromero.com.)

On Wednesday, March 31, BLT's at 41799 Big Bear Boulevard will host a Taco Night — Tacos For Everest (The Sequel)— from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

And while there may be no tacos on Mt. Everest, Taco Nights at BLT's and Sonora Cantina have been helping raise the funds necessary for Romero to challenge the next peak on his list of goals. The event is hosted by the Snow Summit Race Team.

If successful, Romero will become the youngest person in the world to climb the tallest mountain on each continent.

Jordan Romero, 13, has established several world records in his quest to climb the 7 Summits. (Photo by www.jordanromero.com.)

WORLD RECORDS

World records are nothing new to Romero as he climbs to new heights on each continent:

• Mt. Kilimanjaro (Africa - 19,340 feet) - Youngest American to reach the summit - Age 10
• Mt. Kosciusko (Australia - 7,310 feet) - Age 10
• Mt. Elbrus (Europe - 18,510 feet) - Youngest person to reach summit - Age 11
• Mt. Aconcagua (South America - 22,841 feet) - Youngest person to reach summit - Age 11
• Mt. McKinley (North America - 20,320 feet) -Tied youngest person to reach the summit - Age 11
• Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania - 16,024 feet) - Youngest to reach the summit - Age 13

This article was first published on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 9:05 am. This article has been viewed 1574 times.

Michael P. Neufeld, RIMOFTHEWORLD.net Managing News Editor, is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University. His first job out of San Jose State was with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as overnight Radio Editor. Prior to joining RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, Neufeld was editor of two weekly newspapers—THE MOUNTAIN NEWS and CRESTLINE COURIER-NEWS. He also has experience as editor of an employee newspaper for a major utility company and during his tenure as executive director of the San Jose State University Alumni Association served as faculty advisor to the association's monthly newsletter. He also spent eight years in commercial radio doing everything from news to advertising sales and writing commercials to being an announcer and on-air personality. Neufeld is actively involved the mountain communities including serving as master of ceremonies for the Arrowhead Arts Music Festival held each summer.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Michael P. Neufeld.