Records are made to be broken, or so they say. But in the high-altitude, low-oxygen world of Himalayan mountaineering, some records are basically frozen in time. If you’ve ever wondered who the youngest man to climb Mount Everest is, the name you’re looking for is Jordan Romero.
He was 13. Just think about that for a second. At 13, most of us were struggling with algebra or trying to figure out how to talk to our crush without turning bright red. Jordan was standing at 29,032 feet, staring at the curvature of the earth.
It happened on May 22, 2010. It wasn't just a quick hike; it was a massive, controversial, and deeply planned expedition that changed the rules of the mountain forever. Honestly, the story is kinda wild when you get into the weeds of it. It’s not just about a kid with a dream; it’s about a family, a massive amount of criticism, and a legal loophole that likely won't ever open again.
The 13-Year-Old on Top of the World
Jordan Romero didn't just wake up and decide to climb Everest. The kid was on a mission. By the time he hit the Himalayas, he had already checked off several of the "Seven Summits"—the highest peaks on every continent. He started with Kilimanjaro when he was ten. Ten!
The Everest climb was a family affair. He wasn't up there alone, obviously. He was climbing with his father, Paul Romero, and his stepmother, Karen Lundgren. They were joined by three experienced Sherpas: Ang Pasang, Lama Dawa, and Lama Karma.
When they reached the summit, Jordan did what any 13-year-old in 2010 would probably do—he called his mom. Using a satellite phone from the highest point on the planet, he told Leigh Anne Drake, "Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world!"
Why the North Side?
You might know that most people climb Everest from the south side in Nepal. It’s the "standard" route. But Jordan and his team went through Tibet (the North Side). Why?
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Basically, it was a legal necessity. Nepal had (and still has) an age limit. You have to be at least 16 to get a permit to climb Everest from the Nepali side. China, at the time, didn't have a hard age floor in Tibet. They found the gap in the rules and they took it.
The Controversy That Followed
Not everyone was cheering. In fact, a lot of the mountaineering community was pretty upset.
Experts like David Hillebrandt, a medical advisor for the British Mountaineering Council, were vocal about the risks. The argument wasn't just about whether a 13-year-old was physically strong enough. It was about the brain. At 13, the human brain is still developing. How does extreme hypoxia—lack of oxygen—affect a young teenager’s long-term cognitive function? Nobody really knew.
Then there was the ethics of it. Was Jordan actually making the choice, or was he being pushed by "stage parents" who wanted a world record? Jordan always maintained it was his idea, sparked by a mural of the Seven Summits he saw in his elementary school hallway.
Whatever the truth, the backlash was so intense that the rules changed almost immediately.
- China implemented a new age limit shortly after Jordan's climb, capping it at 18 (though they sometimes allow exceptions down to 16).
- Nepal tightened their oversight.
- The "youngest" category effectively became a closed book.
Is Jordan Romero Still the Record Holder?
Yes. As of 2026, Jordan Romero remains the youngest man to climb Mount Everest.
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There was a girl, Malavath Poorna from India, who summited in 2014 at the age of 13 years and 11 months. She is the youngest female to ever do it. But Jordan, who was 13 years and 10 months when he stood on the peak, still holds the overall title.
Because of the strict permit laws now in place in both Nepal and China, it is highly unlikely we will see a 12-year-old or another 13-year-old up there anytime soon. The authorities just won't give out the paperwork. They don't want the liability, and they don't want the international PR headache that comes with putting children in the "Death Zone."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Record
People often think these "youngest" records are just about physical fitness. They aren't. They are about logistics and money.
Climbing Everest costs anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 per person. To get a 13-year-old to the top, you need a support system that is bulletproof. You need extra oxygen, the best guides, and a lot of luck with the weather. Jordan’s team spent 50 days on the mountain just acclimating. It wasn't a stunt; it was a full-scale siege.
Another misconception is that he's "just" a record holder. Jordan actually finished the Seven Summits by the age of 15, becoming the youngest person to do that, too. He didn't just stop at Everest.
Why This Record Matters in 2026
We live in an era where "adventure tourism" is exploding. Everest is more crowded than ever. But Jordan’s record stands as a reminder of a specific window in climbing history—a sort of "Wild West" period where if you could get to the mountain, you could try to climb it.
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Today, the focus has shifted from "how young can you be" to "how sustainable can we make the mountain." With the 2025/2026 rule changes in Nepal—like the mandatory electronic tracking chips for climbers and stricter waste removal laws—the era of the "teenage record-breaker" feels like a lifetime ago.
If you’re looking to get into mountaineering or even just dreaming about Base Camp, there are some real lessons to take from Jordan’s journey:
Physical prep is only 20% of the battle. The rest is mental resilience and having a team you’d trust with your life.
Know the regulations. You can't just show up with a backpack anymore. Between 2025 and 2026, permit fees have climbed, and age restrictions are iron-clad.
Respect the "Death Zone." Above 8,000 meters, your body is literally dying. Whether you're 13 or 50, the mountain doesn't care about your birth certificate.
Jordan Romero is now in his late 20s. He’s lived a whole life since that day in May 2010. He wrote a book called No Summit Out of Sight, which is actually a pretty good read if you want the "behind the scenes" of the climb. He’s still outdoorsy, still climbing, but he’s out of the record-breaking spotlight for the most part.
If you want to follow in those footsteps, your best bet isn't trying to beat his age. It's trying to match his preparation. Start small. Learn how to use an ice axe on a smaller peak like Mount Rainier or Baker. Understand how your body reacts to 10,000 feet before you even think about 29,000.
To get started on your own mountaineering journey, you should look into a local Alpine club or a certified guided "Introduction to Mountaineering" course. These programs teach the technical skills—crampon work, rope management, and self-arrest—that are required long before you ever set foot in the Himalayas. For those interested in the history of the peak, the Himalayan Database remains the gold standard for verifying every summit and record ever made on the world's highest mountain.