Jordan Romero was just thirteen. Think about that for a second. At an age when most of us were struggling with algebra or trying to figure out how to talk to our crush, he was standing on the highest point on Earth. It sounds like a fever dream, but on May 22, 2010, the California teen reached the summit of Mount Everest. He wasn't alone, of course. He had his father, Paul Romero, his stepmother, Karen Lundgren, and three Sherpa guides—Ang Pasang, Lama Dawa, and Lama Karma—by his side.
The story of the youngest person to climb Everest isn't just a tale of grit. It’s a polarizing debate that changed international law.
Everest is a graveyard. It’s a place where the air is so thin your cells literally start to die as you walk. When Jordan climbed it, he sparked a massive firestorm about ethics. People were furious. They asked if a child could truly consent to that kind of risk. Was it bravery, or was it just high-altitude parenting gone wrong? Honestly, the answer depends on who you ask in the mountaineering community.
The record that forced China and Nepal to change the rules
Before Jordan, the record belonged to Temba Tsheri Sherpa. In 2001, Temba reached the top at age 16. But it cost him. He lost five fingers to frostbite because he spent too much time at the summit. That's the thing about Everest; it doesn't care about your age or your resume. It just freezes whatever is exposed.
When Jordan Romero showed up in 2010, he couldn't even get a permit from the Nepalese side. Nepal had already wised up and set a minimum age of 16. So, what did the Romero family do? They went around the mountain. They climbed the North Face from the Tibetan side because, at the time, China didn't have a firm age limit.
Why the North Face is a different beast
Climbing from Tibet is technically harder in some ways. It’s windier. It’s colder. You’re exposed to the elements for longer stretches. Jordan’s team pushed through the "Death Zone" above 8,000 meters, where the atmospheric pressure is about a third of what it is at sea level.
Shortly after Jordan’s successful summit, the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) clamped down. They saw the international backlash. They realized that having 13-year-olds on the mountain was a PR nightmare waiting to happen. Now, you generally have to be between 18 and 60 to get a permit from the Chinese side, though exceptions are occasionally made for "extraordinary" circumstances. Basically, Jordan's record is likely "frozen" in time because the legal loopholes he used have been welded shut.
💡 You might also like: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
Malavath Poorna: The girl who proved the record wasn't a fluke
If Jordan is the youngest male, Malavath Poorna holds the title for the youngest female. In 2014, the Indian climber reached the summit at age 13 years and 11 months. She was just a few months older than Jordan was.
Her story is different. It’s less about a family’s quest for the "Seven Summits" and more about social mobility. Poorna came from a small village in Telangana. She was part of a government-sponsored program designed to encourage underprivileged students. When she stood on top of the world, she didn't just break a record; she broke a massive social ceiling.
She also climbed from the Tibetan side. Why? Because Nepal still wouldn't allow anyone under 16. It’s a weird quirk of geography where the border of two countries dictates who gets to be a hero and who is considered "too young" for the risk.
The biology of a child at 29,032 feet
We need to talk about the medical side of this because it's terrifying. Most doctors will tell you that a 13-year-old’s body is still a work in progress. Their growth plates haven't fused. Their respiratory systems aren't fully matured.
At high altitudes, you're at risk for HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema). That’s fluid in the lungs and swelling of the brain. When these things happen to an adult, it’s a crisis. When they happen to a child, the window for rescue is incredibly small.
Experts like Dr. Peter Hackett, a renowned high-altitude medicine specialist, have often voiced concerns about the long-term effects of extreme hypoxia on the developing brain. We don't actually have a lot of data on what happens to a middle-schooler's brain when it's deprived of oxygen for weeks at a time. It's a massive experiment with a sample size of... well, basically two people.
📖 Related: Why the Marlins Won World Series Titles Twice and Then Disappeared
Is the youngest person to climb Everest actually "climbing" it?
This is where the elitist side of mountaineering comes out. Critics often argue that young record-holders are "guided" up the mountain. They aren't carrying the heavy loads. They aren't making the technical decisions. They are following a trail of fixed ropes laid down by Sherpas who are doing the actual heavy lifting.
But you know what? That applies to 90% of the adults on the mountain too.
Unless you're climbing alpine style without supplemental oxygen—which very few people do—you're part of a system. Jordan and Poorna still had to put one foot in front of the other. They still had to endure the 2 a.m. starts in -40 degree weather. They still had to breathe through a plastic mask and pray the wind didn't blow them off the ridge.
The "Seven Summits" obsession
Jordan wasn't just there for Everest. He was on a mission to climb the highest peak on every continent. He finished that quest at age 15, becoming the youngest person to do so. It’s a massive logistical and financial undertaking. It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars. This isn't just about physical fitness; it’s about having the infrastructure to support a child in the world's most hostile environments.
Where are they now?
Jordan Romero didn't disappear after his record. He’s spent much of his adult life as an advocate for outdoor exploration and public speaking. He seems remarkably well-adjusted for someone who was the center of a global ethical debate before he could drive a car.
Malavath Poorna didn't stop either. She continued her education and became a symbol of empowerment in India. Her life was even turned into a film titled Poorna: Courage Has No Limit.
👉 See also: Why Funny Fantasy Football Names Actually Win Leagues
They both survived the mountain, which is the only metric that truly matters in the end.
The era of the "Youngest" is over
You won't see a 12-year-old on Everest anytime soon. The governing bodies have realized that the risk-to-reward ratio is just too skewed. If a child dies on the mountain trying to break a record, the entire industry takes a hit.
The current rules are:
- Nepal: Minimum age is 16. No maximum, though they've discussed it.
- China (Tibet): Minimum age is 18. Maximum is 60 (with some flexibility).
This means the record for the youngest person to climb Everest is essentially locked. Unless a country changes its laws or a climber finds a way to bypass the permitting process—which is nearly impossible today—Jordan Romero will remain the youngest.
Actionable insights for the aspiring high-altitude climber
If you're looking to get into mountaineering, or you're a parent of a kid who thinks they're the next Jordan Romero, here is the reality of the situation:
- Focus on technical skills first. Everest is a "walk-up" in terms of technicality, but you need to know how to use crampons, ice axes, and self-arrest techniques instinctively.
- Build an altitude resume. Don't make Everest your first big peak. Start with 4,000-meter peaks, move to 6,000-meter peaks in the Andes or the Himalayas (like Mera Peak or Island Peak), and see how your body handles the thin air.
- Understand the "Death Zone." No amount of training can fully prepare you for how it feels to breathe at 8,000 meters. It's a psychological battle as much as a physical one.
- Respect the age limits. They aren't there to stifle talent; they're there because the mountain is a dangerous place for a developing body. Use your teen years to build the endurance base you'll need for your 20s.
- Budget for reality. A guided climb on Everest in 2026 costs anywhere from $45,000 to $100,000+. This includes permits, gear, Sherpa support, and oxygen.
The allure of being the "youngest" or "first" is powerful, but Everest is a place where ego usually gets people killed. The most successful climbers are the ones who know when to turn around. Jordan Romero got lucky with the weather, his health, and the timing. He’s a legend, sure, but he’s also a reminder of a wilder, less regulated era of Himalayan climbing that has mostly vanished.