Everest isn’t just a mountain; it's a graveyard of records and, unfortunately, people. When you think of the "youngest person to climb Mount Everest," you might imagine a super-human teenager with years of ice-picking experience. You’d be half right. But the real story is way more controversial than a simple trophy on a shelf.
Jordan Romero is the name that sits at the top of the history books. In 2010, at just 13 years, 10 months, and 10 days old, this kid from Big Bear Lake, California, stood on the summit and called his mom on a satellite phone. "Mom, I'm calling you from the top of the world," he said. Kinda sounds like a movie script, doesn't it?
But here's the thing: his achievement basically broke the mountain's rules forever.
The record-breaking ascent of Jordan Romero
Jordan wasn't some random kid who decided to climb a hill on a whim. He’d been training since he was nine. He saw a mural of the "Seven Summits" (the highest peaks on each continent) in his school hallway and basically told his dad, "I want to do that."
Most parents would say, "Sure, let's go to the park." Jordan's dad, Paul Romero, was a paramedic and high-altitude expert. He said, "Okay."
By the time they hit Everest in May 2010, Jordan had already bagged five of the seven peaks. But the politics were messy. Nepal has a strict rule—you have to be at least 16 to climb from their side. So, what did Team Romero do? They went around. They flew to the Tibetan side (the North Face), where China didn't have a minimum age limit at the time.
💡 You might also like: What Channel is Champions League on: Where to Watch Every Game in 2026
The team behind the 13-year-old
He didn't do it alone. Not even close.
- Paul Romero: His dad.
- Karen Lundgren: His stepmother (also a world-class adventure racer).
- Three Sherpa guides: Ang Pasang Sherpa, Lama Dawa Sherpa, and Lama Karma Sherpa.
They reached the summit on May 22, 2010. While Jordan celebrated by leaving a rabbit's foot and some seeds given to him by a monk at the top, the mountaineering world was having a collective meltdown.
Why Jordan Romero’s record is probably permanent
Honestly, it’s unlikely anyone will ever beat Jordan's record. Not because kids aren't capable, but because the "adults in the room" stepped in.
Shortly after Jordan's climb, the China Tibet Mountaineering Association (CTMA) saw the media circus and the massive ethical debate and decided to close the loophole. They set a new age limit: 18 years old. Nepal stayed at 16. Unless some country discovers a new 29,000-foot peak with no government oversight, the age of 13 is likely the floor for Everest records.
The youngest female to summit Everest
While Jordan holds the overall title, we have to talk about Malavath Purna (also known as Poorna Malavath). Her story is arguably even more intense. In May 2014, she reached the summit at age 13 years and 11 months—just about a month older than Jordan was.
📖 Related: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Purna came from a small village in Telangana, India. Her parents were agricultural laborers. She wasn't a wealthy kid with a high-tech training camp; she was part of a government-sponsored program for underprivileged students.
She also climbed from the Tibetan side to bypass Nepal’s age restrictions. When she saw the summit, she reportedly saw "dead bodies" near the top—a gruesome reality of the "Death Zone" that most 13-year-olds only see in horror movies. She didn't blink. She reached the top, planted the Indian flag, and became a national hero.
The ethical "gray zone" of child climbers
This is where the expert nuance comes in. Was it "child abuse" or "inspiring the youth"?
Critics like David Hillebrandt, a medical adviser to the British Mountaineering Council, were brutal. He called Jordan a "token passenger" and suggested the climb was more about marketing and money than actual mountaineering. The worry is that a 13-year-old's brain isn't fully developed enough to understand the "risk of death." On Everest, a simple mistake or a sudden storm means you don't come home.
There's also the physiological stuff. Growing bones, developing lungs, and extreme altitude don't usually mix well. But Jordan's camp argued that he was better prepared than most 40-year-old "tourist" climbers who pay $60k to be dragged up the mountain.
👉 See also: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
A quick look at the "Youngest" timeline
- Temba Tsheri (2001): 16 years old. He lost five fingers to frostbite during the climb.
- Ming Kipa (2003): 15 years old. A Nepalese Sherpa girl who held the record before Jordan.
- Jordan Romero (2010): 13 years, 10 months. The current world record holder.
- Malavath Purna (2014): 13 years, 11 months. The youngest female.
What it actually takes to climb that young
You don't just "go." You basically live in a state of perpetual training. Jordan was sleeping in a high-altitude tent at his home in California to pre-acclimatize his blood. He was hiking with heavy packs every single day.
If you're looking at these records and thinking about your own kids or your own goals, remember that Everest in 2026 is a different beast. Permits are harder to get, costs have spiraled to nearly $100,000 for some expeditions, and the crowds at the "Hillary Step" make the climb more dangerous than the actual weather sometimes.
What happened to Jordan Romero?
He didn't disappear. After Everest, he finished his goal. In 2011, at age 15, he summited Vinson Massif in Antarctica, becoming the youngest person to finish the Seven Summits.
He wrote a book called No Summit Out of Sight. He didn't become some "burnt-out" child star. He’s spent a lot of his adult life trying to get other kids outside. He’s pretty chill about the record, too. He’s gone on record saying if someone breaks it, he’d be happy for them—though, as we discussed, the law makes that almost impossible now.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring High-Altitude Climbers:
- Check the Laws First: As of 2026, you must be 16 to climb from Nepal and 18 from Tibet. Don't plan a trip for a 14-year-old; you won't get the permit.
- Prioritize 6,000m Peaks: Before even thinking about Everest, you need to prove your body can handle the "thin air" on peaks like Island Peak or Mera Peak in Nepal.
- Focus on Technical Skills: Records are cool, but survival is better. Take a certified mountaineering course (like those offered by AAI or RMI) to learn crevasse rescue and crampon technique before heading to the Himalayas.
- Vet Your Expedition Company: Don't just go with the cheapest option. Look for companies with high Sherpa-to-client ratios and a proven safety record over the last five years.
If you’re interested in the logistics of a trek like this, start by researching the Everest Base Camp (EBC) trek requirements. It’s the best way to see the mountain without needing a world-record-breaking lung capacity.