Literally.

The young Big Bear Lake resident has already climbed six of the Seven Summits in his quest to be the youngest person in the world to climb the tallest mountain on each continent.

So far, he has trekked above it all on six continents, a peak experience totaling more than 104,000 feet of ascent.

In late March, he will head to Tibet to tackle the 29,035-foot north side of Mount Everest.

Later in the year - to erase any doubt - he will climb Mount Vinson Massif in Antarctica to make it an even eight summits.

"If I summit them all, then I will break the record by three years. The record now is held by Johnny Strange who was 17 when he finished," Jordan said.

Another motivation for Jordan is seeing the world, getting to know the cultures, the people and the food.

Jordan's father, Paul Romero, a world-class adventure team racer, accompanies him on all his climbs. Romero's best friend and partner, Karen Lundgren, also a multisport athlete and a Big Bear Lake resident, is part of the team as well.

Both are Big Bear Lake residents.

"With Jordan's incredible quest he's about to complete, he's turning it into being a leader and inspiring other kids," his father said.

That far supersedes even his mountain-climbing feats.

That is something he is just now discovering and tapping into - that when he has these motivational speaking engagements he is making 

changes in people's worlds - kids who are overweight and sedentary - they say, 'Let's put on our shoes and go.' "

Although Jordan is eager for the climb, he trains for the climb conscientiously, he paces himself. An eighth-grader, he is now on independent study.

"I am beyond beyond excited and super-stoked about Everest," he said. "I've been training by skiing 13 hours a day, running, mountain biking and doing tire pulls up and down the street."

It's exhausting, but Jordan keeps his goal in mind - to get stronger for the climb.

Mount Everest, hailed as the summit of all summits, is an adventure expedition that will include oxygen cylinders and masks, high-altitude Sherpa guides, as well as yaks to carry the gear.

Base camp is at about 17,000 feet elevation. The advanced camp is 3,000 feet higher. The ascent should take about two months.

"It's mostly about acclimatizing to the altitude," Jordan said.

Expeditions are made possible by donations and fundraisers, Jordan said. The Romeros are hoping to find a corporate sponsor to help them with their peak expeditions, particularly the Everest and the Antarctica treks.

Sponsorships are available as base camp sponsor, advance camp sponsor or summit sponsor.

On Tuesday, Jordan made a winter ascent of Mount Humphreys, the tallest peak in Arizona and part of another quest to climb the tallest mountain in every state in the U.S.

"I wasn't expecting it to be that intense," Jordan said. "I wasn't expecting that from a mountain in Arizona. We were in waist-deep powder and the temperature was a negative 10 degrees."

Perfect conditions for training.

Although Jordan says he's had some nervewracking moments on his adventures, he also says it's about planning ahead, staying calm and being confident.

He has been afraid, he admits.

On Denali, the highest peak in North America, Jordan says the big crevasses - the deep trenches of ice - were scary to cross over.

"They're hundreds of feet deep and if you fall, it wouldn't be very good," he said.

Some climbers believe that the Seven Summits should include Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia instead of Australia's Kosciusko because Carstensz is the highest summit in Australia/Oceania, but strictly speaking, Oceania is not a continent.

Closer to home, the young mountaineer is leading the Seven Summits Youth Challenge, treks up the highest peaks in the Big Bear Valley.

The free program challenges kids to get out and exercise in the outdoors, Jordan says.

"Another reason I'm climbing these mountains is that I want to inspire the youth of America to get outdoors and set goals in life," he said. "The adventure takes lots of adrenaline, dedication and hard work. You've got to put as much effort into it as you can.

"When I'm climbing a mountain and I'm homesick, I always think of my little sister, friends and family who are watching me on my blog, and that's what motivates me to get to the top."

To follow Jordan, visit www.jordanromero.com.

Source:  Copied from Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

OMG - this is just amazing, I mean can you imagine at the age of 13?