The first time I heard that an 11 year-old was climbing the 7 Summits, I dismissed it. 11 years old? Where does he get the money. Who will take him on these climbs? And, what does a 11 year-old know about climbing anyway.
Well a few years went by and I heard about this kid again, but this time he had climbed 5 of the 7 and was on his way to Everest. Whoa.
Jordan Romero is not your ordinary 8th grader and his father Paul is not your ordinary Dad. Jordan saw a painting at school showing the highest mountain on each continent, aka the 7 Summits. He promptly went home to tell his dad that is what I want to do, climb all 7.
Like a good father, Paul pushed back thinking this was one of those things 10 year-olds say, like I want to be a pilot, or a policeman or the Chairman of Goldman Sachs.
Paul took his young son on a few climbs near their home in Big Bear, California. Still enthralled with the dream, Paul saw this an an educational opportunity and put the plan in motion. Using his knowledge and experience as a California helicopter paramedic, a trained rescue and high altitude medicine tech, he watched his child carefully for signs that it was too much.
On Kilimanjaro, Jordan had a tough time and thought about stopping; but he didn’t. Once he got past the mental crux, he gained his stride and sprinted the last few yards to the summit. On Denali, he found his groove and Everest became a realistic objective for them. They trained hard and as their plan gained more publicity, the critics came out.
There were three themes:
- It is Paul’s dream and he is pushing Jordan.
- It is Jordan’s dream and he has no idea what he is getting into. To dream this up at age 9; it was beyond his years.
- They both knew what they are doing so good luck. It was ambitious and inspiring.
Also, some felt that just because a 10 year-old wants something, doesn’t mean they always get it. There is a reason US States wait to issue driver’s license until age 16. There is an age where individuals simply are not ready to make their own decisions.
However, there were serious concerns around their skills and a teenager’s physiology;
- Did Jordan have the skills to climb Everest?
- What would the altitude do to the teenager’s developing body and brain? There was no solid research on how high altitude affects a 13 year-old during the climb or for their future
While there was debate on the motives, it was the plan that fueled even more debate. They would not go on a commercial expedition or use a western guide. They hired 3 Sherpas and base camp logistics from a Kathmandu company and would go on their own, make all their own decisions and answer to no one. They had no choice but to go on the, arguably more dangerous, north side because Nepal does not issue permits for climbers under the age of 16.
From what I could tell, Paul is a highly organized individual who puts logic above emotion. And he cares deeply for his son to achieve his dream. It was obvious that this was going to happen. Paul, and Jordan, had made up their minds; declared their intentions to the world and obtained a few small money sponsors. No one would, or could, talk them out of it. Critics be damned.
My pre-climb concerns for them focused in several areas. If this was about the goal and not records or publicity then:
- What’s the rush to climb the 7 now?
- Why not use a western guide who knows the route intimately and language skills would never be an issue at 8000m in howling winds and extreme fatigue if there was an emergency?
- Why not climb Cho Oyu and see how Jordan did above 8000m. We all know altitude is exponential and you can do great at 23K and crater at 26 or worse at 29K?
- Why not wait 3 years and take the arguably safer south side? It has less wind, warmer temps and more resources in case of a rescue; including helicopters which are not available on the north side.
But my largest concern was not if something happened to Jordan, what if something happened to Paul or Karen or one of the Sherpas. It takes huge manpower to conduct a rescue on Everest; as many as 10 Sherpas are required to conduct a rescue on the Southeast ridge for one incapacitated individual. With only 6 people, one a 13 year-old; how would they manage to keep everyone safe in the event of a storm, an accident or an altitude issue? This would be their first time above 8000m, much less almost 9000m.
Yes, I thought it was risky. No, if I had a 13 year-old son, I wouldn’t let him do it.
So, concerns tossed aside, they traveled to Tibet with their 3 Sherpas and 2 cooks.
By now most of the free world knows that Jordan summited on May 22 with Paul and Karen and the three Sherpas. We watched on his SPOT tracker as he moved swiftly and smoothly with no visible problems.
On script, Paul was quoted on their website “Jordan not only climbed Mt. Everest, but he climbed with unbelievable strength and skill.”
In his post-climb press conferences, Jordan is positioning his climb as a way to encourage kids to get off the couch, a great message. He is also talking about his final climb of the 7 Summits, the Vinson Massif in Antarctica this Fall. And he added that he will be climbing Cho Oyu, another 8000m mountain.
With the benefit of his experience, however, Jordan is now quoted as saying he thinks no one younger than him should climb Everest.
Is it time for all the critics to eat crow? Yes and no.
Obviously everyone is happy and relieved that he came back safely with no frostbite or other current health issues. A sincere congratulation and tip of the hat goes to Paul and Karen and the 3 Sherpas whose names remain elusive.
However, no apologies for all the pre-climb concern and questions.
What the Romeros experienced was the opposite of the perfect storm. They had ideal weather, no crowds, a long enough weather window to climb from camp 2 and return safely. Manageable temps, low winds and good snow conditions. Luck or good planning?
Just three days later, a somewhat surprise storm hit the north resulting in frostbite and, potentially, contributed in some way to a climber’s death.
You cannot plan out everything on Everest. Just ask Rob Hall or Scott Fischer’s families.
Now, the critics will not go silent but rather shift the discussion to the what-ifs and the slippery slope of records.
However, give credit where credit is due. Congratulations and a well done to the Sherpas. Congratulations Karen Lundgren; congratulations Paul Romero and congratulations Jordan Romero. Well done and keep climbing!
You have injected life and enthusiasm into the world of climbing. Please use your new found pulpit wisely.
UPDATED JANUARY 2012
Jordan has competed his goal by summiting Mt. Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica on Christmas eve, December 24, 2011. His dad, Paul and stepmom Karen were with him along with guide, Scott Wollums. Jordan actually made all 8 of the 7 Summits by doing both Carstensz Pyramid and Kosciusko.
I am very proud of Jordan for sticking with his dream. He has used his new found pulpit to bring a message to kids that exercise is good. He is embarking on a goal to reach the highest point in all 50 US States aka Highpoints through something he calls the B.I.G Tour. Jordan wants to tell kids that it’s about getting outdoors, being healthy, doing things as a family and setting goals.
Congratulations Jordan, Paul and Karen – well done to all!
Climb On!
Alan
35 thoughts on “Jordan Romero – my thoughts Updated Jan 2012”
As much as my wife and I love climbing, NO WAY would I allow my own 13-year old son, if I had one, to climb Everest. Its that simple. Ask yourself, “How would I feel if that were my own son?” And there is your opinion.
GG, thanks for confirming the facts. I personally stood up for the Jordan’s, many times and to many people as I have been in their shoes, on the internet and off and must admit that they had me blinded as well and now I’m willing to admit I was wrong and eat crow. Even my son, who called it correctly from the onset was right.
I no longer can say that I support them and not because of the success of their summits, or their accomplishments, but because of the lack of cole values, the lack of respect they show to climbing and to human kind, teach, and represent, all in the name of what is clearly ego, self promotion, arrogance and the pursuit of ego recognition and the chase of the all mighty dollar. Sad… really sad….. my 19 y/o son called it right from day one….. my hats off to him at least I know he learned the lessons.
GG, you may be right in that she stepped into the role of a step-mom and for that she should be proud. There are many folks, both family and non-family, who take care of others for long periods of time for many different reasons however, they do not , receive, or try to claim any legal standing.
However, performing the role without Commitment or Covenant of marriage doesn’t make her anymore a legal step mom or to be able to make World Record claims or receiving the obviously much desired fame, fortune and respect that they seem to be so searching for. How can one teach what they themselves do not do or understand?
Integrity, honestly, core values, universal truth and understanding ….. maybe would have been better teaching than mountaineering skills at this stage?
What ever happened to honestly and the values of doing things right with integrity? A lesson clearly not taught or displayed that would serve the Master Jordan much better.
Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations and outcomes. In Christian ethics, integrity is regarded as the quality of having an intuitive sense of honesty and truthfulness in regard to the motivations for one’s actions.[citation needed] Integrity can be regarded as the opposite of hypocrisy,[1] in that it regards internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs.
The word “integrity” stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete).[2] In this context, integrity is the inner sense of “wholeness” deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others “have integrity” to the extent that one judges whether they behave according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.
I am truly amazed at the egotism of the Romero’s family. As with so many others these days…they are blinded by their own ignorance. Their shameless self-promotion flies in the face of all the experienced mountaineers, whom fate left to remain on the mountain for an eternity. I guess they didn’t have the tactics and strategy like Paul did.
Honestly, What is worse is that the Romero’s are not alone. In the modern day, the Sherpa place the lines, carry the gear, and feed the climbers. People line up like they are waiting for a ride at Disneyland as the wait to move up the mountain. How can you compare an expedition today to that of Hillary and Norgay. Please do not think I am saying climbing today is easy. There is no doubt it is hard: The mountain is unpredictable, and BOTH Novice and experienced mountaineers die every year. However it just doesn’t seem to meet the definition of mountaineering anymore.
For a great cinematic depiction of the challenges mountaineers faced back in the day, rent or watch “north Face” on netflicks. It portrays the true story of Toni Kurz and Andreas Hinterstoisser attempt the North face of Eiger in 1936. All I can say is…THAT is mountaineering!!!
Of note, Austrian mountain guide Wilfried Studer summited on May 23rd – with his wife Sylvia and their daughter Claudia on the north side of Everest without using supplemental oxygen. You can find their report at this link and use Google translate since it is in German if needed.
Paul is not married to Karen, so I guess, technically, it doesn’t make her J’s step mom. BUT…she has been in his life for a looong time, she does everything a “step-mom” would do, supports him, loves him, cheers him on, helps with the homework….so she does deserve the title of step-mom, weather technically correct or not.
@Sean…Obviously you don’t know much about Jordan, so to say that he has “very basic mountaineering knowledge” is incorrect. This isn’t something he has ever taken lightly or thought that he didn’t need to learn about. He has invested years of his life to learn anything and everything he possibly could about not only Everest, but mountaineering in general. Mental and physical training have been have been at the forefront of every day for him in order to prepare for his summits. I would match his knowledge to those of more mature age, if not more.
They have always addressed Karen as the girlfriend, never as Paul’s wife, and it is just now that they are calling Karen the step-mother. That said, their website is advertising a “Live Your Dream” fair where people can go, and I quote: “welcome back our world record holders to celebrate their amazing accomplishments”. Either Paul and his girlfriend are blind to Everest’s past family climbers that did make it to the summit together, or they really don’t care that they are disrespecting those family climbers that came before them…
Jordan is at such a formidable age that if he is not being taught to respect the hard work and success of climbers that came before him, then he is not being taught to respect the mountain and the climb in general, in my opinion.
BTW, as seen here http://www.jordanromero.com/weblog/ on the MSNBC video they are referring to Paul’s girlfriend as Jordan’s step mom now. I assume that is to be able to somehow make an accurate claim for the “family world record”. Did Paul get married?
Your comments says a lot for the service and the work that the guide companies and Sherpa’s do as the climb now is A LOT different, simplier, easier, and safer, than how the climb was even a few years ago. In one way the “circus” has taken a lot away from climbing Everest in “style” but in another way has brought the sport a lot of coverage as well for better and for worse. I guess every sport needs it’s own PR machine and I hope it doesn’t continue to contaminate other mountains as well…. like K2…. but K2 will be a much harder mountain to do that two and since there is only one “highest” maybe it will cause it to stop at Everest.
All I can say is ,however amazing Jordan’s feat is, I feel as if he has sucked all the glory out of summitting Everest. Everest used to be a peak so seemingly out of reach that only the mountaineering gods could reach it, but now, even a 13 year old child with only a few years of very basic mountaineering knowledge can make it up no problem. I just can’t get my head around it and accept this when so many great, highly experience mountaineers have died on Everest
While there have been several father son type summits it seems that they are trying another one-upmanship by adding a third person, Paul’s girlfriend, and are trying to imply that Paul’s girl friend constitutes a “family” unit which would normally include a wife, a husband, and siblings but then again maybe it could be stretched to include uncles, aunts, brother in laws, fourth cousins, girlfriends brothers how far does it go???
As a father who walked this same walk with my son in a different arena and on scale for 15 years, it is truly a shame as at first I was a supporting fan however, the more I read, hear, and understand from Paul the more truth, ego, and self serving motive seems to come to the surface and it has become much more clear.
These are the types of things that distract from the feat when one is looking for glory, plublicity, notoriety and self gratification instead for the more important things that life has to offer. However….. He be the judge not us.
I only hope that Jordan can escape from it and make prudent choices and decisions without influence and as Alan said, use your new found pulpit wisely as Jordan stands to loose the most and he doesn’t even know it …… yet.
Team Jordan definitely deserves credit for what they have accomplished, but I am confused as to how the Romeros can make the claim on their website that they now hold the world record for being the first family to stand together on the summit of Everest. (Jordan also stated in an interview with CNN World that they are the first family to summit together) . That said, I’d like to say that if one researches Everest’s summit history, they would find that family ties and summiting at the same time are not new to Everest… of which I will touch on 2: in May of 2008, the Mallory family out of Canada saw the father and 2 sons reaching the summit together (their website even has a picture of all 3 up there, with enough background in the image to prove that it is Everest’s summit that they were on) … and it can’t be forgotten that way back in 1990 saw the first father/son summit happen, and like Jordan, the son of that father/son team became the youngest to have made it to the summit at the age of 17.
Please understand I am not trying to nitpick… I just don’t understand how the Romeros get to claim the world record for being the first family to stand on the summit together.
I couldn’t help but think after seeing Paul Romero’s comment (#12), that it reads like he has more knowledge and experience than all the other people who were there at the same time on the North. I am not aware of the details of his climbing resume, but I’d be interested to know how many big mountains he has climbed and how many times has he been on Everest before?
To me it seems like Romero’s team put in the hard work to be fit enough to get to the summit in good style, but it I think it’s wrong to say that climbing on a day when everyone else on North thought it wasn’t a good day to climb, was great tactics and strategy. I think there was a lot of luck involved in their success even if they don’t admit it. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know.
(I am an Everest summiter)
Jordan crushed my dreams just a tad. It was sorta my goal to become the next youngest person to summit Mt Everest(I am 13). I have been in love with it since 4th grade, but I have literally no climbing experience (stuck in martial arts). I guess if I tried, I could’ve done it. Anyway, congratulations Jordan for achieving such an awesome feet (hopefully one day I will summit).
Thanks Alan for a great site to learn all kinds of information about Everest and climbing in general.
I am turning 50 next year and I am an overweight baseball mom of three sons. I have been at the gym the last 5 months and dropped 30lbs with aim of climbing Half Dome next year and them Mt Whitney after that. Thanks for the inspiration and as I train I remember your stories that keep me going and get me off the couch….
Don’t know Jordan or Paul but from one father to another I have to say, WELL DONE. I am an avid outdoorsman and Everest has always been a dream of mine. I firmly believe that if a a child has a burning drive to do something then encourage it. I remember stories of people who left home and lied about their age to join the service in WWII and they are heroes to me.
While an extreme example of what can be overcome simply by allowing our kids to grow, they will outshine our accomplishments tremendously when given the chance! Way to go Paul, love the thought, preperation and coaching you displayed.
By the way the “My kid climbed everest while your’s played xbox” bumper sticker will look cool on your car!
I have known Paul for many years. We became fathers nearly at the same time. He had a son and I a daughter. We worked together and talked often of our children, their dreams and ambitions. As fathers, this is what it is all about. It seems like we have such a short time to instill in them the morals and wisdom to move on. Not only have Paul, Karen and Leigh Ann raised Jordan with wisdom and compassion, they have given him the opportunity to pursue his dreams. Even more exciting is they get to do it together! There is so much more to come and I thank you for your balanced reporting.
As for the “nay” sayers, learn your topic before you say more. Paul’s summit plan was genius and I am sure Alan that you saw it as it played out. Team Jordan had the entire N ridge to themselves. Wonderful and intentional.
This website has been absolutely great to read, and I have a much more nuanced attitude (as a member of the nonclimbing public) about Everest having read it. I especially respect the groups whose major goal has been cleanup. The sherpas who set a goal of removal of human bodies and debris from the mountain are a real inspiration to me. I hope that the western climbers were useful and helpful to them as they undertook those tasks, which to me are far more important than the personal glory of the peak. I’m sorry if coverage of Everest 2010 has been eclipsed by the Gulf oil spill. Everest and the Iditarod, among other annual events, are fascinating to a lot of us, but not covered much in the mainstream media. So, thanks to Alan for satisfying our curiosity! Next year, maybe we could coordinate an effort to email a producer at NPR to get SOME coverage there during the climax of the season.
Jordan is obviously very strong and strong-willed, and I don’t necessarily extrapolate all kinds of negative things about his father for doing this, but I do think as a civilized society we need to have standards. 18 for the military and voting and 21 for alcohol and gambling are almost arbitrary, but we have these standards for good reasons. If Jordan saw a military recruiting poster at 11 or whatever, would his father have gone to the ends of the earth to let him join up by 13? Just like climbing Everest is a great feat, joining the military is even more heroic. Why not? We have to be careful when we break down barriers without replacing them with anything.
I wonder how much of his childhood he’s missed while training. He can climb Everest any time in his life – potentially even up to his 70s, but one can only have those unique teenage experiences during certain years. I often feel this way about Olympic athletes. It’s a really big trade off, and it’s hard to say if it’s worth it.
I would also be surprised if Jordan’s feat inspires kids to do something outside. It either makes them think they have to do something no one else has done, which is dangerous, or makes them think they have to do something as hard as Everest so why bother? The story of a scrappy local baseball team that wins the championship is inspirational, because it’s a team of 13 year olds working together, not a team of adults with one child, and it’s a dream that’s reachable. What 13 year old could possibly relate to Jordan’s experience?
I am sorry to say, I will remain a detractor. Thank goodness Jordan wasn’t injured or worse, but thanks to the pandora’s box he opened, his name will always be linked with every 13 year old who comes after him and is injured or worse. The legacy of this event isn’t done being written yet, and I fear it won’t be a pretty one.
Thank you so much Alan for the education about climbing Everest. Absolutely mesmerizing! Congratulations to Team Romero! Following your dreams and living in the now, in the moment. Skill and determination knows no age limits and you have inspired me and countless others.
Thanks so much, Alan, for FINALLY writing a piece that calls attention to the negative side of the debate over Jordan’s efforts without placing any criticism or blame of irresponsibility on Paul’s shoulders. As a friend to Paul, Karen & Jordan, I have been watching nay-sayers blog posts with frustration at the lack of research and true understanding of how much research, care, and experience was behind Jordan on this trip.
It was an incredibly dangerous and physically challenging feat, but Jordan is a uniquely strong & mature 13 year old. I truly doubt many others his age would even want to go to this extreme, but I do know that what he’s accomplished is inspiring kids to do SOMETHING outside.
We should all be applauding Jordan loudly, screaming at the top of our lungs and standing our tippy-toes. We’re all glad to see him come back safely, and I know great things will come from this. The nay-sayers will continue to debate, but they will be a low rumble behind the enormous & wonderful noise what Jordan will create as he continues to inspire.
Alan,
Thank you for the really cool and insightful piece.
You and your site are an amazing service to the climbers and families, world wide.
Paul Romero
aka- Jordan’s dad
I am proud that a fellow American can make this historical claim. Nice work Jordan !
I have a tendency to be a bit of a skeptic, but something doesnt feel right.
From what I have read, on May 22
The last member himex summited at 7:45 (total 33),
The finish team summited at 8:03am
Adventure consultants summited at 7:45
Apa Shepra was the last member of Eco Everest (14) to summit for his 20th time at 8:34am. He called down.
Team Romero summited at 9:45am
Granted, I am sure there were likely individual climbers, but as for teams, it seems everyone from the south summited and were on their way down before Jorden reached the peak from the north.
Just saying…
Alan,
Paul Romero here.Very nice piece, we appreciate your thoughtful consideration of all the facts.
As for doubters- well there will always be doubters and plenty of criticism, we enjoy their comments as well. Thanks for that.
There ARE photos, and there are about 40 Summit Climbers from the south route that visited with us and Jordan.
There were no others from the north that climbed on ‘our’ day, and that was not luck nor an accident. The ideal weather and no crowd, was no accident, no “perfect storm of good luck”. It was tactics and strategy. Sure a tad a luck, but there was strict time lines and pace that our team stuck to. We strategized to avoid lines on the steps and the summit ridge. We planned to avoid long waits in the cold and wind. Our main goal was to move quickly and work as a team. This comes from extensive training, communication and discipline.
Sherpas of our team: Ang Pasang Sherpa, Lama Dawa Sherpa, Lama Karma Sherpa.
Our team of 6 moved together not more than 1 meter apart from each other the entire way up and down. TONS of preparation, critical analysis of weather patterns, and ability to move fast and be agile. This got us up and down safe and sound.
Keep up the good work of allowing the world incredible access to what happens on Everest.
The team will be back in the Himalayas in the coming months to climb and ski/board where ever conditions will allow. Jordan is hooked on Nepal/Tibet.
Ad Alta
Team Jordan on Everest
Photos captioned by Reuters of Romero: “Thirteen-year-old American boy Jordan Romero (R) and his climbing team member Karma Sherpa pose for a photo at the peak of world’s highest mountain”
http://www.daylife.com/photo/0dM26hrfoGe0k?q=Mount+Everest
Sorry, but no 13 year old should be climbing Everest, the same way no 13 year old should fly a plane. No life experience learned at that age to have any ability to make sound judgements. Dads dream to have a “famous” kid, very simple. In any circumstance it is child endanderment, take your kid to climb Everest, a sound judgement from a parent…….no.
Congrats to Jordan & his Team. No doubt he is a skilled Mountaineer for his age
Fortune, I guess favours the Brave. Sagarmata Blessed him with perfect weather & tons of Luck.
Wonder why Summit photos & Sherpas’ names were not released.
Keep Climbing, Jordan.
Nice article. If things had gone the other way…well, it doesn’t bear thinking about now.
I am also wondering when summit images of the team will be released? It’s important that they do that in order to allay suspicions. Are they saving them for a book or TV appearance or something?
For an effort so hyped and pumped up prior to the climb, there has since been an information lag.
Have they released any photos from the summit? Did anyone see them summit? I would think if you made it to the top of the world you would at least take some pictures. I understand the spot went to the top and down…but I am a bit skeptical things went as smoothly as the family proclaims. without photos from the summit , the only thing we know is someone carried the spot.
And why have they made no statements or provide condolences to the family of the hungarian Laszlo Varkony who lost his life just feet from them in an avalanche.
Preparation. Strategy. Luck:
The three ingredients for any successful endeavor into the unknown. Fortunately, Jordan and his team had an arsenal of all three!
Alan..The most important line is the very last one. Well said.
Thats just it,I couldn’t say it any more better.I can only share my side.My son has been inspired and knows that when you want to do somthing you do it or try your hardest.Amazing how Jordan inspired many.I’ve watched a lot of other summits through out life and many do inspire but his journey has touched many different ages.More importantly some of the young kids of the world will be out hiking and climbing after reading the news.
Good article Alan! I know Paul, Karen and Jordan. Paul and Karen are highly skilled athletes, they race regularly on the world class-level adventure race circuit. They are very skilled athletes and very tough people. They are also safe and rational, and Jordans safety was thier first priority.
! met with Jordan in Kathmandu this year before his climb. The questions he asked were more intellingent than questions most adults ask before they attempt the North side. It was also very evident to me that he had trained a heck of a lot harder than most adults do before heading to Everest.
I agree with another comment that was posted….the last sentence of your article is VERY IMPORTANT.
There is down-side to his new fame…now and forever he will be in the spotlight, thus when life’s bad choices and mistakes happen, he is likely to not have much privacy. That is going to be hard for a kid who is only 13 now.
Thanks again for the excellent coverage this year!
Climb on!
Well said Alan. Jordan Romero had the Perfect Storm of good luck. If the outcome was similar to the May 1996 disaster the reaction wuld be much different and the opposition even more strong. The fact that it was Jordan’s idea supported by his parents makes it more palatable to me than if he was forced to attempt the feat by his parents.
Well put Alan. I can relate to young Jordan as at the age of about 13 I too wanted to climb the 7 summits. I am now 17 and finally beginning my big mountain dreams starting in January 2011 by climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. I think Jordan was very blessed to have what seems almost all financial needs taken care of, I do think his pace has been very fast though. For many of us it’s the journey to the summit that we really remember, or the journey to Everest. For me, it’s going to take a while, training, raising funds, getting experience, and doing a some 8000m peaks before Everest. For him it was a pretty short road in the mountaineering world. I think we can argue that yes, the easy raod is..easy..but for those of us who need to work a little harder in getting ourselves there, maybe it’s a little more meaningful. I tip my hat greatly to Jordan, it’s amazing what he has done, I hope he continues in his mountaineering passion. But..maybe he took a trip to Everest, rather then a journey.
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