Jordan Romero: An Unstoppable Force

At age 15, Jordan Romero of Big Bear Lake has climbed some of the most difficult peaks in the world, including Mount Everest.

“I was inspired by a mural at my elementary school in Lucerne Valley. It showed the seven summits,’’ said Romero, who was then only 9. “I came home form school one day and told my dad I wanted to climb the seven summits. He said okay.”

His climbing team includes his father, Paul Romero and his step-mother Karen Lundgren.

Now Jordan plans to climb his seventh peak, Mount Vinson in Antarctica in December, which will complete his quest to climb the highest summits on each continent.

“I’ll be the youngest person to climb the seven summits. Of course I could care less about the record,’’ he said.

He’s sharing his dream and how he achieved his goals with Palm Desert students in the Desert Sands Unified School District.

The Palm Desert Sister Cities Foundation and the McCallum Theatre Institute have teamed up to bring Romero's story, and his book "The Boy Who Conquered Everest: The Jordan Romeo Story," to students on Thursday, Oct. 6.

He also does chats on Skype with students, and tracks his climbs through social media.

Students at in Palm Desert have studied the seven steps Jordan used to reach his goal, according to teachers who attended an event Wednesday.

Jordan climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa on July 22, 2006; Mount Kosciuszko in Australia in April 2007; Mount Elbrus in Russia on July 11, 2007; Mount Aconcagua in South America on Dec. 30, 2007; Mount Denali in Alaska on June 18, 2008;

Carstensz Pyramid in Oceana on Sept. 1, 2009 and Mount Everest on May 22, 2011.

He was the youngest person to summit Everest.

His training includes “having fun being in the outdoors,” skiing, kayaking and running, he said.

Lundgren said their training includes learning how to carry heavy packs.

Paul Romero said the biggest concern in Antarctica will be staying warm.

“It will consistently be well below freezing,’’ Romero said, adding that he will be taking measures to have the best gear to withstand temperatures up to 30 degrees below zero.

He also trains for high alitude by sleeping in a hypoxic tent in his bedroom, according to Paul Romero.

"You put yourself in this poor sleeping environment and it's hard work,'' Romero said.