California boy, 13, arrives at Everest’s Camp 2 in bid to be youngest to top Mount Everest

California boy, 13, reaches Camp 2 on Everest

BEIJING — A 13-year-old American boy has arrived at Mount Everest’s Camp 2, a step closer to completing his goal of conquering the highest peaks on all seven continents.

After a nine-hour climb from Camp 1, Jordan Romero and his support team arrived Thursday night at Camp 2, which is at 24,750 (7,500 meters), while Everest’s summit is at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters), according to Romero’s blog. Climbers stay overnight at three or four camps before the summit, depending on their route and pace.

“Team Jordan is OK. We are trekking!” read the latest update from Romero’s blog Friday morning.

The record for the youngest climber to scale Everest is held by Temba Tsheri of Nepal, who reached the peak at age 16.

Romero, from Big Bear, California, is climbing with his father Paul and three Sherpa guides.

He climbed the highest peaks on six other continents and hopes to reach the top of the world’s tallest mountain in five to seven days, depending on weather conditions. Everest, however, will be his first challenge above 8,000 meters (26,240 feet).

“Every step I take is finally toward the biggest goal of my life, to stand on top of the world,” said Romero on his blog.

The teenager, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was 10 years old, says he was inspired by a painting in his school hallway of the seven continents’ highest summits.

Weather forecasts for Everest posted on the blog showed sunny skies and winds of up to 83 miles per hour (134 kilometers per hour), with winds expected to ease to 37 mph (60 kph) on Saturday.

Online:

Expedition website: www.jordanromero.com