Knocking off No. 7

On December 24, the afternoon before Christmas, I was doing last minute shopping at a mini-mall in the town of Big Bear Lake, California. I would have felt less tired -- less stressed, perhaps -- if I'd known what a home town boy from Big Bear Lake was doing at the same moment.

In May 2010, I wrote a post praising the accomplishments of 13-year-old Jordan Romero, the boy who'd just become the youngest person ever to climb Everest. At the age of 10, when he climbed Africa's Kilimanjaro, Jordan decided to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents. Everest was number six; only Antarctica remained. He hoped to climb the Vinson Massif the following December.

His climb was delayed for a year, but on December 24, 2011, he completed the climb. At the age of 15 years, 5 months and 12 days, he was the youngest person to ever climb the "Seven Summits." According to Wikipedia, China has now joined Nepal in prohibiting climbs of Everest by persons under 16. Jordan's record therefore looks pretty safe for the foreseeable future.

The young man's steadfast determination over the past five years -- not only to complete each grueling climb, but to persist in the training required before and between climbs -- is inspiring. He demonstrates that our frequent stereotype of his age group -- a bunch of lazy kids playing with their electronic toys -- is only a stereotype. Not many young people will accomplish this much, this early -- but many of them are following their own stars, whether athletic, academic, entrepreneurial, with dedication and enthusiasm.

I haven't bothered checking the on-line comments about Jordan's latest achievement by the commentators who I found so irritating in my earlier post, but I assume they're still there, still criticizing and scoffing at anyone who dares to accomplish anything they can't or won't. The ranks of this on-line chorus have been described as bitter young adults, unemployed and wedded to their computers while living in their parents' basement. Another unfair stereotype, probably, but I can live with it.

Again, my congratulations to Jordan Romero, and to his parents who supported him so strongly in his efforts (and to Jordan's father, especially, who joined his son in making each climb).