Boy, 13, ready for Everest attempt

KATMANDU, Nepal – At age 13, Jordan Romero is headed to Mount Everest in an attempt to become the youngest person to scale the world’s highest mountain – and complete his goal of climbing the highest peaks on all seven continents.

The teenager from Big Bear, Calif., was busy Saturday with his father, Paul, and stepmother, Karen, packing mountaineering gear and planning details of their expedition with three Sherpa guides who will accompany them.

The team leaves Katmandu for China today and then will travel to the base camp on the Chinese side of the 29,035-foot mountain.

Jordan has already climbed the highest peaks on six other continents and hopes to reach Everest’s summit in May.

“I just wanted to do something big, and this was something I wanted to do for myself. It was all about the experience and I just happen to be 13 at this time,” Jordan said.

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