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As a middle school student in theearly eighties, I remember sitting inthe library as I daydreamed aboutmy adventures while reading JohnGoddard’s Kayaks Down The Nile.In his book, Goddard discussesthat as a teenager, he made a listof 127 things he wanted to accomplishduring his life. I can’t helpbut think that we have all done thiswhether in our minds or actuallyputting pen to paper.Jordan Romero is just that sort oflist maker. At only eight years ofage, Jordan came up with a questto climb the world’s seven summits(the highest point on each continent).There seems to be a littlecontroversy over whether Australiais the continent or whether Oceaniashould be considered the continent.So as to avoid any controversy,Jordan plans to climb all eight.They are from highest to lowest:• Mt. Everest, Nepal, Asia(29,035 feet)• Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina,South America (22,834 feet)• Mt. McKinley (Denali),Alaska, North America(20,320 feet)• Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania,Africa (19,340 feet)• Mt. Elbrus, Russia,Europe (18,510 feet)• Mt. Vinson Massif,Antartica (16,067 feet)• Carstensz Pyramid (Jaya Peak),Irian Jaya, Oceania (16,023 feet)• Mt. Kosciusko, New SouthWales, Australia (7,310 feet)We had an opportunity to ask Jordansome questions and this is whathe had to say:AWM: You say that you want tomotivate other kids to live healthierlives, why did you choose climbing/hikingas a tool to do that?JR: I have lived in the mountainsall my life, and I became obsessedwith the largest mountains in theworld by watching documentariesand reading books.AWM: You have some pretty gruelingclimbs under your belt and atsuch a young age, what or who motivatesyou?JR: My dad motivates me. He wasthe one who inspired me to climb...but also, at my school, there was amural of the 7 Summits, I saw Kilimanjarothere....and it clicked withme. The teachers there helped tosupport my quest, and I thank themdearly. If it were not for that painter,I may not be doing this quest. Also,my whole family, they inspire andsupport me.AWM: What sparked your passionfor climbing summits? What wasyour first memory of climbing/hiking?JR: When I was young, I remembercamping and hiking. I alwaysloved adventure, my earliest memorywas climbing Mt San Gorgonio,it was Christmas Eve, it washard and we did 2000 vertical feetof ice and snow, and we had to usemy new ice tools. Karen was leadingus and we had a great time. Ilearned a lot about mountain climbingon this trip.AWM: Which of your many accomplishmentsare you most proudof?JR: I am most proud of my climbup Kilimanjaro. It was my firstbig peak, and the first step to the 7Summits.I have many, and my second mostproud moment is reaching the summitof Aconcogua in Argentina inDecember of 2007. It was very,very difficult in every way possible.My father and Karen and Iworked so hard to even be allowedto enter the national park. We hadto get a judge to give me specialpermission because nobody under14 is allowed in that national park.Adventure World Magazine June 2008 18