By Andrew Sibner, Amazing Kids! Reporter

Check out our awesome interview with the youngest person to ever summit Mt. Everest! Although Jordan admits that "It was tough, and we struggled on occasion", they never gave up and met their goal. Read on for the fun and inspiring details in his amazing adventure!

 

AK: What inspired you to attempt to climb Mt. Everest?
JR: It's all a part of the bigger quest, to climb the 7 Summits of the world. THIS idea was inspired by a painting I saw at my school when I was 8 years old. Art inspires!!!!!


AK: What type of preparation was necessary for your climb?
JR: Well, the mountain life IS my life, so we just needed to get extra strong, extra skilled in mountain climbing, and a LOT of homework and research about all the expeditions, and certainly Everest was the Biggy.


AK: Have you had any mentors, inspirational figures, or role-models? Who are some of the people on your "Dream Team" who helped you prepare for and accomplish this amazing achievement?
JR: Ed Visteurs is the best climber in the world, and my father has been my biggest inspiration. Of course, my dad and Karen, aka SUPER K, together we are a team of 3 and made this all happen. It's been a great lesson on teamwork.


AK: Was there ever a moment, either during your climb up Everest or before you began, in which you began doubt yourself? If so, how did you overcome this obstacle?
JR: I must say no. I have trained so hard for this climb. Our team was so strong and confident. We communicated about everything; physically we were so ready and strong. It was tough, and we struggled on occasion, but we never doubted ourselves.


AK: Aside from phoning home, what did you do atop Mt. Everest and how much time was spent at its peak?
JR: We spent 20 minutes up there. I talked to some guides from the south route that had just summited. They were shocked, maybe impressed, but either way they were interested in my climb a bit. But we hugged, and cried as a family and as a team....and we just STARED, stared at these mountains we're read so much about. It was a dream.


AK: Did you encounter any surprises before, during, or after your ascent?
JR: Not really....we did so much studying and research before going. Maybe the cold, nothing can prepare you for the cold. It's brutal up there, the most brutal environment in the world.


AK: You were featured as an "Amazing Kid! of the Month" on our website back in December 2006 (http://amazing-kids.org/akom12-06.html), when you were just 10 years old and had just climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Looking back on that climb now, how do you compare it to climbing Mt. Everest? What have you learned since then? How have you grown as a person?
JR: What have I learned? We'll, I've traveled the world and climbed all over. I have grown by learning a lot about cultures, politics, religion, food, language. It's fun, and it's a great way to learn a lot. Kilimanjaro compared to Everest....you just can't compare. Everest is mother of them all. Looking back, Kilimanjaro was just a big hard hike. I did struggle a bit on the approach to the summit, but we pushed through as a team.


AK: How has your life changed and what opportunities have opened up to you since becoming the youngest person to ever climb Mt. Everest on May 22, 2010?
JR: SO much has happened. It's still a blur. I can't believe there is a book already, and I've done some really fun media. And now everywhere I go, everybody knows me. It's been very fun of course, but not I just need to relax and be 13 for the summer. Everest was such a big and hard trip, and I missed my mom and my little sister.


AK: What advice would you give to aspiring junior athletes on setting and achieving big goals in their life? How important do you think it is for them to get help, as you did, from their own personal "Dream Teams" to help them launch their amazing dreams?
JR: Setting the big goal is EVERYTHING. DREAM big. Break it down into little steps, just as I do on a mountain. Building the team is essential, of course. It might be even unsuspecting persons in one’s lives, that could be part of the team. Look outside the box, but team DOES help Find your Everest. Find it, CLIMB IT.


AK: What's next?
JR: Touring the US, telling my story, speaking the youth. Climbing: Cho Oyu, 6th highest mountain in the world in Tibet/China..., hopefully before winter...and use this as training before we go to the culmination of my seven summits quest: Vinson Masif of Antarctica- the coldest place on earth, 16, 000'+.

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