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Highlights
 Plot 29-A Karanga DriveP.O. Box 855, Moshi-Kilimanjaro t/f: +255 27 27 50248 Email: info@ahsantetours.com Ahsante Toursis a locally-owned tour operator that specialize in mountain climbing, wildlife safaris and beach holidays... Featured Trekking Trip Kilimanjaro Climb - Umbwe…The Umbwe route is one of the shortest but steepest routes to the Southern…
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New record holder for the youngest person to (legally) climb Kilimanjaro!
Congratulations are due to Jordan Romero, from the wonderfully named Big Bear Lake in California, who has, I believe, become the youngest person to climb Kilimanjaro legally. I say legally, as the park authorities insist that climbers must be ten years old before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. And at just ten years and 11 days old, Jordan Romero has become the new record holder, beating the South African Antoine van Heerden who was a venerable 10 years and 11 months when he completed his climb.
For the record, as we say in the book there have been rumours of a seven-year-old who has climbed to the summit, and Joshua Schumacher, another South African, made it to the top in 2002 aged just 9! But like we say, these are technically ‘illegal’ climbs). Jordan achieved his record on the 23rd July 2006, climbing via the Umbwe Route - which has a reputation for being the hardest (and is certainly the steepest) on the route. I shall now let Jordan’s step-mum and climbing partner, Karen Lundgren, take up the story:
Jordan started out strong, surprising the guide (Samuel Kusamba) and the group’s porters who filled the first day with “Pole’ Pole’ Jordan” (which means “Slowly Slowly Jordan” in Swahili). Jordan didn’t much heed their advice and instead continued at an incredible pace getting stronger and stronger as the team reached elevations over 19,000 feet. Soon the entire mountain was filled with whispers of the small boy who was making a summit attempt. Every group and guide we passed asked about the little boy walking with Samuel. Jordan proudly greet ‘Jumbo’ to every group that offered words of good luck and inquired as to “how’s he doing?” The first night we camped at Umbwe Cave after a steep five hour hike to start out the trip. The muddy trail through the beautiful rain forest was slippery, rocky and steep. Jordan began to get into a nice hiking rhythm, but was happy to reach the first camp for a good night’s sleep. Day 2 sent us trekking to Camp 2 where most groups stop for their second night, but with Jordan’s strong hiking and quick pace Samuel suggested we bypass and continue to Camp 3 and Jordan happily agreed that the group should continue. “I’m not even tired yet, let’s keep going,” he said. At Camp 3, we had a fantastic view of Kibo Dome, the top of Kilimanjaro. To the wonderment of everyone at the camp, Jordan found the energy during down time to fly a kite in the strong winds ofKilimanjaro as the fog blew in and out giving us an occasional glimpse of the incredible glaciers atop Kili. Another good night’s sleep, some special tea and we were ready for a summit attempt. Jordan awoke with a sparkle in his eye, “it’s a special day Daddy, we’re going to the summit” were the first words he had to share. At 8:00 a.m. after a breakfast of African porridge, omelets, hot chocolate and toast we headed out. Jordan started a little slow, the nerves were apparent. His deep respect for rapid onset of altitude illness was apparent. Visibility dimished, snow flurries came upon the team, temperatures dropped and breathing becomes difficult. While many of the team become weakened with every assorted symptom of altitude sickness, Jordan defied everyone’s expectations and conquered the roof of Africa with relative ease. By anyone’s standard’s, this was a rapid and strong ascent of the 4th highest of the world’s 7 Summits. A giant 10,000 foot decent followed, and only after this 16 hour summit day was Jordan showing any signs of fatigue as he led the group to a remote low camp for a last nights rest, before the trek to the 4,000foot trail head. Jordan and the rest of the team are finishing up the trip to Africa with a wild Safari trip and will return to Big Bear for a celebration. Please check out Jordan’s website for further stories and photos. Below is a picture of Jordan celebrating his achievement for which, of course, hearty congratulations are due; that is one hell of an achievement, not only in getting to the top so young, but in doing it at so brisk a pace too! What’s more, this isn’t the end of Jordan’s ambitions either:according to Karen, Jordan is on a quest to become the youngest person to climb the Seven Summits; Kili was merely the first. Next summer, it’s off to Mt. Elbrus! For those who doubt that he made it to the top, there will soon be a picture of him at the summit in our Hall of Fame, where anybody who has made it to the highest point in Africa can post their pictures. Posted by ahsante on 08/25 at 07:16 PM
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