Mount Everest , Nepal ( CNN ) -- Even from more than 21,000 feet up the world 's tallest mountain , 13-year-old Jordan Romero could n't resist the opportunity to greet his mother in a live television broadcast Monday . `` Hi , Mom , '' Romero said with a wave of his hand during the interview broadcast on CNN from the advance base camp on Mount Everest in Nepal . The interview followed the first day of real climbing in Romero 's attempt to become the youngest person ever to reach the summit of Everest , 29,028 feet ( 8,847 meters ) above sea level . Accompanied by his father and his father 's girlfriend , and backed by a team of sherpas and yaks that helped transport their 2,000 kilograms ( 4,400 pounds ) of gear , Romero needed 13 days just to reach the point where real climbing began . Paul Romero , Jordan 's father , said the first day of the actual ascent Monday required technical climbing in tough weather conditions , including ice and snow . For Jordan , it 's all part of the journey . `` It could take ... a couple of weeks or a couple of years , '' he said , sitting in a tent wearing a parka and fluorescent yellow cap , and with a blue sleeping bag over his legs . `` This is the first of many attempts . '' His initial impressions ? The trip is both hard and great . `` It 's Mount Everest . It 's a tough mountain . The altitude is tough , '' Romero said . `` It 's both physically and technically hard . There 's a lot of new things . '' At the same time , `` I 've been able to see Mount Everest from wherever I go . I 'm already happy with that . '' In addition , Romero said , he was learning `` a lot about culture , politics , religion , people , everything about Nepal and China . '' `` So it 's been such a great trip , and I 've learned so much from it , '' he said . Paul Romero praised his son 's climbing Monday , noting that they spent 10 hours on ice and snow . `` Knock on wood , everybody 's healthy , '' the elder Romero said , adding : `` Jordan today had a stellar day . '' Before they started , Jordan said he wanted to climb Everest for himself and to inspire more young people to get outdoors . `` Obese children are the future of America , the way things are going , '' he said on April 9 in Kathmandu . `` I am hoping to change that by doing what I do : climbing and motivational speaking . I want to motivate children and inspire them to get outdoors . '' With a smile , he added : `` I am doing this a little for myself , too , to do something big . '' Romero has climbed five of the seven highest peaks on seven continents , known as the Seven Summits . Having a very encouraging father and his girlfriend , who have gone around the world participating in climbing expeditions and competing in endurance racing competitions , certainly helps . `` This is not an isolated vacation , '' Paul Romero said before the climbing began . `` This is a lifestyle . We travel everywhere and climb together . '' The family started tackling the Seven Summits in summer 2005 . Jordan was just 9 when they climbed the 19,341 feet to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania . Since there is a debate about whether the tallest mountain in Oceania is Kosciuszko in mainland Australia or Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia , Jordan and his family climbed both . The only peak left for the adventurers to climb after Everest is the Vinson Massif in Antarctica ; a trip is planned for December . The idea to climb the Seven Summits came to Jordan when he saw a mural of the mountains in the hallway of his school when he was 9 . Before sharing his dream with his father , he did all the necessary research and only two weeks later told him of his ambition . `` I was very shocked he even knew what the Seven Summits were , '' Paul Romero recalled . `` But then , he is a complete nature fanatic . '' Jordan 's father and his girlfriend , Karen Lundgren , went to Kathmandu for the first time last year to see whether Jordan could make the Everest summit from the south face in Nepal . They decided instead to start their climb in the north , in China . `` The mountaineering world and Jordan may have their concerns about Jordan 's age , but the boy is as strong and skilled a mountaineer as many of the people climbing , '' Paul Romero said . `` There is a proficient support and safety system about him . '' The highest peak Jordan has climbed is Aconcagua in Argentina , which stands at 22,841 feet . He spent weeks preparing for the ascent of Everest . `` I have been exercising hard , concentrating on cardio training and endurance training , '' Jordan said before the trip . `` I have been sleeping in an altitude simulator tent for the past month to get my lungs ready . '' Jordan has been an outdoor person all his life and takes kids to climb mountains in the Big Bear region of California , where he lives . Despite his achievements , Jordan wants to be seen as a regular kid . `` I try to seem like an average kid who happens to be climbing , '' he said this month . `` But I 'm not really fitting in . ''
13-year - old Californian , to be youngest to climb world 's highest mountain . ` ` It 's both physically and technically hard , '' he says . But he is learning a lot about geography and history of Nepal , Nepal .