No Summit Out Of Sight: The True Story Of The Youngest Person To Climb The Seven Summits

No Summit out of Sight (2014) is a young adult memoir written by Jordan Romero and Linda LeBlanc. Jordan Romero is the youngest person to ever climb the Seven Summits. The novel explores themes including The Power of Setting and Achieving Goals, Focusing on a Personal Best, and The Value of Teamwork.

This guide uses the 2014 Simon & Schuster edition of the memoir.

Summary

Fourth grader Jordan Romero gazes at a mural of the Seven Summits (the tallest mountain on each continent) and envisions standing atop each. He begins to research mountain climbing. His dad (Paul) is surprised to hear of Jordan’s interest but not opposed to it. He warns Jordan about the months of training, and he and his wife, Karen, take Jordan on a hike up the mountain near their home at Big Bear Lake in California. Initially tired and bored, Jordan starts chasing reptiles and, having a goal, quickly ascends to the top. At home, he shows his parents his eight-summit plan and suggests tackling Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro first. They agree, and Jordan trains by hiking long distances daily with increasingly heavy packs. Receiving an ice axe for Christmas, he uses it while reaching his first summit at California’s San Gorgonio. He and his parents fundraise for the Kilimanjaro trip, and Jordan gives half the profits to Hurricane Katrina relief.

Arriving in Nairobi, Kenya, the family takes a rickety bus to the base, and when Kilimanjaro appears, Jordan feels its pull. Initially hot, humid, and thick with plant life, the climb goes through forest, tundra, and volcanic rock. When temperatures drop and the air thins, Jordan cries, unsure whether he can reach the top. Others in the group abandon due to altitude sickness. Soon, only Jordan’s family remains, and when they summit, they break down in tears. The view and the sense of accomplishment deeply inspire Jordan, and the family takes photos. Jordan becomes the youngest person ever to summit Kilimanjaro. In Big Bear Lake, Jordan is a local celebrity; his story is national news. In April 2007, the family flies to Australia to climb Mount Kosciuszko. A storm forces the group to shelter for the night, and fog obscures the view at the summit, but Jordan is proud. Next is Mount Elbrus in southern Russia. Karen fundraises, and the family travels to Moscow on Jordan’s 11th birthday. After a harrowing local journey, some setbacks, and a tough final climb, they reach the summit.

Back at home, Jordan’s grandmother dies, and he dedicates his next climb, Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua, to her. His resolve wavers, but he doesn’t want to let himself or anyone else down. His mother warns him about Aconcagua’s strong winds and frigid temperatures. Jordan sleeps in a low-oxygen tent for a month to prepare for the altitude and is responsible for tracking everyone’s health on the climb. Jordan is still only 11 when the family heads to Argentina. He must make his case to a judge in Mendoza, who supports his goal. At the mountain’s base, rangers demand a recheck of Jordan’s health; then, nine climbers prepare to ascend. Mules help for the first leg of the climb, but eventually everyone must carry their own supplies. They sleep at Camp Canada on Christmas Eve, spend Christmas day resting, and then hike through fields of jagged ice. In the next camp, the wind nearly blows the tents away, and Jordan considers giving up, but Paul and Karen encourage him to press on. In the morning, the storm continues, but the group resumes the ascent. Jordan loses a crampon, and the final stretch is dangerous and exhausting. The sun breaks just as they summit, and Jordan thanks his grandma for helping him get there.

Next, to prepare for Alaska’s Mount Denali, Jordan trains to maneuver up and down a rope while in a harness and completes strength training by pulling a heavy tire around to simulate towing a sled. Flying into the mountains in a tiny plane is its own adventure, and at base camp, the group buries food for their return, loads the sleds, and heads up. Avalanches thunder in the distance, and the climb is increasingly steep. A rope links the group members in case someone falls in a crevasse. Jordan meets Aron Ralston and a 17-year-old who is also attempting the Seven Summits. A Russian man rumored to be unconscious on the mountain turns up safely, underscoring the danger. At Advanced Base Camp, Jordan meets climbers from around the world. After a weather delay, the group leaves for High Camp and navigates a narrow trail that falls off on both sides. During the climb to the summit, Jordan uses his ice axe to remain balanced, and Paul stays ahead of the group to set up anchors for Jordan. Reaching the summit is an amazing feeling, and the view is even better. Exhausted, Jordan and his parents descend and sleep at Advanced Based Camp before heading home.

The Carstensz Pyramid in New Guinea, Indonesia, is Jordan’s next goal. Karen arranges for permits, while Jordan practices rock climbing. A terrorist attack forces the family to reroute their flight plans, but they enjoy the sights in Bali before heading to Nabire, near the mountain. Waiting for a helicopter, they hear about the tribespeople, who guard the mountain and protest the US-owned gold mine in it. Fog foils the first helicopter ride, but the second attempt lands at base camp. Jordan enjoys the mountain’s rock formations and the trek’s challenge. To cross an open gap in the rock, he must hang from a rope, and he breaks another record by reaching the summit. The descent is smooth and quick.

At age 13, Jordan and his parents set their sights on Mount Everest’s north route through Tibet and get advice from friends who have climbed the mountain before. Jordan gains more sponsors, and local community support continues, but several media outlets criticize his family for taking the risk. Jordan answers that they do not understand his skills or his training. In May, the family lands in Kathmandu, Nepal, and they meet the three Sherpas who will guide them. Jordan learns to use an oxygen tank. The bridge that connects Nepal to Tibet is a foot-only bridge and the group must deboard; several children cart their belongings across the bridge. After a security check, they are assigned a liaison officer to supervise their excursion. They pass through several towns and then set out for Chinese Base Camp. Jordan looks at the mountain in awe. He learns about the Tibetans’ appreciation for it and joins in a ceremonial prayer before beginning the ascent. Yaks (dzos) initially carry supplies, but soon they are on their own. After Advanced Base Camp, they climb a ladder across a gap and ascend straight upward while looking at the body of a fallen climber below. Later, an avalanche sends them down the mountainside, and one man unrelated to the group falls off the cliff. Jordan’s boots hit his father, and his wounds require treatment at Chinese Base Camp. Jordan sees a shrine for fallen climbers and meets people from all over the world. Finally ascending, the group proceeds slowly to acclimate to the thinning air and to hydrate and eat. They pass several bodies, likely to remain on the mountainside forever, and Jordan thinks about his own possible death. As they approach the summit at dawn, Jordan can see Earth’s curvature and feels that every struggle was worth it to stand on top of the world. During the descent, Jordan signs autographs. In the US, media outlets and television shows interview him, and he plans his Mount Vinson, Antarctica climb, the last on his Seven Summits list.

Mount Vinson’s main obstacles are the cold, the expense, and the inconvenience of remote travel. At Union Glacier Camp, the group learns the rules of the mountain and acclimates to the environment. While awaiting good weather, Jordan and his parents ski. They tow sleds up the ascent and rest in holes dug deep into the snow. The mountain is crowded, but people are courteous. In summiting, Jordan accomplishes the goal he set five years earlier. When the family returns to the US, he is interviewed once again. Jordan uses his fame to tour the 50 states and motivate kids everywhere to live a healthy life and follow their dreams. He looks forward to his future and other potential accomplishments.